ReFuels, a supplier of renewable biomethane (Bio-CNG) which is used for decarbonising HGVs, has started construction of a new refuelling station at Aylesford in Kent.
The public access Bio-CNG station which will be operated under the CNG Fuels brand is part of a joint venture with Foresight Group.
Serving major UK haulage routes, including the M20 and M2, the site is being built on land acquired from the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) adjacent to its supermarket chain Waitrose’s south-east distribution centre. With the Waitrose and John Lewis parent group looking at decarbonising HGVs as part of ambitious net zero targets, the new Bio-CNG refuelling facility will enable the business to rapidly grow its fleet of biomethane-powered vehicles.
The site will feature 12 fuel pump islands, which will allow more than 500 trucks to be refuelled per day with a total capacity of more than 19 million kilograms of Bio-CNG annually.
Justin Laney, general manager for fleet at JLP, said: “JLP 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 south-east distribution centre. JLP 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.”
The current CNG Fuels network in the UK can refuel more than 6,000 HGVs daily. It has a year-end 2026 target of having 30-40 stations in operation which would play a key role in decarbonising HGVs across the country.
Philip Fjeld, CEO of ReFuels, argued: “Bio-CNG is the only fuel available today that can decarbonise the UK’s HGV fleet at the scale and pace required to meet net zero.
“Well over one hundred fleets across the UK are now adopting the fuel en masse and our new site in Aylesford, built on land acquired from one of the UK’s biggest retail HGV fleets, is a testament to this growing demand and the value fleet operators place on Bio-CNG refuelling infrastructure.”
Bio-CNG is refined biogas made from agricultural waste, food waste, sewage water, and animal manure, and while some of the UK’s largest retailers – such as JLP, AO.com, and Dunelm – are using it to fuel their fleets, others prefer to explore electrical power to decarbonise HGVs and their wider home delivery fleets.
ReFuels has one more station under construction in Bangor, North Wales, which is due to start operations in the coming months.
[Image credit: John Lewis Partnership/ReFuels]
