Every day, millions of people turn to red diesel to power their machinery, tractors, generators, and equipment. It’s a fantastic option for both individuals and businesses, offering great savings without sacrificing performance or quality output. If you’re unsure about the red diesel usage in different sectors, don’t worry, here we’ll explore where you can utilise it and how to stop its misuse.
What is Red Diesel Fuel?
Many people are familiar with the term ‘red diesel,’ which refers to gas oil—the go-to fuel for vehicles that usually stay off the roads. One of the great benefits of gas oil is that it comes with tax-free advantages, making it a more affordable fuelling option for non-road vehicles. This means consumers can enjoy cost-effective solutions while keeping their machinery running smoothly.
Physical Appearance of Red Diesel
Have you ever noticed the colour of red diesel? Well, it’s a crimson or deep red colour, and you can easily differentiate it from regular diesel. The main purpose of changing its colour is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote rebated fuel throughout the country.
While the red diesel isn’t extracted in the same colour, it is dyed later to reduce its illegal usage and deliver the maximum benefits to those who should utilise it.
Usage of Red Diesel
The usage of red diesel is as high as that of the white diesel, but it can’t be used for road vehicles such as cars, buses, public transport, or fleets. Its main usage is for off-road machinery operations. Below are some of them explained briefly:
Agriculture
First of all, red diesel is widely used in agricultural and horticultural machinery. The aim behind this is to promote the local farming sector and empower the industry to reduce its dependency on imports from other nations. This includes various agricultural machinery such as tractors, farm trucks, harvesters, cultivators, diggers, and more.
Construction Machinery
Similar to agricultural machinery, red diesel is a favourite among those working with construction equipment that uses plenty of fuel. Using red diesel not only helps builders trim down costs thanks to reduced taxes but also makes things easier. The types of machinery that benefit from this include cranes, dump trucks, bulldozers, graders, wheel loaders, and many others. It’s no wonder that contractors appreciate this fuel—it works perfectly with their fleets and delivers fantastic performance.
Events
You may sometimes find that on special occasions, when the electricity goes off, you need to power the entire outdoor or indoor setup to illuminate the space. In this situation, a generator serves as the ideal backup power source, capable of handling large loads with ease. However, this also requires fuel, and you can utilise red diesel (a lower taxed fuel) to keep your expenses to a minimum.
Hospitals
Medical facilities truly rely on a consistent power supply to keep their advanced and delicate equipment running perfectly without any disruptions. By utilising red diesel, hospitals can ensure a dependable electricity solution that supports both patients and machinery alike, allowing them to enhance their services and maintain operations around the clock!
Sports Facilities
Whether it’s local sports clubs or private golf courses, they have the freedom to use red diesel to operate their fleets, power the lights, and maintain daily operations. This enables them to rely less on the significant grid electricity costs associated with running specialised equipment while still achieving the same output.
Gritting Roads
In winter, snow poses a significant issue for homes and roads. It can take weeks or even months for it to melt naturally, disrupting the entire transportation network and causing delays. Thankfully, farmers and residents can use red diesel as tractor fuel to clear the snow from the roads, ensuring obstruction-free transport for the public.
Illegal Use of Red Diesel
As red diesel cannot be used like regular vehicle fuel, you can report it to His Majesty’s Revenue & Customs (HMRC) if someone is misusing it. The regulatory authority has a dedicated fraud hotline, 0800 788887, to lodge complaints, which responds promptly to such misuse.
The Bottom Line
In summary, while the use of red diesel has been restricted since the end of April 2022, it’s great to know that many industries can still take advantage of this gas oil. We hope you have all the information you need regarding who can use red diesel.
If you need assistance, feel free to reach out to 123 Oil at 01543324016, and we’ll be happy to arrange an emergency oil delivery right to your doorstep! Lastly, we offer fuel testing, tank cleaning, tank installation, and more. So, don’t wait to contact us at sa***@*******co.uk to get a custom quote.
