Gas Networks Ireland has announced the opening of a new Bio Compressed Natural Gas (BioCNG) refueling station at Junction 14 on the M7 motorway. This marks a significant step towards decarbonising Ireland's commercial transport sector, which accounts for up to 20% of the country's transport emissions.

The new station responds to the increasing demand for renewable gas in the transport sector, driven by a consistent rise in gas usage over the past few years. From January 2023 to August 2024, gas consumption in transport has experienced substantial month-on-month and year-on-year growth, indicating a shift towards cleaner fuel alternatives.

Delivered by Gas Networks Ireland and Lidon Group with support from the Causeway Programme, this BioCNG station is the sixth public CNG station to be completed and the tenth operational station in total. It will supply biomethane produced locally in Kildare by Green Generation, using local food and farm waste, promoting a circular economy and reducing harmful emissions from heavy goods vehicles (HGVs).

BioCNG offers a cleaner alternative to diesel, cutting a HGV's carbon emissions by up to 90% and reducing lifetime vehicle costs. It also helps Irish hauliers to reduce their scope 3 emissions.

The launch coincides with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Week, highlighting Gas Networks Ireland's commitment to leading by example in sustainable energy innovation. This new BioCNG station strengthens Ireland's green transport network, adding to the growing number of CNG and BioCNG stations across the country.

James Lawless TD, Minister of State at the Department of Transport and Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications, who officially opened the station said: "Ireland faces a significant challenge to meet its emission reduction targets, particularly in the transport sector, as it currently accounts for 34 per cent of Ireland's energy use, making it the country's largest source of energy demand. This sector is also responsible for around 40 per cent of Ireland's energy-related emissions.

-- Advertisement --

"Heavy goods road freight is a 'hard to abate' sector given the fact that more than 99 per cent of heavy goods vehicles are currently diesel fuelled. This new BioCNG station allows hauliers and fleet operators using the M7 motorway to support sustainable transport and supply chains by switching their fuel from diesel.

"I am particularly proud that a successful service station in Kildare is to the fore in helping Ireland transition to a cleaner energy future, by providing a low carbon fuel alternative to diesel."

The completion of this station and increasing the availability for biomethane as an alternative fuel to diesel, is part of Gas Networks Ireland's pathway to a net zero carbon network by 2045. This pathway outlines the commercial semi-state's strategy to support the government's target of integrating 5.7 TWh of biomethane into the gas network by 2030.

By 2045, it is projected that biomethane will make up c.30 per cent of the gas transported on Ireland's network, with the remaining c.70 per cent to comprise green hydrogen. According to Gas Networks Ireland, by this date, natural gas will be fully phased out from the country's gas network, marking a significant shift towards renewable energy sources.

Gas Networks Ireland's Director of Customer and Business Development, David Kelly said: "Ireland's commercial transport fleet makes up just three per cent of vehicles on the road nationwide yet is responsible for approximately 20 per cent of transport's carbon emissions. BioCNG is key to driving sustainable supply chains and is a significant step towards net zero commercial transport in Ireland.

"We are committed to enabling sustainable energy services and are working towards transporting renewable gases at scale. We have partnered with some of the most prominent forecourt operators and haulage companies throughout Ireland to make the alternative fuel option of low carbon gas a reality for Irish transport. We are delighted to see the country's tenth CNG refuelling station in operation. With the stations strategically located in Cavan, Dublin, Limerick, and Tipperary – and now Kildare we are enabling new cleaner transport corridors for Irish freight operators."

Liam Fitzpatrick, Director of the Lidon Group, which manages Junction 14, said: "We are delighted that Junction 14 is the first BioCNG station in Kildare, providing renewable biogas that has been produced through the recycling of agricultural and food waste here in our home county. Having opened this Motorway Services facility on the M7 13 years ago, we have seen the demand for renewable fuels growing steadily throughout that time. Today is a hugely significant day for us at Junction 14 with such a strong commitment being made to carbon reduction and sustainable travel for the future through this joint venture. The addition of biogas represents another step in that commitment to utilise and offer sustainable options on Ireland's motorway transport network. Junction 14 was the first motorway public electrical charging point with 50kw and 11 kw units in 2011. In 2021 we installed an eight bay Super charger unit, which will be doubled in number in early 2025.

"As the demand for sustainable transport options grows, the opening of the BioCNG station at Junction 14 provides a vital infrastructure solution for the haulage and transport sectors. It will help to reduce the environmental impact of transport and contribute to Ireland's overall goal of becoming a carbon neutral economy by 2050."