CNG Fuels, in partnership with National Grid,  unveiled a new filling station in Leyland, Lancashire today, which allows vehicles to fill up on compressed natural gas (CNG), directly from the high-pressure local transmission system.

The new facility can refuel more than five hundred HGVs per day near to junction 28 on the M6. The filling station also supplies 100% renewable biomethane (Bio-CNG). The bio-methane is made from waste at anaerobic digestion plants and delivered to the filling station through the National Grid pipeline system.

Philip Fjeld, director at CNG Fuels, said: “Even though the price of diesel and petrol has recently plummeted, the wholesale price of natural gas has also dropped, and our customers can still enjoy a pump price of CNG at our Leyland station that is more than 30% cheaper than the equivalent price of one litre of diesel. Using natural gas also cuts CO2 emissions by more than 20% and if fleets choose to fuel their trucks with Bio-CNG, they will be running on 100% renewable gas.”

National Grid’s network strategy director, David Parkin, said: “CNG dispensed from a station connected to the local transmission system, is the cheapest fuel available to HGVs, as well as having the lowest well-to-wheel emissions of any fossil-based HGV fuel.

“Whether it’s CNG or Bio-CNG, the benefits for HGVs are clear; lower emissions, quieter engine noise and competitive fuel prices, compared with traditional liquid fuels.”

Waitrose has a regional distribution centre less than one mile from the new CNG filling station is its first major customer. Justin Laney, central transport general manager for the John Lewis Partnership, added: “John Lewis Partnership is committed to running a sustainable logistics operation, and the use of low carbon fuels in our vehicle fleet is a key element of that.  Our strategy is to displace diesel with bio-methane where practical, and we run one of the largest alternatively fueled heavy truck fleets in the UK to enable us to do that. This filling station is an important step that will help us continue to improve our fleet sustainability.”

More expert coverage: The gas, electricity, transport balancing act: ITM Power chief executive Graham Cooley spoke to Janet Wood about using the gas and transport fuel networks to help balance the power system

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