GREEN GAS : The potential for renewable gas in truck fleets
Biomethane isn’t a focus for the Australian government but as its a reality in Europe perhaps it should be.
Switching from diesel to Compressed Natural Gas is a solution that can happen in a matter of years not decades….and if the biomethane is sourced from manure, a heavy emitter of greenhouse gas, current carbon emissions could be reduced dramatically.
CNG Fuels opened its fifth refueling station near Birmingham in the UK last week, and at least 14 further public access stations on major routes are currently being built over the next 2 years, essentially quadrupling the company’s capacity and enabling it to refuel 8,000 vehicles a day.
The company is the UK’s leading supplier of Bio-CNG (compressed natural gas), the lowest carbon, most cost-effective alternative to diesel for HGVs. The fuel is 35%-40% cheaper than diesel and cuts vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85%. With CNG stations now capable of refueling up to 500 HGVs per day and an HGV refuels in approximately 6 minutes allowing for a current vehicle range of up to 500 miles.
Meanwhile in Australia – The Technology Investment Roadmap, published in September 2020 highlighted HYDROGEN as a priority technology by the federal government of Australia and is seen as a major contributor to lowering carbon emissions.
There is no doubt Hydrogen will be an important part of Australia’s renewable energy focus in but the key question is when will this be viable.
A study published in August 2020 by the Australian National University, ‘Green hydrogen production costs in Australia: implications of renewable energy and electrolyser costs’ describes that goal as feasible within the next decade….
GREEN GAS : Interestingly when Peter Eaton, General Manager, ‘CNG Fuel‘ was asked the question ‘So you’re not worried about electric or hydrogen? by Mel holley of IT HUB recently he answered
‘In our view electric for long haul HGVs is a long way away and we’re not going to get it anytime soon. We know it’s coming for sure, but for now the batteries needed for long haul HGVs would weigh too much and would mean sacrificing too much payload for them to be viable. Again, with hydrogen, we anticipate it’s going to be a decade or two away. For now it’s too expensive and the business case doesn’t really stack up in our opinion.
When one of these technologies comes of age, we may have to look again at our business model but for now we’re very confident that CNG and biomethane has a long future…..
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GREEN BIOMETHANE – CNG FUELS
About CNG Fuels: CNG Fuels was established in 2014, and is today the UK market leader for the supply of Bio-CNG (renewable and sustainable biomethane fuel) for commercial vehicles. Its gas is sourced entirely from renewable and sustainable biomethane, which is cheaper and emits less carbon overall (well to wheel) than any other HGV fuel. The biomethane is made from a waste feedstock, approved under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation RTFO), and generates Renewable Transport Fuel Certificates (RTFC).
From 2022, the company will supply carbon neutral biomethane derived from manure at the same price as the renewable biomethane fuel it currently supplies. It is also consulting on how its network of refuelling stations can best accommodate low-carbon hydrogen and battery electric technologies for HGVs, so that it can support customers when these become commercially viable.
CNG Fuels is also the country’s only dedicated provider of public access Bio-CNG refuelling infrastructure. It operates the UK’s six highest capacity CNG stations, at Warrington, Northampton, Leyland (Lancashire), Crewe (Cheshire), Erdington, near Birmingham and Knowsley, near LIverpool. It is developing a nationwide refuelling network. For more information on CNG Fuels, visit www.cngfuels.com
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GREEN GAS – BIOMETHANE
Project work: Energy360 are leaders in the field of bioenergy and can be utilised on a consultancy basis:
Providing full feasibility studies, scoping, bioenergy analysis, and financial forecasting services.
An Energy360 Bioenergy System can benefit a business and provide investment returns by:
› Decreasing greenhouse gas emissions
› Delivering sustainability goals
› Capturing the biogas emitted from the waste water treatment process
› Delivering biogas to a process steam boiler as renewable energy to replace natural gas
› Reducing natural gas costs
› Monetising Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) under the Emissions Reduction Fund (ERF)
Contact us today – CONTACT US – ENERGY360
