Asda is opening up its Avonmouth liquefied natural gas (LNG) station to third party use, adding to the UK network of LNG stations available to heavy truck operators with LNG fleets.

BOC, which supplies LNG to Asda, announced the news during Multimodal 2015, a three-day exhibition and seminar event which is currently taking place at the NEC in Birmingham.

Dual fuel technology allows natural gas to be used in conjunction with diesel, reducing the total consumption of diesel and cutting CO2 emissions.

LNG typically accounts for up to 60% of total fuel consumption for a dual-fuel vehicle.

Diesel produces around 2.6 kg of CO2 for every litre burned, whereas LNG when used with diesel in a dual fuel vehicle typically reduces CO2 emissions between 10 and 14%.

The new dedicated dual fuel LNG refuelling station at Asda Logistics Services was opened last year at the chill distribution centre in Avonmouth, near Bristol.

The station incorporates the latest ‘zero loss' refuelling technology, developed by BOC, which uses cryogenic cooling to ‘temperature-condition' the fuel just prior to dispensing.

The refuelling station supports the UK supermarket chain's fleet of 52 dual fuel Volvo trucks at the site and is the latest development in Asda's transport sustainability strategy, which includes a target to reduce emissions from its transport fleet by 60% (between 2005 and 2015).

The depot at Avonmouth features a range of carbon and energy efficiency initiatives, including rainwater harvesting, combined heat and power and occupier lighting.

Stuart Milligan of Asda said: "We have been really fortunate to be in a position where we are working with companies such as BOC and Volvo, using new technology to both reduce costs and our carbon footprint. We have a fantastic facility from BOC and it would be great to use it to support a wider LNG network."

BOC's technical team will be on hand at Stand 1142 at Multimodal, together with representatives from Volvo, Diesel Gas and Asda, to talk to visitors about LNG as a low carbon vehicle fuel.

BOC will also showcase its  new mobile liquefied natural gas (LNG) refuelling unit. 

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