Thursday, 22 April 2021
UK supplier CNG Fuels plans to install a biomethane refuelling station in Bellshill, at the edge of Glasgow. The green station would be the first of its kind in Scotland.
The delivery of such fuel will allow users, namely large fleet operators with Heavy Gas Vehicles (HGVs) to reduce their transport carbon footprint. The location of the station will make green round trips to Northern destinations, such as Inverness and Aberdeen, possible.
A growing list of retailers, including Hermes, John Lewis and Asda have already announced the adoption of biomethane as a fuel for their transport fleets as a low-emissions and also low-cost alternative to diesel. UK bakery brand Warburtons, was the latest to follow suit.
Steven Gray, Warburtons national transport manager said: “After extensive alternative-fuel vehicle trials, Warburtons has chosen Compressed Natural Gas technology, and specifically biomethane fuel, as our preferred strategy to decarbonise our Primary HGV fleet. CNG Fuels’ progressive Bio-CNG Station roll-out plans across the UK will allow us to begin our decarbonisation strategy and the Eurocentral refuelling facility is a key location for our fleet.”
CNG chief executive, Philip Fjeld, said: “Fleet operators keen to cut carbon and save money are switching to biomethane in droves, and our first station in Scotland will play a vital part in our network, allowing gas trucks to make deliveries throughout Britain. Biomethane can play a key role in helping the country meet its net zero targets and it is fitting that the station will open just as Glasgow hosts the UN Climate Summit.”
HGV emissions are key to achieving Net Zero emissions by 2050. In the EU, emissions from these vehicles account for 25% of all transport emissions, and 6% of total emissions. Within the UK, this value is slightly lower at 4.5% - with Scotland specifically at 4.8%. The expansion of the refuelling station network is key to the uptake of the green fuel; CNG Fuels has already planned for 14 more stations within the UK in the next two years.
In addition, CNG Fuels, which has reported a 90% increase in sales in March 2021 compared to March 2020, is looking to source biomethane from manure feedstock to provide a product which is overall carbon neutral.
As a fuel supplier in the UK, CNG must partake in the UK Department for Transport's Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation program which is the driver to ensure national fuel blending targets (portion of fuels which is from renewable sources) are met - this is set at 10.1% in 2021, which is currently slated to rise to 12.4% in 2032.
In promoting its bio-CNG offerings, it is expected that CNG Fuels will offer biomethane GOs (either RGGOs or BMCs in the UK) to their customers, or retire these certificates on their behalf.
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