Firm plans to have five new public access stations up and running by the end of the year, in bid to enable long-distance, low emission trucking
CNG Fuels has started construction work on two new biomethane fuelling stations, it announced today, as it moved forward with plans for a new fleet of low-emission fuel stops for hauliers across the UK.
The new public access refuelling depots will be supplied with biomethane compressed natural gas (Bio-CNG), which is generated by waste feedstock such as food leftovers. When used instead of diesel in a heavy goods vehicle (HGV), Bio-CNG can cut emissions by up to 85 per cent and cut fuel costs by 40 per cent, CNG Fuels claims.
The firm plans to open five stations by the end of the year, to cater for what it described as "soaring demand" from HGV operators who are switching away from diesel. The firm already runs two Bio-CNG refuelling sites in Lancashire and Cheshire.
"We're making it easier for fleet operators to make the switch from diesel by developing a nationwide network of public access biomethane stations on major trucking routes and at key logistics hubs," said CNG Fuels CEO Philip Fjeld.
The first two new sites to open in the autumn will be in Warrington and Erdington, and will be able to refuel 800 and 600 HGVs a day respectively. Three more sites are set to follow later in the year at Northampton, Knowsley, and Larkhall.
The five sites will collectively be able to refuel 3,000 HGVs a day using the waste-based fuel, which it says will help cut emissions both from food waste and road transport. HGVs are estimated to account for around 17 per cent of the UK's total greenhouse gas emissions from road transport, while making up just five per cent of vehicle miles.
A government review of the sector's climate impact, published in 2017, found biomethane offers "significant potential" to decarbonise the road freight sector, but warned uptake could be hampered by limited supply.
CNG Fuels says demand for its product jumped 300 per cent in 2018, and its customers - which include John Lewis, Hermes, ASDA, Argos and Royal Mail - have plans to expand their biomethane fleets substantially in the coming years.
"The spotlight on climate change continues to grow in intensity and the UK haulage sector has for many years been a laggard when it comes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions," Fjeld said. "Renewable and sustainable biomethane allows companies to achieve deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, cut pollution and save money - no wonder demand is soaring. Our customers are already planning to order hundreds of new biomethane fuelled trucks in 2019 and we have interest from companies which run a third of the UK's HGVs."
A further eight new CNG Fuels truck stops are already earmarked for construction in 2020, all financed by investment manager Ingenious.
In related news, logistics giant UPS yesterday announced a new agreement with US supplier Clean Energy Fuels Corp to purchase 170 million gallon equivalents of renewable natural gas (RNG) through to 2026.
The companies hailed the agreement as the largest purchase of renewable gas in US history and a major boost to UPS's decarbonisation plans.
"The world has a trash problem, and the world has an emissions problem," said Mike Casteel, UPS director of fleet procurement. "Renewable natural gas, produced naturally from bio sources such as landfills and dairy farms, not only turns trash to gas, but it turns it into clean gas. Since RNG is supported by existing national infrastructure used to transport natural gas, it's a winning solution that will help UPS to reach our ambitious sustainability goals.
"At the same time, we hope our unprecedented seven-year commitment serves as a catalyst for wider adoption of RNG by other companies."