Logistics UK members prove enthusiastic adopters of biomethane

Renewable biomethane is a low-carbon, cost-effective alternative to diesel for HGVs and is estimated to be 35-40% cheaper and cut greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85%.

While most of England and Wales is already within a 300-mile round trip of a biomethane refuelling station, there is currently no public provision of the fuel in Scotland.

CNG Fuels has started building Scotland’s first public access renewable biomethane HGV refuelling station, which it maintains will allow fleet operators to run their vehicles on low-carbon fuel, support net zero plans and save money.

When it opens in November, the station near Glasgow will refuel up to 450 lorries a day, enabling HGVs to make low-carbon deliveries across most of Scotland, putting the northern cities of Inverness and Aberdeen within the 300-mile round trip range.

“After extensive alternative-fuel vehicle trials, Warburtons has chosen CNG technology, and specifically biomethane fuel, as our preferred strategy to decarbonise our Primary HGV fleet,” said Steven Gray, Warburtons National Transport Manager. “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.”

David Landy, Head of Fleet at Hermes, said: “As one of the UK’s largest CNG vehicle operators, the announcement of a Bio-CNG Station in Scotland is welcome news for Hermes. This will allow us to run our Scottish-based fleet on 100% renewable biomethane fuel and push the range of our existing CNG-powered HGV fleet, so vehicles can travel between England and Scotland and take even more emissions off UK roads.”

CNG Fuels currently operates six refuelling stations in England and is rapidly building out a strategic network on major routes. Eurocentral is the first of 14 further stations that are due to be built over the next two years with £80 million of funding from a new partnership with Foresight Group, including two more in Scotland near Larkhall and Livingston.

Mags Simpson, Head of Policy for Scotland at Logistics UK, said: “This is a great example of how seriously the logistics industry is taking the challenge of climate change and net zero targets. Currently there are various options around alternative fuels and Logistics UK supports any work that helps businesses to explore alternatives to diesel-fuelled fleets. Key to any success is sufficient infrastructure in place to allow national fleets to continue to operate seamlessly around the UK, as they currently do.”

*www.logistics.org.uk/campaigns/environment

Published On: 25/03/2021 17:00:19

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