CNG Fuels begins building ‘world’s largest’ biomethane refuelling station

CNG Fuels has begun building a biomethane refuelling station near Bristol which it says will become the “world’s largest” when it opens by the end of this year.

The station at Avonmouth near the junction between the M4 and M5 motorways will serve some of the busiest freight routes in the UK and will be capable of refuelling 80 heavy goods vehicles per hour from 14 high speed dispensers.

CNG Fuels already operates six refuelling stations across the UK and plans to build another 14 stations by the end of 2022, supported by £80 million of funding from a new partnership with Foresight Group.

Philip Fjeld, chief executive of CNG Fuels, said: “Avonmouth is a key site for CNG Fuels’ expansion across the UK. The site will allow companies to use low-carbon fuel for regular routes between London, the Midlands, South Wales, Cornwall and Devon.

“Such a strategically crucial location requires our biggest refuelling station yet. This station will enable even more fleet operators and hauliers to reduce their carbon emissions and save money.”

Companies that will use the station to refuel their vehicles include Warburtons, Farm Foods, Hermes and Wessex Water.

Sean Hill, bioresources manager at Wessex Water said: “We see biomethane as an excellent opportunity to reduce the carbon footprint of our haulage operations, as well as allowing us to operate more efficiently.

“This station, as well as others around the region, will allow a much wider uptake of CNG [compressed natural gas] vehicles, which in turn will improve air quality and sustainability.”

CNG Fuels said all of its fuel is produced from waste feedstocks, including food waste. Next year it plans to begin offering fuel produced from manure, which it said would otherwise release methane into atmosphere, contributing to climate change.