UK welcomes LNG refuelling station
BOC and Stobart Group have opened the new Eddie Stobart liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuelling station near Warrington, Cheshire.
The UK supplier of compressed and natural gases (BOC) and logistics specialists (Stobart Group) have welcomed Jon Horsley, lead technologist of low carbon vehicles, from the UK’s innovation agency, the Technology Strategy Board, to the station.
As part of a £23 million programme coordinated by the Technology Strategy Board, and designed to encourage road haulage operators to switch to low carbon commercial vehicles, the LNG refuelling station in Cheshire is now operating. The funding provided by the Technology Strategy Board was matched by an investment from Eddie Stobart, enabling it to operate a fleet of 20 new dual fuel Volvo tractor units. Other LNG fleet operators may also access the station.
Visiting the new station for the first time, Jon Horsley commented: “The Technology Strategy Board is committed to supporting the introduction of low-carbon vehicles to the logistics industry, which employs over 2 million people and is crucial to the UK economy. I am delighted that the Technology Strategy Board has been able to help support BOC and Stobart launch this new LNG facility.”
The refuelling station forms part of a project to track both the usage of LNG and the reduction in CO2 emissions and employs innovative ‘zero loss’ refuelling technology, developed by BOC. This uses cryogenic cooling to ‘temperature-condition’ the fuel just prior to dispensing, which prevents leaks.
LNG business manager at BOC, Mark Lowe, said: “BOC’s partnership with Stobart in this project is proof of our long-term commitment to play an active part in the transition to low-carbon transport. I would like to thank the Technology Strategy Board for their assistance in making this happen.”
Dual fuel is an innovative technology that allows natural gas to be used in conjunction with diesel, reducing the total consumption of diesel and cutting CO2 emissions. LNG typically accounts for up to 60% of total fuel consumption for a dual-fuel vehicle.
Diesel produces around 2.6 kg of CO2 for every litre burned, whereas LNG when used with diesel in a dual fuel vehicle typically reduces CO2 emissions between 10 and 14%.
Phil Spittle, Eddie Stobart general manager for fleet compliance, added: “The Technology Strategy Board grant, matched by our own investment, has helped drive forward our commitment to sustainable distribution. The transition from diesel to BOC’s dual fuel technology has been extremely smooth and has allowed us to help stimulate innovation in the logistics sector. The use of dual fuel vehicles is an exciting development and will support the increasing need for Eddie Stobart and its customers to reduce their carbon footprint.”
Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward
Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/small-scale-lng/13122013/lng_fuel_station_for_cheshire_572/
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