Grocers Waitrose and CNG Fuels have announced that they are to take part in a large-scale study into how using compressed natural gas (CNG) can cut road transport emissions and potentially encourage UK fleet operators to switch to CNG from diesel.

CNG Fuels has announced plans to open a new renewable biomethane fuel station in Northampton. This will be at the Red Lion Truck Stop near Junction 16 of the M1. The station will be used by the 58 new CNG fuelled Waitrose trucks.

According to CNG Fuels the station will be able to refuel more than 350 trucks a day, and will be supplied by mobile CNG trailers should gas supply be cut off in an emergency. It has received funding from the Office for Low Emissions Vehicles alongside Innovate UK. The research project will assess performance data using a Cambridge University team.

“100 per cent renewable biomethane fuel offers fleet operators the chance to dramatically cut carbon emissions, improve air quality and save money,” and this “study will help convince others to make the shift and demonstrates that this is a solution that can be scaled up rapidly within fleets,” said CNG Fuels chief financial officer Baden Gowrie-Smith.

“Fleet operators and drivers are enjoying the ‘diesel-like’ simplicity of biomethane fuel while making a major impact on our environment by tackling the challenges associated with lowering HGV emissions.”