Work starts on Europe’s biggest HGV gas refuelling station

WORK has started on what is expected to be the largest public access HGV  gas refuelling station in Europe at Warrington.
The plant at Omega South, close to the M62, will cater for several major hauliers based in the area and will be able to refuel up to 800 HGVs a day, serving 12 vehicles simultaneously.
It is one of two new public access renewable biomethane compressed natural gas (Bio-CNG) refuelling stations, currently being built by CNG Fuels to cater for soaring demand from HGV operators switching from diesel.
The new stations will serve major truck routes and cities, and will be able to refuel up to 3000 HGVs a day, a near 500 per cent increase on capacity at the company’s existing stations at Leyland, Lancashire and Crewe which can refuel more than 600 vehicles daily.
All fuel supplied by CNG Fuels is renewable and sustainable biomethane approved under the Department for Transport’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme. The gas is sourced from waste feedstocks such as food waste and is the most environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative to diesel for HGVs. It cuts vehicle greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by up to 85 per cent and is 35%-40 per cent cheaper than diesel.
At 20 million tonnes of CO2 per annum, GHG emissions from UK food waste are comparable to annual GHG emissions from the entire UK HGV fleet. By capturing methane from organic waste and utilising it as a transport fuel, food waste and transport emissions can be cut simultaneously.
CNG Fuels has also commenced construction at Erdington, close to the M6 in Birmingham.
Philip Fjeld, CEO of CNG Fuels, said: “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. 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.
“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.”