Refuels is a European supplier of renewable biomethane (Bio-CNG) for decarbonising HGVs. Bio-CNG – derived from food waste and manure by Refuels – is said to cut emissions by more than 90% while providing up to 40% lifetime fuel cost saving.
The station in Aylesford is a joint venture between CNG Fuels, the infrastructure arm of ReFuels, and Foresight Group, an investment management company.
The site, serving major trunk routes, including the M20 and M2, is being built on land acquired from the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) adjacent to Waitrose’s southeast distribution centre, enabling the retail giant to grow its fleet of biomethane-powered HGVs.
Justin Laney, general manager – fleet at John Lewis Partnership, said: “John Lewis Partnership took delivery of its first dedicated CNG trucks in 2015 and now operates 400 CNG trucks, which is the largest biomethane-powered truck fleet in the UK. We are delighted that CNG Fuels has started construction of a high-capacity Bio-CNG station in Aylesford, where Waitrose has its southeast distribution centre. John Lewis Partnership is committed to all of its 520 heavy-duty trucks running on biomethane by 2028, and the Bio-CNG station in Aylesford is another important step towards realising this goal.”
The new site – featuring 12 fuel pumps capable of delivering 19 million kilograms (kg) of Bio-CNG annually – will add to the company’s existing network of 12 refuelling stations across the UK. In total, this network is said to be able to refuel more than 6,000 HGVs daily, saving more than 750,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions compared to diesel.
By 2026, the company aims to have 30-40 stations in operation with a total capacity of up to 15,000 HGVs refuelling per day and more than 600 million kg of biomethane dispensed annually, equivalent to cutting UK HGV CO2 emissions by 8%.