Antrim-based natural gas distribution and supply company firmus energy has teamed up with anaerobic digestion specialists Granville Eco Park to decarbonize its engineering and maintenance fleet. firmus energy will initially use a jointly branded van, currently being fueled by Granville Eco Park’s biomethane produced at their anaerobic digestion plant in Dungannon to showcase the sustainability credentials of CNG technology, before transitioning the rest of the fleet to natural gas.
The first van to be used by firmus energy can travel over 200 miles with a single fill and has a small petrol tank as a reserve. The environmental benefits are significant, biomethane produces up to 85% less greenhouse gases and natural gas up to 30% less CO2 emissions when compared to a standard diesel alternative.
Granville Eco Park currently has a fueling station on site where they fuel their own fleet with 100% renewable biomethane and also transport the biofuel to customers across Northern Ireland by road. Even though there is currently no means to inject renewable gas into the gas networks in Northern Ireland, injection is expected to be available by mid-2022 enabling the country’s haulage and logistics companies to improve their sustainability credentials by utilizing biogas in their HGVs, buses, and vans.
“HGVs account for 17% of all transport emissions but they aren’t able to utilize battery technology so there are significant environmental benefits to be achieved by transitioning large diesel vehicles onto CNG. firmus energy is leading by example in adopting CNG technology in its engineering fleet and it will also equip us to advise commercial customers who are keen to make carbon savings for their own fleet,” said firmus energy Sustainability Manager Neil Gallagher.
Granville Eco Park spokesperson David McKee, Chief Technical Officer also commented, “We process unavoidable food waste to generate biomethane, electricity and fertilizer in a proven, effective circular economy model. Renewable gas will be instrumental in decarbonizing heat, power, and heavy duty vehicles and we are already transporting gas to factories and food processing sites throughout Northern Ireland using our own zero emissions CNG lorries.”
Source: firmus energy
