Company will supply carbon-neutral biomethane from 2021 and get ready for hydrogen and battery technologies

CNG Fuels today announced plans to become the UK’s first supplier of carbon-neutral fuel for HGVs, using manure to help fleet operators achieve Net Zero emissions.

The company is also consulting on how its network of refueling stations can best accommodate low-carbon hydrogen and battery electric technologies for HGVs so that it can support customers when these become commercially viable.

Philip Fjeld, CEO of CNG Fuels, said: “We want to help decarbonize freight transport and enable fleet operators to meet Net Zero targets now, supporting the UK’s climate targets. Renewable biomethane sourced from manure is currently the best low-carbon solution for HGVs, but we want to be ready to support our customers when other technologies are commercially viable for freight transport.”

We want to help decarbonise freight transport and enable fleet operators to meet Net Zero targets now, supporting the UK’s climate targets…

Andy Eastlake, Managing Director of the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership, said: “With all the focus on electrification, the low carbon combustion fuels might be overlooked. But it is vital to remember that Net Zero can be delivered in a number of ways. The LowCVP welcome genuinely zero (or even negative) carbon solutions which exist here and now and we must accelerate the uptake of these fuel solutions, particularly in the more challenging operations such as heavy road vehicles where they can best displace fossil diesel.”

Manure gives off methane, a greenhouse gas 28 times more powerful than carbon dioxide1. Using methane as an HGV fuel prevents it from going into the atmosphere and reduces overall emissions. The EU’s revised Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) recognises biomethane from manure as a carbon negative fuel2, and the UK is expected to adopt it in 2021 regardless of Brexit.

CNG Fuels is the UK’s leading supplier of Bio-CNG (compressed natural gas) fuel, 100% sourced from renewable biomethane and approved under the Department for Transport’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme. It is the lowest-carbon, most cost-effective alternative to diesel for HGVs, cutting vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% and with a reduction in cost of 35%-45%.

CNG Fuels is the UK’s leading supplier of Bio-CNG (compressed natural gas) fuel, 100% sourced from renewable biomethane and approved under the Department for Transport’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) scheme. It is the lowest-carbon, most cost-effective alternative to diesel for HGVs, cutting vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by up to 85% and with a reduction in cost of 35%-45%.

HGVs account for 4.2% of UK carbon emissions3, so decarbonising the sector is essential to meet the UK’s goal of achieving Net Zero by 2050.

CNG Fuels is developing a nationwide network of public access HGV refuelling stations on major routes to reach fleet operators all over the UK. Stations are supplied with biomethane via the existing gas grid, compressing it into fuel at the point of delivery. Low processing, transportation and electricity costs make renewable biomethane a low-cost, clean solution.

This strategic network will be ideally placed to support battery electric and hydrogen powered HGVs in the future. The Committee on Climate Change expects battery electric or hydrogen-powered HGVs to play a major role in decarbonising freight transport from 2030 onwards4.

Philip Fjeld said: “We want to support our customers when new low-carbon fuels become available, so when we build our Bio-CNG stations, we carry out a review to understand how we can fuel hydrogen and electric trucks. We are in discussions with numerous providers of alternative fuelling solutions and consulting with customers on how they expect their needs to evolve.”

Ed Syson, Chief Safety and Strategy Officer at Cadent, Britain’s biggest gas network which supplies many of CNG Fuels’ stations, said: “We are transforming and future proofing our networks so we can deliver low carbon gases cost-effectively to provide clean fuels for HGVs and other difficult to decarbonise transport sectors.

“Today we are helping to decarbonise road transport by delivering renewable biomethane, from producers connected to our networks, to CNG Fuels’ network of refuelling stations. We are already building on this with our partners to provide hydrogen solutions for a Net Zero future.”

Today we are helping to decarbonise road transport by delivering renewable biomethane, from producers connected to our networks, to CNG Fuels’ network of refueling stations….

CNG Fuels began supplying RTFO-certified renewable biomethane three years ago this month and the fuel has been adopted by a growing number of freight operators. The John Lewis partnership has committed to replace its entire 500-strong fleet with CNG vehicles by 2028 while parcel company Hermes also plans to replace its 200-strong fleet of diesel trucks. Other major brands adopting biomethane include Argos, ASDA and Cadent.

CNG Fuels began supplying RTFO-certified renewable biomethane three years ago this month and the fuel has been adopted by a growing number of freight operators. The John Lewis partnership has committed to replace its entire 500-strong fleet with CNG vehicles by 2028 while parcel company Hermes also plans to replace its 200-strong fleet of diesel trucks. Other major brands adopting biomethane include Argos, ASDA and Cadent.


1 The global warming potential of methane is 28-36 times greater than CO2 over 100 years – US Environmental Protection Agency.
2 103 grammes of CO2 are saved for each megajoule of energy generated by biomethane derived from manure, if methane is not allowed to escape in the process. Renewable Energy Directive II, p118.
3 The fifth carbon budget – The next step towards a low carbon economy, Committee on Climate Change, 2005
4 Zero Emission HGV Infrastructure Requirements. Report for Committee on Climate Change