Panda to open two Compressed Natural Gas Stations with support from Gas Networks Ireland
Co-financed by the Connecting Europe Facility of the European Union
Gas Networks Ireland today entered into an agreement with Panda (part of the Beauparc group) to develop two publicly-accessible, fast-fill Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) stations in Dublin. The two stations will be strategically located with one on the Southside in Ballymount near the N7 and M50, and the other on the Northside in Finglas close to the N2, M50 and M1.
Construction on the project will get underway next summer with both stations expected to be in operation by the end of 2020. The project is co-financed by Gas Networks Ireland and the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility, as part of Gas Network Ireland’s Causeway Project.
CNG is natural gas which has been compressed to fit into a Natural Gas Vehicle’s (NGV) tank and is particularly suitable for use in commercial vehicles. It is a proven alternative to diesel or petrol and reduces transport costs by up to 25% and carbon emissions by over a fifth. In the future, these vehicles can achieve zero carbon transport when operating on renewable gas.
While Heavy Good Vehicles (HGV) and buses account for only 4% of vehicles on Ireland’s roads, they account for 30% of all emissions in the road transport sector. There are an estimated 25 million NGVs in operation worldwide, and almost two million in Europe.
Earlier this year, Gas Networks Ireland launched Ireland’s first publicly-accessible, fast-fill CNG station in Dublin Port with the second station due to be commissioned in Cashel early in the New Year.
Ian O’Flynn, Head of Commercial and Corporate Affairs at Gas Networks Ireland said: "Ireland’s transport emissions continue to rise, while this is the by-product of much welcomed economic and employment growth, as a country we face significant challenges to meet our emission reduction targets. Gas Networks Ireland is leading the development of this new, cleaner transport network, to support Ireland in reducing its carbon emissions and to give Ireland’s fleet operators sustainable energy options."
Panda plans to commission 45 NGVs as part of their new ‘green fleet’ over the next three years. The move is the first of its kind for a municipal waste operator in Dublin and is part of the company’s commitment to reducing its emissions and carbon footprint across its operations.
Brian Bolger, Group Fleet Director at Panda said; "Sustainability is at the heart of our business and this is a significant step for our company that will keep us at the forefront of industrial environmental excellence. The partnership with Gas Networks Ireland is transformative in allowing us to realise our ambitions in delivering this green fleet."
CNG for transport is one of the key gas technologies set out in Gas Networks Ireland’s Vision 2050 which outlines how it can reduce Ireland’s total carbon emissions by one third and create a net zero carbon gas network.
More on Vision 2050 can be found on: www.gasnetworks.ie/vision2050
ENDS
Notes to Editor:
About Gas Networks Ireland:
Gas Networks Ireland is the business division of Ervia that owns, builds and maintains the natural gas network in Ireland and connects all customers to the gas network. Gas Networks Ireland operates one of the most modern and safe gas networks in the world and ensures that 700,000 homes and businesses receive a safe, efficient and secure supply of natural gas, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Ervia is a commercial semi-state multi-utility company with responsibility for the delivery of gas and water infrastructure and services in Ireland.
About Panda
Panda provides waste management solutions to over 30,000 commercial customers and over 285,000 households, ranging from small shops to large national enterprises, on a weekly basis all over Ireland.
About Beauparc Utility Group
Beauparc was first established in 1990 in Slane, Co. Meath and is one of the UK and Ireland’s most trusted corporations, supplying utilities to homes, businesses and communities. The group spans residential and commercial waste management; renewable energy generation & supply; recycling collection and processing; logistics; green fuels and energy recovery.
About Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)
CNG is natural gas which has been compressed to fit into a Natural Gas Vehicle’s (NGV) tank and is particularly suitable for use in commercial vehicles. It is a proven alternative to diesel or petrol and reduces transport costs by up to 25% and carbon emissions by over a fifth. There are an estimated 25 million NGVs in operation worldwide, and almost two million in Europe.
CNG is the ideal fuel for decarbonising large Ireland’s HGV and Bus fleet which makes up just 4% of vehicles on the road, yet is responsible for approximately 30% of transport’s emissions. Switching to CNG can reduce a Heavy Goods Vehicle’s (HGV), emissions by up to 22%. In the future, these vehicles can achieve zero carbon transport when operating on renewable gas. Gas Networks Ireland has a strategic plan to achieve 20% renewable gas on the network by 2030.
In addition to CNG, the use of BioCNG in the same vehicle results in ultralow or zero carbon transport. Renewable Gas can be produced indigenously or can be imported through Gas Networks Ireland’s interconnectors, however in order for the wide range of economic and social benefits of BioCNG to be maximised, it is important that the production of bio-methane is supported in Ireland.
In August Gas Networks Ireland and Circle K, launched Ireland’s first publicly-accessible, fast-fill CNG station at Circle K’s Dublin Port premises. The project is co-financed by Gas Networks Ireland and the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility as part of Gas Network Ireland’s Causeway Project.
¹ Compared to diesel, CNG delivers the following emissions savings:
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The Causeway Project will see the formation of an initial national refuelling network together with renewable gas injection and the deployment of CNG vehicles. The delivery of 14 fast fill CNG stations will represent the first significant deployment of CNG refuelling infrastructure in Ireland. The provision of a renewable gas injection facility will play a significant role in delivering sustainable renewable gas to Irish gas customers in support of a sustainable indigenous energy source.