Why opt for Bio-LNG?

Why opt for Bio-LNG, when you can simply fill up with liquefied natural gas LNG? With gas prices soaring, this question is perhaps much easier to answer than it was a year ago. After all, although the price of Bio-LNG is (still) linked to the price of regular LNG, you aren’t dependent on gas fields at home or abroad for production.

“Bio-LNG is made from waste products that are no longer suitable for humans or animals, such as household waste, sludge, manure or agricultural waste’, says Lot van Aubel, who has been responsible for the purchase and sale of Bio-LNG at Rolande since March last year. “And these waste products are, of course, available anytime, anywhere, unlike natural gas – which, like all fossil fuels, is running out. People and companies are becoming increasingly aware of this fact. We see an important role for ourselves when it comes to this, and consider it a challenge to play a pioneering role.”

“To date, the main reason we have seen companies opt for Bio-LNG as a fuel for their trucks is that companies are increasingly looking to become more sustainable. This aim is based on the Climate Agreement concluded in 2019 – by 2040, all road transport must be free of fossil fuels -, as well as on their own mission and vision: contributing to a more sustainable world. An easy way to make your business more sustainable is to choose a clean fuel for all your transport. With Bio-LNG, you can reduce the emissions from your trucks up to 100%.”

Bio-LNG: feasible ánd affordable sustainable alternative

Bio-LNG is actually the only feasible and affordable sustainable alternative for heavy road transport at the moment. “Of course, there are also developments in terms of hydrogen and electric driving. But the infrastructure for hydrogen is far from ready. And the range of electric trucks isn’t at that level yet. So, at the moment, Bio-LNG is the best option, not least because the price is comparable to diesel.”

Rolande has a large network of LNG stations. “You can go from Gothenburg to Lisbon on our Bio-LNG, we always say,” laughs Lot. There are thirteen filling stations in the Netherlands, five in Germany and two in Belgium. “Every year, we open ten more stations – at least that’s what we aspire to. And our fuel cards are also accepted by competitors, and vice versa, which is highly convenient.”

Currently, 20-25% of all Rolande’s LNG is “Bio”. Which means it’s a mixture with regular LNG. “Both products are interchangeable, so you don’t actually notice the difference, because they’re both practically 100% methane.” This product makes Rolande one-of-a-kind in the Netherlands. However, developments are moving fast.

Lot: “We are working on our own factory in Leeuwarden where we will soon be producing our own Bio-LNG from food waste. This would mean that we would be making 9.2 million kilos of Bio-LNG domestically every year.” This is a considerable increase in the amount of Bio-LNG that Rolande currently sells: “At the moment, we obtain most of our Bio-LNG from Scandinavia, which amounts to 6.5 million kilos per year.”

Rolande’s goal is, of course, to switch to 100% Bio-LNG in the future. “We believe in emission-free, and dream of making heavy road transport completely emission-free.”