Gas Networks Ireland, the Irish gas network operator, and Irish petroleum retail chain Topaz, will install and operate Ireland’s first publicly-accessible, fast-fill compressed natural gas (CNG) station in Ireland, at Topaz’s Dublin Port premises. The EUR 1.45 million contract supporting the installation of the station is co-financed by Gas Networks Ireland and the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility as part of Gas Network Ireland’s Causeway Project.
The state-of-the-art fast fill facility will have the capacity to fill up to 70 Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), with each fill taking no more than five minutes. The build, commencing in February 2017, will take ten weeks and will be the first in a network of 70 filling stations to be developed by Gas Networks Ireland.
With the imminent introduction of biomethane (aka renewable natural gas – RNG), this Dublin Port facility represents strategic public infrastructure which will be capable of providing a fully Carbon Neutral fuel to the commercial transport market for the first time.
This is a significant step in the development of the market for Biogas and a stepping stone to Carbon Neutral Renewable Gas in Transport. Topaz are a leading provider of fuels in Ireland and we are delighted to work with them on this ground-breaking project. CNG, and soon to be introduced Renewable Gas, will play a major role in making transport in Ireland cleaner. Gas Networks Ireland are determined to play our role in facilitating the development of this new, cleaner transport network, said Denis O’Sullivan, Head of Commercial, Gas Networks Ireland.
The location at Dublin Port is of key strategic importance as Gas Networks Ireland begin rolling out a major energy network for Ireland’s commercial transport operators.
Together with Gas Networks Ireland, Topaz is proud to be leading the way in offering consumers a cleaner and cheaper alternative to diesel. Our service station at Dublin Port is a flagship location for Topaz and in 2016 we announced a €1.2million investment in a major site re-development with Dublin Port Company. Our partnership with Gas Networks Ireland builds on that investment, and on Topaz’s commitment to reducing emissions and improving the range of choice available to our customers, said Gordon Lawlor, Fuels Director, Topaz.
A proven technology, CNG is natural gas which has been compressed to fit into a vehicle’s tank and is particularly suitable for use in commercial vehicles including trucks, buses and vans. As an alternative to diesel or petrol as a fuel for transport, it provides the greatest benefits for operators/owners of the vehicles through the reduction of harmful emissions such as NOx and particulate matter (PM) and the generation of considerable fuel cost savings of up to 35 percent.
Renewable natural gas (RNG), when on stream later in 2017 will operate in the same vehicles with no need for modification providing the same air quality benefits along with significant carbon dioxide (CO2) reductions.
Worldwide there are 19 million Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) in operation, and of these, 1.9 million are in Europe. Gas Networks Ireland is currently seeking sites and potential partners for the roll out of this new network.
