Waste company Panda (a subsidiary of the Beauparc waste management group) partnering with Gas Networks Ireland is to invest €10 million in a fleet of 45 compressed natural gas (CNG) fuelled refuse trucks as the company seeks to cut its carbon emissions.
The natural gas vehicles will be commissioned over the next three years, and Gas Networks Ireland is coming on board to construct two new fillings stations in Dublin at an investment of €2.8 million. The stations, which will be operational next year, will be operated by Panda Power and publicly accessible to both private and commercial vehicle owners.
“Sustainability is at the heart of our business and this is a significant step for our company that will keep us at the forefront of industrial environmental excellence,” said Brian Bolger, group fleet director at Panda. “The partnership with Gas Networks Ireland is transformative in allowing us to realise our ambitions in delivering this green fleet and will ultimately reduce our carbon emissions by 380 tonnes per annum.”
Ian O’Flynn, Head of Commercial and Corporate Affairs at Gas Networks Ireland said: "Ireland’s transport emissions continue to rise, while this is the by-product of much welcomed economic and employment growth, as a country we face significant challenges to meet our emission reduction targets. Gas Networks Ireland is leading the development of this new, cleaner transport network, to support Ireland in reducing its carbon emissions and to give Ireland’s fleet operators sustainable energy options."
In the future, these vehicles can achieve zero carbon transport when operating on renewable gas. GNI has a strategic plan to achieve 20pc renewable gas on the network by 2030.