Gas Network's Ireland is urging Ireland's Public Transport operators to move towards Natural Gas.

The firm made the call after it welcomed the announcement by the National Transport Authority that Ireland's public transport fleet will begin the journey to sustainability.

Vehicles fuelled by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) benefit from fuel cost savings of up to [40%] and offer emission reductions of up to 22% along with a 99% reduction in particulate matter, when compared to their diesel alternatives. The same vehicles will also run on Renewable Gas, which will be available on the network in 2018. Renewable Gas, produced from agricultural and municipal waste, is 100% carbon neutral and has the potential to fuel all of Ireland's public and private bus fleet.

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Gas Networks Ireland has conducted several trials of CNG powered trucks and busses in Ireland and the first CNG truck have commenced operating in the areas of waste collection and general haulage. CNG powered buses are commonplace in cities around Europe including Madrid, Rome, Malmo, Frankfurt and Warsaw. CNG buses on bio-methane are already becoming the technology of choice in the UK including in Bristol, Reading and most recently Nottingham. These cities are enjoying the resulting air quality benefits that result from eliminating the fumes emitted from diesel and petrol vehicles. In 2016, both Paris and Athens announced a ban on diesel vehicles, to reduce emission levels.

Denis O'Sullivan, Head of Commercial at Gas Networks Ireland said: "Gas Networks Ireland is delighted with this new initiative from the National Transport Authority. Transport emissions represent a significant challenge for Ireland. By replacing diesel engines with cleaner natural gas power and ultimately with renewable gas, we will make a major contribution to cleaning up our environment and particularly the quality of the air that we breathe. Gas Networks Ireland is already developing the network to make this happen."

(CD/LM)