BOC, the UK's largest supplier of compressed and liquefied gases, and logistics specialists Stobart Group welcomed Jon Horsley lead technologist, low carbon vehicles, from the UK's innovation agency the Technology Strategy Board to Eddie Stobart's new liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuelling station near Warrington, Cheshire.
As part of a £23m programme coordinated by the Technology Strategy Board, and designed to encourage road haulage operators to switch to low-carbon commercial vehicles, the state-of-the-art, dedicated LNG refuelling station in Appleton Thorn is now on-stream. 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 from the site. Other LNG fleet operators may also access the station installed by BOC.
Visiting the new refuelling station for the first time, Jon Horsley from the Technology Strategy Board 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, a member of the Linde Group. This uses cryogenic cooling to ‘temperature-condition' the fuel just prior to dispensing, which prevents leaks.
Mark Lowe LNG Business Manager, BOC, 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 percent 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 per cent.
