A promise of cleaner air

The Natural Gas Vehicle Network is calling for local authorities and heavy duty vehicle operators to follow in the footsteps of companies such as John Lewis and Argos and opt for natural gas to reduce both nitrous oxides (NOx) and particulate matter

The UK is in the midst of seeking out new ways to meet UK and EU commitments to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improve air quality. The 2008 Climate Change Act set targets to reduce GHG emissions by 34 per cent by 2020 (based on 1990 levels) and by 80 per cent by 2050. In addition, by the end of 2015, the government must submit a revised Air Quality Plan to the European Commission. Any improvements that can be made in transport need taking very seriously, as an estimated 25 per cent of UK carbon dioxide emissions are from transport.

Switching heavy duty vehicles to run on gas has big benefits and the natural gas vehicle industry is poised to expand rapidly as barriers to growth have been removed.

Enter the NGV network
The Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) Network is an industry backed body that is focused on raising awareness, and promoting the benefits of gas as a vehicle fuel for trucks and buses. The Network’s members span all aspects of the industry including network operators, infrastructure providers, fuel providers and logistics companies.

Richard Court, head of stakeholder delivery at National Grid, one of the founder organisations in the NGV Network, said: “The main hurdles to large-scale NGV uptake, which have historically been the small number of manufacturers producing and selling NGVs, and the limited number of gas refuelling stations across the UK and Europe are being overcome. Manufacturers are now delivering dedicated gas powered vehicles and new filling stations going up across the UK, so the sector is poised for big success.”

Positive progress
Businesses within the NGV Network have made excellent progress and can boast some highly significant achievements over the past year. CNG Fuels has gained planning permission for the UK’s first high-pressure CNG filling station on the M6 motorway in Leyland, due for completion by the end of 2015. The launch of the UK’s first dedicated Euro 6 gas powered Scania tractor unit is now in service with Argos, achieving up to 70 per cent carbon dioxide reduction when operated on biomethane.

Other big name brands have also come on board with John Lewis Partnership now running the Prins Autogas Dieselblend 2.0 dual‑fuel conversion on 38 new DAF CF distribution trucks as part of its programme to reduce CO2 emissions using bio‑methane. This is a major milestone reached in an Innovate UK project to assess the benefits of gas to the UK haulage industry.

Asda is also opening a LNG refuelling station near Bristol open to third party use. Many operators using gas are now offering access to their filling stations, which is adding to the UK network of natural gas stations. Development of new LNG facilities at the Isle of Grain has supported the improved importation and distribution of LNG as a Transport Fuel.
   
Challenging targets
Government, local authorities and corporations are under increasing pressure to meet challenging climate change targets. By the end of 2015, the government must submit a revised Air Quality Plan to the European Commission. The Climate Change Act / Fuel Quality Directive 2050 has set a target of an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gases by the turn of the century. Only by embracing new and existing technology will we be able to maintain our quality of life and care for our environment.

Amber Rudd MP, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change has stated: “Gas from the national gas grid will remain important for many decades to come – I’m excited by the possibility of innovation in the gas networks and by the projects that are already ongoing. There are uses other than for heating and electricity, such as fuel for HGVs.”

Green credentials
Natural gas, in the form of CNG or LNG, as a transport fuel, has significant environmental advantages over competing fuels and can really help the UK to meet ambitious air quality and greenhouse gas reduction targets.

Whilst natural gas (with the exception of biomethane) is not a renewable energy source, it offers significant benefits as an alternative to diesel. Increasing use of biomethane will lead to even bigger benefits as it is renewable and often made from waste.

One real life example is the gas-powered Scania tractor units which are now in service with leading UK digital retailer, Argos. These vehicles are running completely off biomethane gas, and release up to 70 per cent less carbon dioxide compared to their fuel counterparts (Scania).

Natural Gas Vehicles produce lower level of GHGs, NOx and particulates compared to all but the most modern Euro 6 diesel engines. In addition noise is a form of pollution that many people find hard to cope with in our busy towns and cities. Gas powered vehicles are very quiet and the reduction in noise levels over diesel vehicles will improve the quality of life for many people, especially at night and in the early mornings.

Tried and tested
Turning to natural gas to power trucks and buses means we can clean up our act now. NGV technology is tried and tested and the new generation of vehicles are meeting increasingly exacting environmental standards.
In the UK we have one of the most sophisticated gas infrastructures which is being utilised, to create an effective fuel distribution network.

Using the existing natural gas network, LNG infrastructure and forecourt infrastructure a network of gas refuelling points has been created and is growing.

The UK now has publicly accessible filling stations plus dedicated fuelling depots, which are being shared between operators.
Significant recent investment in the Isle of Grain and downstream LNG distribution facilities has increased the capacity and flexibility of LNG operators to provide transport fuel across the UK.

Manufacturers are now offering dedicated gas HGVs and buses in the UK, vehicles designed to operate solely on gas (compressed or liquefied) on the road in the UK.

Digging deeper
Drivers are reacting positively to gas vehicles as they are experiencing reduced noise levels, less fumes and the easy refuelling process.

To ensure the arguments stand up and the right decisions are being made, further research has been funded to ensure that the economic and environmental benefits of using gas are clear to users. A ‘Wheel to Wheel’ study by Element Energy is researching the overall economic and environmental impact of using gas as a fuel looking at the whole process from gas production, gas supply and distribution pathways through to engine fuel.

This will ensure, that going forward, operators can make the right decisions about the best vehicles to use, right refuelling choices and choice of fuel to get the maximum environmental and economic benefits of gas.

NGVs and the associated technology will play a significant part in the UK’s evolving energy and transport strategies and will help it to achieve demanding short, medium and long term environmental targets.

NGV Day 2015
Organisations from across the natural gas industry met at NGV Day, held at the National Motorcycle Museum in Solihull on 22 October 2015, to debate how best to engage with government to achieve the low emission targets and help commercial fleet managers and local authorities make the switch to Natural Gas Vehicles.

At the industry conference, Paul Ocholla, commercial development officer, National Grid Grain LNG, commented: “It is essential for those in the industry to invest and get the infrastructure in place to support a wide scale switch to gas vehicles across commercial fleets and public service vehicles.

National Grid Grain LNG is ready to support the current and future markets with its state of the art Truck Loading Facility which goes live in November 2015. 

“As a Network, we also need to take steps to educate key influencers on the benefits of gas vehicles to ensure they are considered as a viable alternative to diesel. It is essential that we market the right messages, collaborate where the industry would benefit and embrace competition to increase choices and security of supply in order to push opportunities for NGVs.”

James Goodson from Flogas, a natural gas supplier, commented: “It’s great to see so many people at NGV Day in support of the NGV Network, a real credit to how much has been achieved in such a short space of time. I hope it serves to spark off more interest in NGVs across the commercial and public sectors so we can really start making a difference.”

With a consultation into air quality currently underway and in view of the government’s commitment to publish a plan to improve air quality by the end of this year, it is essential that it considers NGVs as a viable alternative to diesel for heavy duty vehicles, support growth in the NGV sector and reduce the impact poor air quality is having on the health of those living in our cities.

Further Information
www.ngvnetwork.co.uk