The new station will allow gas-powered or dual-fuel trucks to use Bio-LNG fuel and will operate in a similar way to a traditional petrol station.
Bio-LNG is a blend of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and liquid biomethane (LBM) – a natural source of renewable energy produced from organic matter such as household food waste.
Claimed benefits of Bio-LNG fuel include being cheaper than diesel and derived from a clean, renewable energy source with reduced CO2 and greenhouse gases emissions.
Compared with pure diesel equivalents, Bio-LNG is claimed to cut fuel costs by 20-30% and CO2 by a minimum of 20%, while delivering a 90% reduction in NOx and particulate matter emissions. Running the UK’s HGV fleets on Bio-LNG could cut haulage emissions by up to 65%, according to a report by consultants Ricardo-AEA.
Gasrec’s new facility in Daventry is the first of its kind, with retailers such as B&Q, Sainsbury's and Tesco already on board, along with the country’s major hauliers including NFT, Kuehne + Nagel, Brit European and Stobarts.
A planned network of Bio-LNG filling stations will be located near motorway junctions so that 85% of the UK’s HGV population will have at least one location within four hours’ drive.
Storing enough fuel to fill 700 HGVs a day, each of the manned stations will be equipped with five refuelling lanes and ten dispensers using “fast-fill” technology accessed by drivers carrying smart key controls.
‘The launch is a very proud moment for everybody at Gasrec. It clearly shows how our technology, innovation and ambition are leading the way to shrink pollution and costs for the UK’s HGV haulage fleet,’ said Doug Leaf, Gasrec commercial development manager.
‘It is a pleasure to see our service not only saving customers significant sums of money but also helping them to play their part in protecting the environment. Big haulage companies are working and investing with us because they understand this intrinsic value,’ he added.