ReFuels N.V., a leading European supplier of renewable biomethane (Bio-CNG) for decarbonising heavy goods vehicles, has announced the opening of its 11th refuelling station at Newton Aycliffe in County Durham, under the CNG Fuels brand.
This expansion enhances the nationwide coverage of the company’s renewable biomethane refuelling network.
The demand for ReFuels’ 100% renewable and sustainable biomethane, derived from waste feedstocks, is growing among heavy truck operators seeking to reduce emissions by over 90% compared to diesel. The Newton Aycliffe site aligns with ReFuels’ strategy of becoming the primary integrated supplier of alternative fuels in the UK. The company aims to have 30-40 stations operational by the end of 2025 and is also planning to expand into other European markets in the long term, as stated by Philip Fjeld, CEO and co-founder of ReFuels.
The new station in Newton Aycliffe strengthens ReFuel’s UK-wide network of public-access refuelling stations, offering low-carbon biomethane to major trucking routes in Northeast England. Customers such as Lidl, DHL, and GBA Services will have access to this sustainable fuel option to minimize the greenhouse gas footprint of their logistics operations.
Lidl, committed to reducing carbon emissions across its company, has been gradually transitioning its HGV fleet to run on 100% renewable and sustainable biomethane. According to Jason Wild, Senior Consultant - Distribution & Recycling at Lidl GB, Bio-CNG provides a significant reduction in transport emissions, up to 90% compared to diesel trucks. The development of CNG Fuels’ new station in Newton Aycliffe will facilitate the adoption of Bio-CNG at Lidl’s nearby depot and open up additional transport routes for the North East region of the UK.
The Newton Aycliffe station is a joint venture between ReFuels and Foresight Group. It features 14 fuel pump islands capable of refuelling over 60 trucks per hour, with an annual capacity of more than 27 million kilograms (kg) of Bio-CNG. This makes it CNG Fuels’ highest-capacity station to date. The station will serve local and passing fleets using the A1(M) and introduce Bio-CNG as a transport fuel for HGVs to fleets in Newcastle, Sunderland, Middlesbrough, and Darlington.
CNG Fuels’ existing network in the UK can refuel over 5,500 HGVs daily, with an annual dispensing capacity of more than 240,000 tonnes of biomethane. This has the potential to save up to 642,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually compared to diesel. The company’s target of having 30-40 operational stations by the end of 2025 translates to a total capacity of up to 15,000 HGVs per day and approximately 600 million kg annually. Construction is currently underway for two additional stations, set to commence operations in the coming months, and at least four more stations are expected to begin construction within the year.
