A new biomethane refuelling station for HGVs entered construction in Aylesford, Kent, this week.
Capable of fuelling more than 500 trucks per day and of delivering 19 million kilogrammes of Bio-CNG annually, the 12-pump site is a joint venture between CNG Fuels, the infrastructure arm of ReFuels, and Foresight Group, a sustainability-led investment management company.
Serving major UK trunk routes including the M20 and M2, the site is being built on land acquired by ReFuels from the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) adjacent to Waitrose’s southeast distribution centre, enabling the retail giant to rapidly grow its fleet of biomethane-powered HGVs, which is already the largest such fleet in the UK.
Avonmouth Station
Justin Laney, general manager for fleet at the John Lewis Partnership, said: “John Lewis Partnership took delivery of its first dedicated CNG trucks in 2015 and now operates 400 CNG trucks, which is the largest biomethane-powered truck fleet in the UK.
“We are delighted that CNG Fuels has started construction of a high-capacity Bio-CNG station in Aylesford, where Waitrose has its southeast distribution centre.
“John Lewis Partnership is committed to all of its 520 heavy-duty trucks running on biomethane by 2028, and the Bio-CNG station in Aylesford is another important step towards realising this goal.”
ReFuels has one other station under construction in Bangor, North Wales, which is due to start operations in the next month. At least two further stations are expected to commence construction this calendar year.
It opened what it described as the world’s largest public access biomethane refuelling station in Avonmouth, near Bristol, in March.
Located near the M4/M5 junction just outside Bristol, the site is capable of refuelling 80 HGVs per hour from 14 high-speed dispensers.
Meanwhile, in April, CNG Fuels acquired Renewable Transport Fuel Services Limited (RTFS), the largest renewable biomethane sourcing company for UK transport, and established a new holding company – ReFuels – to create one of Europe’s largest fully integrated renewable biomethane suppliers for heavy transport.
