Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 June 2023
222. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Transport following the roll-out of the compressed natural gas, CNG, fuelling network, if he will provide an update on the progress made in establishing an extensive CNG infrastructure across the country; if there are any plans to expedite this roll-out and ensure wider accessibility of CNG as a fuel option for heavy-duty vehicles; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29505/23]
View answerCNG is natural gas that has been compressed and stored at high pressures (over 200 bar) and is typically used as a transport fuel. It is particularly suitable for use in commercial vehicles where electric solutions are not yet a viable option. The gas used can be either natural or renewable gas that meets the network specifications, providing a pathway to more sustainable transport. Biomethane can be used with or as a substitute for natural gas in any application which uses natural gas, including transport. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine are leading in the delivery of the 5.7TW/h biomethane production/anaerobic digestion development target by 2030 under the Climate Action Plan.
I made regulations authorising the National Oil Reserves Agency (NORA) to issue additional renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) certificates targeting supply of specific renewable transport fuels which included biomethane from 1 April 2023, further incentivising its supply for use in transport. The regulations result in a total award of 3.4 RTFO certificates for biomethane supply that has been produced from feedstocks listed in Annex IX of the EU renewable energy directive, or otherwise a total of 1.7 RTFO certificates for biomethane supply, for use in the transport sector. The renewable transport fuel obligation (RTFO) is targeted at fuel suppliers and it should be noted that it is not designed to targeting supply of biofuels or biogas to specific end user groups such as road hauliers.
Gas Networks Ireland is leading the Causeway Project, under which a network of high capacity fast-fill CNG stations and a single renewable gas injection point are being delivered. Successful delivery of these objectives will demonstrate the validity of CNG and biomethane as viable alternatives to diesel in Ireland while also helping to meet Ireland’s requirements under the EU’s Alternative Fuels Infrastructure Directive.
There are currently four operational CNG stations under the Causeway Project, which are operated by Circle K. These are located in Limerick; Cashel, County Tipperary; and Clonshaugh and Dublin Port in Dublin. Each station has the capacity to fill up to 50 HGVs a day, with each fill taking no more than five minutes. There is now a pipeline of additional public CNG stations progressing through the design, planning and construction project phases and Gas Networks Ireland expects to have five more operational by 2024. Further, four private CNG stations are in operation in Dublin, Cavan, Cork and Shannon.
Biomethane injected into Ireland’s gas network can be transported to forecourts which have a CNG refilling station. Where the biomethane is certified by an EU Voluntary scheme as meeting the sustainability and greenhouse gas reduction criteria set out in the Renewable Energy Directive, it is fully renewable. In the six months that BioCNG has been available at the four Circle K outlets, almost 1,900 tonnes of carbon emissions have been saved, equating to over 1.9 million carbon neutral kilometres.
To further promote CNG and the ongoing decarbonisation of transport, companies and enterprises who wish to buy alternatively-fuelled heavy duty vehicles as opposed to the diesel equivalent the Alternatively Fuelled Heavy Duty Vehicle Purchase Grant Scheme remains available since 2021. Further, under the Accelerated Capital Allowance (ACA) Scheme for Gas Vehicles and Refuelling Equipment, the use of CNG, biomethane or renewable gas of non-biological origin such as green hydrogen in large vehicles such as HGVs and buses is incentivised, supporting low- and zero-carbon emission alternative technology to diesel or petrol, toward achievement of 50% reduction in carbon emissions in transport by 2030, through the provision of a 100% up-front wear and tear allowance for qualifying expenditure incurred in a given year. I understand that the Minister for Finance will review the scheme in 2024.
