Renewable natural gas (RNG) is the main route to a low-carbon future
By committing to achieving net zero by 2030, trucking businesses and the shippers who employ them are taking big steps to reduce their carbon footprint. But more than just operational changes are necessary to achieve net zero or better. To get past even the purest diesel platform, additional technologies are necessary. It has become clear that renewable natural gas (RNG) is the best option for low-carbon, clean-air transportation. RNG is currently assisting sustainable businesses in decarbonizing their transportation for three compelling reasons.
Renewable natural gas is the least carbon-intensive transportation fuel
Renewable natural gas is made from organic material that may be found in landfills, sewage systems, food scraps, green waste, and livestock waste. These organic wastes break down naturally to produce methane. Methane that has spilled into the air is a strong greenhouse gas and short-lived climatic pollutant.
Methane may be trapped and transformed into a fuel that can be used interchangeably for regular natural gas, as opposed to being released into the atmosphere.
Renewable natural gas decreases carbon when it is used to power vehicles by trapping methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere and by substituting low-carbon diesel fuel. RNG made from dairy manure has the potential to have carbon pollution that is up to 300% less harmful than those diesel fuel.
A fleet’s carbon emissions may be reduced by 100% by replacing just 25% of its diesel vehicles with negative carbon-intensive RNG made from dairy manure
Renewable natural gas trucks make our air better
The air is unhealthy in many parts of the United States, and diesel trucks contribute significantly to the problem. This problem of air pollution affects a large portion of Southern California, the Central Valley of California, Houston, Dallas, and other urban regions.
Cardiovascular, pulmonary, and other disorders are all influenced by air pollution. Local air pollution has been related in studies to cancers, Alzheimer’s disease, and COVID-19 vulnerability. Diesel particulate matter and nitrogen oxides, which are local air pollutants, are produced in large quantities by diesel trucks.
Diesel particulate matter contains substances that are carcinogenic and is categorized as harmful air pollution. Renewable natural gas-powered trucks emit NOx at levels that are 90% lower than those of a brand-new diesel truck and over 98% lower than those of many diesel trucks already in service. Trucks running on RNG have no emissions of the cancer-causing diesel particulate matter.
Renewable natural gas trucks reduce costs
Diesel fuel is more expensive than renewable natural gas fuel. Given the soaring price of petroleum today, gas savings are particularly emphasized. Prices for RNG are also less erratic than those for gasoline.
When compared to other newly developed clean technologies, RNG vehicles offer excellent economics. These new technologies are about 200% and 300% more costly than RNG trucks. These new technologies have far more expensive infrastructure expenses for charging or fuelling than RNG fueling.
Better carbon reduction and equal advantages for air quality are provided by an RNG truck at a cost that is between half and a third that of other technologies.
Conclusion
Both air quality and environmental pollution are issues that we are already facing. RNG trucks give the opportunity to reach net zero carbon emissions right away, even though it is notable for businesses to set aspirational targets to do so in the future. Over the past 14 years, RNG truck equipment has been established and improved.
Freightliner manufactures RNG engines in large quantities, as well as, Kenworth, Peterbilt, Mack, and Volvo. There is RNG fuelling infrastructure accessible across North America, and it is growing quickly.
Over 560 fuelling stations at client sites and retail locations are only found at Clean Energy. RNG offers a cost-effective, sustainable, and lowest carbon fuel substitute to diesel that is currently accessible.