Biomethane should play a greater role in accelerating HGV decarbonisation over the next 15-25 years, offering a complementary solution to zero emission vehicles, which continue to face cost and infrastructure barriers, according to a report published this week by the Green Gas Taskforce.
The Driving Green Gas report calls for regulatory action to enable greater uptake of biomethane HGVs and questions the overwhelming focus on ZEVs as the best decarbonisation solution, arguing for greater recognition of the role boimethane can play in the transition to clean energy.
The report underscores the advantages of using biomethane-powered trucks as a complementary technology to ZEVs and how they can provide faster decarbonisation of the industry due to the existing gas pipeline infrastructure and ease of connection and scalability.
It argues that they offer a cost-effective way to reduce carbon emissions over the next 15-25 years whilst zero tailpipe emission technologies are further developed and the supporting infrastructure needed for ZEVs is scaled up and becomes accessible to all operators.
In additon the cost savings delivered from using biomethane trucks could help operators also invest in ZEVs and the necessary infrastructure and chargers.
Another advantage cited by the report is that, unlike ZEVs, biomethane trucks are already available for maximum weight (44 tonne) 6x2 transport.
The report states: “It is widely promoted today that Zero Emission Vehicles (ZEVs) offer the best long-term solution for all road transport operations.
“However, this assertion overlooks several obstacles to short and medium-term implementation that are both technical and financial in nature, especially in the long-distance sector.
“Biomethane already accounts for 3,246 vehicles on the road at the end of 2024, and can and should play a key role in the long-term decarbonisation of the sector.
“The actions we take now to reduce transport emissions have a lasting impact on our climate. We must therefore be strategic and realistic in our approach to reaching net zero.
“By actively promoting biomethane, we can deploy a solution that is economically viable, operationally practical, and delivers immediate and substantial CO2 reductions today.”
The report calls for regulatory change to support the wider uptake of biomethane vehicles. This includes an extension of the current fuel duty discount for biomethane from 2032 to 2045. The discount is up for review next year.
The report warns: “Should the discount expire, 3,000 biomethane vehicles currently in use will likely be replaced by diesel vehicles after 2027 due to the issues surrounding the implementation of BEV trucks”.
The report also calls for future HGV CO2 regulation to recognise the carbon-neutral biogenic nature of biomethane, to ensure a consistent approach across OEM vehicle producers, fuel providers, and vehicle users, that will correctly reflect the real-world CO2 impact of biomethane usage.
It also argues that raising RTFO targets beyond 2030 and index linking the RTFC buyout price would support the adoption of biomethane vehicles and secure investment in AD by improving the market value of RTFCs.
The report concludes that with regulatory support and long-term certainty, biomethane could deliver:
• Faster decarbonisation than ZEVs due to the high-power nature of gas transmission systems and the dispatchability of energy-dense gas.
• Savings for operators and fuel duty revenue for government, both of which offset the cost of new electricity grid connections and purchasing ZEVs.
• A wider pathway for operators to meet their decarbonisation goals across differing operating models.
• Action from operators on net zero.
• Displacement of high CO2 intensive diesel, rather than lower CO2 intensive fossil gas.
• A greater focus from manufacturers promoting renewable technology.
• Important negative CO2 life cycle emissions, needed for the net zero balance sheet.
The full report can be accessed here.
The Green Gas Taskforce is a collaboration between 13 of the UK’s largest biomethane generators, shippers and traders, all five British gas networks, and four industry organisations.
