Gas Networks Ireland secures gov’t funding for natgas station boost

Ireland’s Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) has approved €12.8 million (USD 13.58 million) to fund the installation of 13 Gas Network Ireland’s (GNI) compressed natural gas (CNG) stations, reports independent.ie.

The financial support will boost GNI’s plans to provide a natural gas infrastructure with the establishment of 70 fast-fill CNG stations across the country.

Developing infrastructure for alternative source of transport fuel like CNG is a requirement to European Union member states as this will encourage motorists to opt for cleaner fuels leading to lower carbon emissions.

GNI programme manager Dan Fitzpatrick said that three CNG stations, which costs €1 million each to develop, are set to open between this year and early next year and another three in the rest of 2017.

GNI market study expects 20,000 heavy goods vehicles and 12,000 buses to switch to CNG.