By Jonathan Goldsmith
CNG Fuels, Europe’s largest supplier of renewable biomethane, has added Aldi to its list of customers who are committing to low-carbon transportation within their Heavy Duty Vehicle (HGV) fleets.
A road with woods on both sides
The fuel company has opened its 10th HGV filling station in Castleford, West Yorkshire, to keep up with demand, and the new station can fill 5,000 HGVs a day while reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions ) of 67,500 tons a year, he says.
Aldi is the latest major brand to adopt more sustainable vehicles, joining Royal Mail, Amazon, Waitrose and Warburtons who are already supplied with CNG Fuel’s clean biofuel offering emissions savings of over 90%, which can be reported to meet UK targets. Aldi is expected to have a total of 30 CNG vehicles in its UK fleet by the end of the year.
There is a substantial increase in demand for 100% renewable biomethane in the transport sector which is the catalyst for increased production both in the UK and internationally, with the number of bio-CNG powered trucks on the road being doubled in the last year alone.
The government last year set out plans to ban the sale of new petrol and diesel trucks from 2040 as part of its transport decarbonisation plan, which has prompted the transport industry to look for cleaner alternatives.
CNG Fuels is currently rolling out a UK-wide network of reliable and convenient fueling facilities to fuel the heavy-duty fleets within its customer base. It develops, owns and operates CNG refueling infrastructure and 100% renewable biomethane (Bio-CNG) sources for its stations.
Biomethane is the cleanest gas available for heavy trucks and is a cost-effective alternative to diesel. Bio-CNG (or compressed biomethane) differs from fossil-derived CNG/LNG (liquefied natural gas) in that it is a by-product of the decomposition of food, water and animal waste that is collected in an anaerobic digester and fed into the gas grid.
Natural gas is a clean energy source used for electricity generation, heat and transportation fuel, and bio-CNG has been independently verified and approved by the Department for Transport’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO).
Philip Fjeld, CEO of CNG Fuels, said: “Fleet operators around the world are urgently looking for ways to reduce emissions from their fleets.
“Our rapidly growing network of fueling infrastructure has made biomethane more affordable than ever, and fleets, from local hauliers down to major domestic brands, are dramatically reducing emissions every day.
« Our newest station at Castleford builds on our existing network, enabling low-carbon deliveries from Inverness to Cornwall. »
Jonathan Goldsmith, Head of Infrastructure & Transportation at Acre, said: « Although HGVs account for just 5% of vehicle miles traveled on UK roads, they are responsible for 16% of all transport emissions. As we move further towards an online retail economy, the shift to cleaner truck fuels such as biomethane will play a hugely important step in the UK’s efforts to decarbonise a fast growing and dynamic logistics sector. »
Johnny works within Acre’s sustainable business team, with responsibility for providing all strategic and executive level research for clients operating in the built environment, infrastructure and transportation sectors. He also leads a small team of consultants to support organizations with operational sustainability recruitment in the UK and Europe. Johnny holds an environmental science degree and, after a short stint for a global environmental consultancy, joined Acre in 2015. Since then, he has worked with leading corporations, multi-stakeholder initiatives and SMEs to help shape their sustainability functions. He has an honest and transparent approach to the industry and enjoys working collaboratively with ambitious clients to continually drive change.
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