Gasrec opens remote monitoring centre for biomethane stations

Gasrec has opened a Remote Monitoring Centre to watch and respond to real-time data from each of its biomethane refuelling stations and tanker fleet.

The information will be closely watched by an initial team of six control centre operators who will monitor gas levels to prevent shortages, and detect equipment faults or potential safety issues immediately and respond accordingly.

“The safety and resilience of our operations is at the heart of everything we do,” said Gasrec’s chief technical officer, Tony Robinson.

“Historically, this work has been incorporated into our operations and engineering team, but the substantial growth of the business over the past two years has enabled us to take things to the next level.

“Our Remote Monitoring Centre team has undergone intensive on-site training, ensuring they are all familiar with our stations and equipment. Through the latest technology, they will be able to monitor every aspect of our operation, ensuring we can react to potential issues before our customers even know there is a problem.”

Gasrec operates biomethane refuelling stations across the UK, providing green fuel for major retailers and logistics companies including Ocado, Sainsbury’s and UPS. In December, bp acquired a 28.57% stake in the company.

“Fuel availability at every location is a top priority,” said Robinson, “particularly as the demand from fleets transitioning from diesel to biomethane ramps up so quickly.

“With the Remote Monitoring Centre now in place – as well as quickly responding to defects, faults of breakdowns – we can also make sure our bulk deliveries are perfectly timed to replenish supplies, giving us increased confidence in our stock levels.

“This has been a significant investment in our infrastructure network, but also a critical move to ensure we can meet the huge demand we’re seeing from fleets wanting to transition from diesel to a cleaner, more sustainable fuel.”