Ford Dagenham's newest engine production line has won a green award within two months of starting up.

Judges from Business Commitment to the Environment (BCE) highlighted Ford's environmental plan for its new 1.4/1.6 engine line.

Ford’s environmental and energy strategy includes fluid recycling, designing high efficiency coolant, extraction and chiller plant systems and installing two 3MW wind turbines. The Dagenham Diesel Centre, where the new 1.4/1.6 engines are assembled, is Ford's only wind-powered plant worldwide.

David Miliband MP, secretary of state for environment, food & rural affairs, presented the prestigious premier award to Stuart Burn, Ford technical specialist.

Thanks to the £130 million investment behind the new 1.4/1.6 line, total engine output at Ford Dagenham will rise to 1,000,000 units a year by 2009. Positive environmental actions taken at Dagenham have resulted in annual savings of 150,000 litres of oil and a reduction of 300,000 litres of oily sludge. In addition almost 21 million kWh of electricity has been wind generated, saving 6,510 tonnes of carbon dioxide every year.