CNG Fuels and Waitrose partner to promote 100% renewable biomethane
New Northampton refuelling station and 58 Waitrose gas trucks will take part in UK’s first large-scale study of low-carbon alternative to diesel.
CNG Fuels is opening a renewable biomethane refuelling station at Northampton as part of the UK’s first large-scale study of how CNG can help slash road transport emissions.
The project, which has received funding from the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles (OLEV) in partnership with Innovate UK, aims to encourage UK fleet operators to switch from diesel to low-carbon biomethane fuel by demonstrating performance benefits, and by showing that CNG stations can support growing demand for gas.
The new Northampton public access refuelling station will open this autumn at the Red Lion Truck Stop, off junction 16 of the M1, just up the road from Magna Park, Milton Keynes, one of the UK’s largest distribution parks where Waitrose and John Lewis have their national distribution hub.
Baden Gowrie-Smith, Chief Financial Officer of CNG Fuels, said: “100% renewable biomethane fuel offers fleet operators the chance to dramatically cut carbon emissions, improve air quality and save money. We are now seeing increasing levels of interest and orders from fleets of all sizes.”
The station will be used by a new Waitrose fleet of 58 state-of-the-art dedicated CNG trucks engaged in long-haul, inter-city and urban runs, including six trialling zero-emissions refrigeration units powered by the truck’s gas engine. Performance data will be analysed by a University of Cambridge team.
