A cleaner energy for transport

While heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and buses account for 4% of vehicles on Irish roads, they generate 30% of Ireland’s transport emissions. Studies show that switching from diesel to CNG can reduce well-to-well carbon emissions by up to 23% (full life cycle from source to use).

The highest emissions savings realised with CNG are achieved under specific conditions, loads and vehicles – in particular, the long-haul and regional drive cycles – making CNG the ideal fuel for decarbonising Ireland’s heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) and bus fleets. Further detail on studies outlining the environmental benefits of CNG can be found here.

While immediate carbon emissions reductions can be realised by switching to CNG today, more significant savings are coming. Renewable gas, which is entirely compatible with existing gas infrastructure, technology and vehicles, is now flowing onto the national gas network. As Ireland gradually replaces natural gas with renewable, carbon neutral gas, vehicles refuelling from the gas network will increasingly reduce their carbon footprint without changing a thing.

Moving to CNG today is a sustainable, long-term choice for fleet operators. To learn more or start your journey, please complete this form and one of the team will contact you as soon as possible.

Gas Networks Ireland has created a CNG Vehicle Grant Scheme to assist Irish fleet operators and hauliers in funding the transition to new, cleaner Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles. The scheme will support the purchase of up to 400 new CNG vehicles, which will support the decarbonisation of Ireland’s transport sector and provide an affordable, proven and viable alternative to diesel for Irish fleet operators.

While also offering a comparable refuelling time, the payback period for gas-powered HGV trucks is approximately two years, which is a very attractive proposition for fleet owners. CNG vehicles also have longer range and the ability to drive heavier loads than comparable electric powered vehicles. Further detail on studies outlining the cost benefits of CNG can be found here.

A reduced tolling scheme for Low Emissions Vehicles, including CNG, was launched in 2020, with the objective of reducing transport emissions and building a climate resilient low carbon transport sector. The tolling Scheme will run until December 31st 2022 (or up to a maximum of c. 50,000 vehicles). Further details on qualification for the tolling scheme and the potential savings for Natural Gas Vehicle owners can be found on www.etoll.ie.

Other benefits for moving to CNG include a reduced fuel excise duty and the Accelerated Capital Allowance tax incentive.

The excise duty for natural gas and renewable gas as a transport fuel was set at the EU minimum rate in Budget 2015 for an eight-year period. This represents a significant reduction relative to the excise applied to diesel or petrol, reflecting the Government’s commitment to providing alternatives for Ireland's transport energy needs.

The Accelerated Capital Allowance was introduced in Budget 2018 as a tax incentive to support investment in energy efficient equipment such as natural gas vehicles and associated refuelling infrastructure. The Accelerated Capital Allowance applies to the total cost of the infrastructure and vehicles and allows companies to deduct the full cost of such equipment from their taxable profits in the same year of purchase; further details are available on www.revenue.ie

Moving to CNG today is a safe and reliable choice for fleet operators. To learn more or start your journey, please complete this form and one of the team will contact you as soon as possible.

CNG is an established global source of transport fuel, with more than 28 million gas-powered vehicles worldwide and almost two million in Europe.

CNG is natural gas from the national gas network that is compressed to fit in the fuel tank of gas-powered vehicles. Studies show it is particularly well-suited to deliver the high performance and distance requirements of HGVs and buses. Further detail on studies outlining the performance of CNG can be found here.

Fast-fill CNG stations also provide quick, efficient and safe refuelling, with a normal fill-time of three to five minutes for a CNG HGV from empty.

Moving to CNG today is a proven, safe and reliable choice for fleet operators. To learn more or start your journey, please complete this form and one of the team will contact you as soon as possible.

Gas-powered vehicles can provide significant competitive advantage for early adopters – both from a sustainability and price perspective. As climate action becomes increasingly important to businesses, many large private and public sector organisations are focusing on the sustainability of their supply chains and considering their carbon footprint when choosing a transport partner. CNG can reduce well-to-wheel emissions by up to 23% compared to diesel.

Furthermore, as the same CNG-powered vehicles are already capable of running on renewable gas without changing a thing, their carbon footprint will increasingly reduce as the volume of renewable gas on the national network increases. Those wishing to go a step further can purchase locally produced renewable gas within Ireland today. This will provide Irish HGV and bus operators who choose CNG with a distinct competitive advantage when securing new local and international customers.

Learn more from our case study about the Irish businesses who are already enjoying the benefits of CNG and discover why they find it the most sustainable choice for their business. Moving to CNG today is a strategic choice for fleet operators looking for competitive advantage. To learn more or start your journey, please complete this form and one of the team will contact you as soon as possible.

While HGVs and buses account for 4% of vehicles on Irish roads, they generate 30% of Ireland’s transport emissions. With up to 23% well-to-wheel emissions savings realised by switching from diesel to CNG, CNG provides an immediate solution to the decarbonisation of the transport sector. Learn more from our case study about the Irish businesses who are already enjoying the benefits of CNG and discover why they find it the most sustainable choice for their business.

More importantly though, CNG is the first step towards carbon neutral renewable gas in transport. Renewable gas can deliver significant emissions savings and drive a net-zero carbon HGV and bus sector.

Establishing a sustainable renewable gas industry in Ireland will not only help meet Ireland’s climate action targets and enhance Ireland’s security of supply, but also support agriculture and the economy. Renewable gas is produced from farm and food waste through a process known as anaerobic digestion, which is helping to decarbonise the food and agricultural industries.

The process not only generates renewable gas to replace natural gas on the national network, but produces an organic bio-fertiliser by-product that reduces pollution risk for waterways, improve soil quality, enhance the ability of grassland soils to absorb carbon and improve air quality, and decreases reliance on chemical fertilisers and pesticides on cropland and dairy pastureland.

Locating anaerobic digestion facilities in rural areas will provide additional revenue sources for these communities from the sale of feedstocks, bio-fertiliser and renewable gas, providing long-term, sustainable and diversified employment opportunities and income streams. Renewable gas produced through anaerobic digestion is already facilitating sustainable circular economies in Ireland, with some food businesses powering their operations with renewable gas produced from their own waste.

Moving to CNG today is a socially responsible choice for fleet operators. To learn more or start your journey, please complete this form and one of the team will contact you as soon as possible.