Natural gas fuel supplier CNG Fuels is set to open five new natural gas refuelling stations this year.
The move follows a 300% rise in demand for the company's renewable biomethane compressed natural gas (Bio-CNG) fuel last year.
The five new public access stations will be located in Warrington, Erdington, Northampton, Larkhall in Scotland and at Knowsley, near Liverpool. The company already operates three Bio-CNG gas stations at Leyland, Lancashire and Crewe in Cheshire
CNG Fuels, which is receiving financial backing from investment firm Ingenious Group, is also planning to extend its network next year with a further eight stations.
All of CNG's new stations will supply renewable biomethane approved under the DfT's Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme.
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CNG Fuels said research has shown that its biomethane cuts vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% and is 35%-40% cheaper than diesel.
The new Warrington station, which is already under construction, is expected to be the largest public access gas refuelling station in Europe. Located at Omega South on the M62 it will be able to refuel up to 800 HGVs a day and serve 12 vehicles simultaneously.
Construction has also started on a station at Erdington, close to the M6 in Birmingham. The station will be able to refuel more than 600 HGVs a day.
Both of these stations will open in the autumn together with a third station at the Red Lion Truckstop off the M1 at Northampton, which will be able to refuel more than 350 HGVs a day.
CNG Fuels is also planning to start construction on two more public access stations in the autumn at Larkhall in Scotland and at Knowsley, near Liverpool,
Philip Fjeld, CNG Fuels chief executive, said: “Renewable and sustainable biomethane allows companies to achieve deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, cut pollution and save money - no wonder demand is soaring.
"Our customers are already planning to order hundreds of new biomethane-fuelled trucks in 2019 and we have interest from companies which run a third of the UK’s HGVs.
“We’re making it easier for fleet operators to make the switch from diesel by developing a nationwide network of public access biomethane stations on major trucking routes and at key logistics hubs.”
CNG fleet customers include The John Lewis Partnership, Hermes, ASDA, Argos, Royal Mail, DHL and Cadent.
