Biomethane refuelling station opens near Bristol, UK

CNG Fuels has opened its newest public access biomethane refuelling station in Avonmouth, UK, capable of refuelling 80 HGVs per hour from 14 high-speed dispensers.

The site is the eighth renewable biomethane refuelling station that CNG Fuels has built across the UK. It plans to build an additional 12 each year to cater for growing demand, potentially operating 20 large public access stations across the country by 2023. The Avonmouth site is claimed to be the largest public access biomethane refuelling station in the world.

Demand for renewable biomethane in the UK has increased by 1,000% over the past five years as brands aim to reduce their haulage emissions, responsible for 18% of total UK road transport emissions, says CNG. Growth in demand is expected to rise five-fold over the next five years, stimulated by the UK’s 2040 ban on the sale of new diesel HGVs.

Renewable biomethane for HGVs cuts carbon emissions by up to 90% and lifetime vehicle costs by 30-40% compared to diesel, says the company. CNG Fuels uses 100% renewable and sustainable biomethane, sourced from food waste and approved under the Department for Transport’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme.

The biomethane refuelling station is situated close to CNG Fuels’ existing customers, including Royal Mail, Warburtons and Amazon. It will enable low carbon deliveries across South West England and into Wales for the first time and has the potential to cut 70,000 t/y of CO₂ emissions.

Philip Fjeld, CEO of CNG Fuels, says: ‘Brands across the country are under more and more pressure to cut emissions from fleets and renewable biomethane is the only commercially viable solution on the market today. We are continuing to see high increases in demand and with the recent news of the 2040 ban on new diesel HGVs, we expect the pace of demand to continue.’

CNG Fuels’ new public access biomethane refuelling station in Avonmouth

Photo: CNG Fuels