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The Secretary of State for Transport, Patrick McLoughlin MP, has opened UPS’s new biomethane refuelling station at the company’s hub in Tamworth.
The refueling station has a ten tonne cryogenic tank and will be used to supply fuel to UPS’s 20 dual fuel tractor vehicles with a mixture of diesel and biomethane.
These vehicles are then used on long overnight journeys to ensure that the maximum amount of diesel possible is displaced by biomethane – typically achieving a 40 per cent carbon emissions reduction and very low air quality emissions.
McLoughlin said: “I am really pleased to see this in action here in Tamworth. We are keen to see more use of biogas, which is why we have extended tax incentives on all gas transport fuels. This will provide more support for those considering investing in these technologies.”
McLoughlin also met with senior UPS executives to discuss the use of biomethane in the logistics industry before being given a tour of the Tamworth hub.
Peter Harris, director of dustainability at UPS Europe said: “We have championed biomethane’s suitability as an alternative fuel for several years now, especially for heavy goods vehicles where few if any other fuels have the same potential. It’s great to have this opportunity to illustrate to government the benefits biomethane can bring.
“The transport sector has very limited access to biomethane, as government incentives for producers tend to be preferential towards the energy sector where other alternatives more readily exist. We hope today’s event can encourage a discussion on how best to address this discrepancy.”
UPS originally used biomethane vehicles in their operations in the UK for the London 2012 Games, before permanently incorporating them into the UK fleet.