The Astara Team certifies a net zero emissions balance in the 2024 Dakar Rally
Thanks to the use of 100% renewable synthetic fuel, the Astara Team competition cars achieved a zero emissions balance.
In this edition of the Dakar Rally, the measurement of the emissions range combines the team's own emissions scope 1) and indrect own emissions (scope 2) of all team vehicles, and those from personnel flights (scope 3). 33.71 tons of CO2 have been certifie, which will be offset by reforesting degraded areas in Colombia.
The team managed to combine an improvement in its sustainability equivalent (11.86 tons of CO2 less than last year) with greater competitiveness, finishing the 2024 Dakar Rally on the podium in the two-wheel drive vehicle category and in the Top15 overall.
The Astara Team has completed its participation in the 2024 Dakar Rally with a net zero CO2 emissions balance for the third consecutive year. In this edition, the merit was even greater, as the team was even more rigorous with its emissions measurement, combining the team's own emissions (scope 1) and indirect own emissions (scope 2) of all vehicles used by the team; and those from personal flights (scope 3); according to the GHG measurement protocol.
To achieve this goal, a new 100% renewable synthetic fuel was used in the competition cars in this edition. The Astara Team has been improving the formulation of this fuel year after year: in the 2021-2022 edition, the fuel came from 70% renewable energy; and in the 2022-2023 edition, it reached 90%. Thanks to the use of this 100% renewable synthetic fuel, the Astara Team cars that competed in the Dakar Rally this year had a zero emissions balance. This type of synthetic fuel is completely carbon neutral and its environmental impact is null, as the CO2 emitted into the atmosphere during its combustion is the same as that extracted from the air during its production.
The support vehicles and electric generators used by the team used 70% renewable synthetic fuel. The combination of synthetic fuels used by the team enabled an emissions reduction of 18.6 tons of equivalent CO2 into the atmosphere, a figure that would have been generated using traditional fuels. This reduction is equivalent to the emissions of an average car in the Spanish fleet (144g/km) for 130,000km / 8.6 years of average use (15,000km/year).
Taking into account the complete scope (scopes 1, 2, and 3 quantified), the Astara Team generated 33.71 tons of equivalent CO2 at the Dakar. Thanks to the work done, the impact was reduced by 11.86 tons compared to the previous edition of this event.
To achieve the net zero balance, the 33.71 tons of equivalent CO2 emitted will be offset by reforesting degraded areas in Colombia, through the Vichada Project for the production and planting of native tree species in the Orinoco. This program will also benefit the climate and fauna of an area with great biological diversity.