PLANET CASE STUDY
Climate Action
Biomethane Fuel in HGVs
“Tarmac is dedicated to innovating through trialling low carbon transport and logistics solutions. While the end goal is to electrify our fleet or to use low carbon fuels like hydrogen, we need to look at sustainable alternative fuels that we can start using sooner.”
Ben Garner, senior manager of logistics development at Tarmac
Last year, Tarmac trialled the use of biomethane fuel in heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) as part of the company’s ongoing drive to reach net zero. The three week-long trial was carried out in June and July 2023 in partnership with CNG Fuels, the leading supplier of renewable and sustainable biomethane fuel for commercial vehicles in the UK. The trial tested the range of a 44 tonne HGV hauling a bulk cement tanker.
Biomethane is a renewable fuel produced from sustainable feedstocks, recovering waste generated from other industries. This makes it an environmentally friendly alternative to diesel in powering vehicles for commercial use and has the potential to deliver a net reduction of up to 90% in CO₂ emissions. The production of biomethane is increasing in the UK, and there is a network of fuelling stations across the country.
Ben Garner, senior manager of logistics development at Tarmac, said: “This trial of biomethane fuel in an HGV represents another important step in our transition to net zero logistics. Partnering with CNG Fuels on this trial demonstrates what we can achieve by working with the logistics sector to reach net zero emissions.”
CNG trucks that use biomethane fuel use similar technology to traditional diesel-powered vehicles and only require a small amount of training for drivers. During the trial, drivers found that using biomethane could even deliver additional benefits including reduced vibrations in the cabin.
Tarmac’s Tunstead site was chosen as the location for the trial due to the undulating landscape of the Peak District. This tested the HGV’s ability to navigate steep, uneven terrain using the fuel. Tarmac will look at the full results of the trial to assess the potential for biomethane fuel to be used as an alternative to diesel in other HGVs.
