22 22 | ECO-FRIENDLY
Pictured at the opening of Ireland’s fourth publicly accessible CNG refuelling station at Circle K’s forecourt on the Ballysimon Road in Limerick are Declan O’Sullivan, Programme Delivery Manager, Gas Networks Ireland; Brian Connolly, Senior Pricing Manager; Roy Kavanagh, SME Sales Representative; Anda Bejenariu, Manager Circle K Ballysimon Rd; Mark Holohan, CNG Manager, Virginia International Logistics; Jonathan Diver, Senior Fuels Director, Circle K; Damien Corr, Project Manager, Gas Networks Ireland.
Gas Networks Ireland and Circle K open two new CNG stations in Limerick and Dublin Ireland is two steps closer to decarbonising the nation’s heavy vehicle transport sector, with the country’s third and fourth publicly-accessible, fast-fill Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations, now open at Circle K’s forecourt at Clonshaugh in Dublin and Ballysimon Road in Limerick City. Strategically located to support prominent transport operator routes, the state-of-the-art stations have the capacity to fill 50 Heavy Good Vehicles (HGVs) a day, with each fill taking no more than five minutes. The new stations allow hauliers and fleet operators in the region to begin the journey to sustainable transport by switching their fuel from conventional diesel to CNG today and ultimately transition to networked renewable gases, including biomethane and hydrogen, in the future. Renewable gases are the only deployable at scale, ultra-low carbon alternative fuel for use in HGVs, where electric solutions are not currently viable options, for long distance applications. Commenting on the ongoing developments and investments Jonathan Diver, Senior Director Fuels at Circle FLEETTRANSPORT | SEPT-OCT 21
K said: “We are delighted to unveil the latest CNG stations at Circle K Clonshaugh and Circle K Ballysimon Road, further strengthening our natural gas capabilities alongside our Dublin Port and Cashel stations. “Circle K has longstanding ties to the commercial transport and freight industry and a key priority of ours is supporting this sector as it endeavours to reduce its carbon emissions. Expanding
CNG – A vital part of Ireland’s transition to a low carbon commercial fleet our network of CNG refuelling stations and continuing to develop our EV charging facilities are both key elements within our overall sustainability agenda.” Transport currently accounts for 42% of Ireland’s energy use, making it the country’s largest source of energy demand. It is also one of the most
difficult sectors to decarbonise. In particular, HGVs and buses generate 30% of road transport emissions despite accounting for just 4% of vehicles on Irish roads. Proven global technologies, such as CNG, and renewable gases, including biomethane and hydrogen, can all play a part in helping decarbonise Ireland’s transport sector. Studies show that switching from diesel to natural gas can reduce wellto-wheel CO2 emissions by up to 23% compared to diesel (CENEX, 2019) and nitrous oxide (NOx) by up to 50% (UK Department of Transport, 2018). The highest emissions savings were achieved under specific conditions, loads and vehicles – in particular, long-haul and regional drive cycles – making natural and renewable gases the ideal fuels for decarbonising Ireland’s HGV and bus fleets. Furthermore, as the volume of renewable gas on the network increases, vehicles refuelling from the national gas network will increasingly reduce their carbon footprint without needing to change a thing. Irish companies are now developing
