Flogas Avonmouth LPG Storage Terminal

Welcome to our dedicated project website for the Avonmouth LPG Storage Terminal

This site provides an overview of what we are doing at Avonmouth and how to keep in touch with the project team.

Energy Transition

One of our most demanding challenges is the energy transition – shifting away from fossil fuels and supporting customers in their journey to net zero carbon. We are working with refineries, technologists, customers, and business partners to develop alternative fuels for the future, including ammonia, hydrogen, and renewable di-methyl ether. These are long term prospects in many cases, but in the meantime, we are continuing to deliver supplies of biopropane for customers. There is no single answer to the complex challenge of moving away from fossil fuels, but we are taking action, and eager to be an integral part of the solution.

However, as we transition, Liquid Gas has a vital role to play as the UK strives to achieve net zero by switching off-grid businesses and homes from higher carbon fossil fuels such as oil to Liquid Gas, which can provide carbon savings of up to 20%*. As well as having a lower carbon footprint in comparison to oil, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) offers a major reduction in NOx and SO2 emissions and emits almost zero particulate matter — a major contributor to air pollution. Read more about our plans in our 2021 Sustainability report

Avonmouth Storage Terminal

Our Avonmouth storage terminal has an important role to play in decarbonising off-grid Britain. The facility provides security of supply during the short-term transition from oil to gas while opening up a potential global supply of renewable fuels in the UK in the future through the proposed underground pipeline linking to the storage terminal.

Avonmouth Gas Pipeline

We plan to build an underground pipeline linking the storage terminal in Avonmouth to Bristol Port to diversify our supply routes and ensure greater security of supply. Every 100,000 tonnes of LPG imported through the pipeline which displaces oil use would reduce CO2 emissions by 72,700 tonnes a year. The pipeline would also eliminate the number of HGV road travel each year to fill the facility, with one ship able to do the job of 900 trucks.

 

*Greenhouse gas reporting: conversion factors 2019 – BEIS The role of LPG & bioLPG in Europe, WLPGA

Project timeline

Autumn-Winter 2020

Detailed design worked-up

Early 2021

Begin conversion

Mid-2022

Conversion complete

Winter 2022

Facility operational

2024

Pipeline connecting to
Bristol port

About Avonmouth

Traffic impact

The Avonmouth site neighbours an established industrial estate of warehouses and logistics buildings.  The site will be filled using Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs), however we do not expect this to have a significant impact on traffic in the surrounding Avonmouth area.

We have traffic management plans in place to ensure that our vehicles use major routes including the new M49 Junction in Avonmouth, resulting in minimal day-to-day impact on local roads.

Tanks

The tanks will be emptied, checked and converted to be compatible with LPG and the latest technology. The tanks will then be refilled with LPG – providing a strategic store that can be topped up during the warmer months when LPG is traditionally manufactured and used to keep supplies going during the winter when it is most needed.

Staff

Bringing the facility back into use will provide a boost to the local economy, offering jobs to the neighbouring communities during conversion and the life of the terminal. The site has historically provided a base for training, developing and supporting highly-skilled engineering staff and we expect this to continue.

This is likely to create around 40 new jobs in the area, most of which will be specialist STEM jobs. Given the relatively remote location, it is likely that many of those who work at the site will live in the local (e.g. South Gloucestershire/Bristol) area.

We are currently recruiting a new Control and Instrument Manager for the Avonmouth Storage Facility. Find out more about this exciting opportunity here.

Environment

For off-gas grid homes and businesses, LPG is the lowest carbon conventional energy source that is readily available in the UK today.

One of LPG’s greatest strengths is its versatility, as it can be used for many applications such as domestic heating and cooking, commercial heat and power, industrial heating and portable uses.

The Avonmouth facility is also “bio-ready.” BioLPG is a renewable gas, made from sources such as waste, sewage and energy crops and is also chemically identical to LPG. BioLPG can be ‘dropped in’ to the existing LPG network.

By 2040, we endeavour to provide our customers with 100% renewable energy solutions. This in turn will help local people we supply to reduce their own carbon emissions and play their part in tackling climate change.

You can find out more about our decarbonisation ambition in our 2040 Vision.

Safety

The Avonmouth facility has operated safely for over 40 years and has previously stored a very similar product, liquefied natural gas (LNG).

Safety is a core value at Flogas and our SAFETY F1RST programme and rigorous safety management processes are in place to ensure our customers, colleagues and the wider public always stay protected.

LPG is a very safe product when stored and used correctly. We adhere to a strict standard of safety at all times including site security, safe systems of work, emergency procedures, workplace transport and waste management.

 

Pipe network

The majority of this equipment is no longer required and will be removed when the Avonmouth site is converted.

Pipeline

We have submitted planning applications for the pipeline to Bristol City Council and South Gloucestershire Council. An overview of the planning application is available here and you can view the formal applications here.

Select and drag to view more

About Flogas

Who are Flogas?

Flogas Britain Ltd is a national supplier of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG).

We are a subsidiary of DCC plc, a leading international sales, marketing and support services group and FTSE 100 listed company. The DCC LPG Group now includes several businesses in Europe, North America and Asia.

We have more than 35 years’ experience in providing reliable, affordable off-grid energy solutions to industrial, commercial and domestic customers across the UK, making us the true experts in energy. We employ more than 1,000 people at locations around the UK and have more depots than any other LPG supplier.

 

Site History

For over 35 years, the site has been home to a strategic gas storage facility ensuring that grid-connected consumers have a reliable, affordable supply of heat even in the coldest of winters.

In the early 1970s British Gas Corporation acquired the land from Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) and began operating it from 1983. As the gas grid grew and the high pressure networks were extended deeper into the South West, the facility became less important. When supplies of natural gas started being delivered into Milford Haven in Wales, the facility became redundant for on-grid consumers and so it was closed down.

Flogas has since stepped in, acquired the site, and are repurposing it to give off-grid consumers the same reliable, affordable supply of heat.

 

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Community Benefits

Local jobs and training

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This project represents a significant investment in the local and national economy, which will see support for local jobs and skills.

Bringing the facility back into use will provide a boost to the local economy, offering jobs to the neighbouring communities during conversion and the life of the terminal. The site has historically provided a base for training, developing and supporting highly-skilled engineering staff.

We’re hoping that this will create around 40 new jobs in the area, most of which will be specialist STEM jobs. Given the relatively remote location, it is likely that many of those who work at the site will live in the local (e.g. South Gloucestershire/Bristol) area.

The site will work closely with Flogas’ new training centre in Avonmouth. This will fulfil the training needs of our 1,000-strong workforce, whilst also attracting future recruits and apprentices. Its primary objective is to support the training needs of staff across all functions within the business, such as sales teams, operations and tech services.

. The training centre is well-placed to provide long-term training opportunities to support the industry. In the future, the facility can be used for training in renewable technologies.

Our plans for a liquid gas pipeline between the Avonmouth terminal and Bristol Port would bring further economic benefits to the project, improving the commercial viability of the facility and helping to secure more local jobs. It is a significant capital investment which will provide long-term and sustainable growth for the region and the LPG industry.

Looking for opportunities to join the Flogas team elsewhere in the country? Click here to see our available roles across the business.

Low carbon future

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We take our green credentials very seriously and continuously work towards reducing our impact on the environment. We’ve been awarded the Carbon Trust Standard, which recognises our commitment to the planet.

For off-gas grid homes and businesses, LPG is the lowest carbon conventional energy source available in the UK today. One of LPG’s greatest strengths is its versatility, as it can be used for several applications such as domestic heating and cooking, commercial heat and power, industrial heating and portable uses.

A pipeline between our Avonmouth storage terminal and Bristol Port will be vital in diversifying our supply routes and opening up access to international markets. It will play a key role in achieving the government’s net-zero targets by switching a greater number of off-grid businesses and homes from higher carbon fossil fuels such as oil to liquid gas.

Improving diversity of supply, the pipeline would ease pressure on UK refineries and open up access to a global market which includes future fuel types. The Avonmouth facility is also “bio-ready.” BioLPG is made from renewable sources and is chemically identical to LPG which means it can be “dropped-in” to an existing LPG network. We are actively researching other renewable fuels which utilise existing infrastructure and the potential for green ammonia, hydrogen and renewable di-methyl ether which could extend use of liquid gases well beyond 2050​.

The Avonmouth facility is also “bio-ready.” BioLPG is made from renewable sources and is chemically identical to LPG which means it can be “dropped-in” to an existing LPG network.

As a leading LPG supplier, we’re fully committed to building a lower carbon future for UK homes. We endeavour to supply customers with 100% renewable energy solutions by 2040 – so everyone can do their bit to tackle climate change.

Security of Supply

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The Avonmouth storage terminal will become the largest in the UK and will greatly increase our storage capability. It will provide security of supply to commercial and residential customers in the South West as well as across the UK.

Converting this facility to an LPG store will provide further strength towards our distribution network and provide our customers with an unrivalled UK LPG supply chain. This will improve our ability to provide enough LPG during periods of high demand including the winter months.

LPG offers a flexible and low carbon fuel source for when intermittent renewable supplies cannot meet demand or are not generating due to weather conditions. A liquid gas pipeline between our Avonmouth storage terminal and Bristol Port would diversify our supply routes and facilitate greater imports of liquid gas, essential to underpin long-term security of supply for off-grid consumers in the UK.

Our investment in the Avonmouth facility and plans for a liquid gas pipeline demonstrates our unwavering commitment to security of LPG supply and the LPG industry in general.

 

FAQs

What is LPG?

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LPG is a blanket term for two types of natural gas (Propane and Butane) and is a natural by-product of gas and oil extraction (66%) and oil refining (34%). Although similar in chemical makeup, each gas is slightly different, making it suitable for different applications.

LPG is an exceptional and efficient energy source that would otherwise go to waste if not captured. In modern heating systems, LPG provides optimised performance and enables reductions in energy consumption.

What is LPG used for?

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A great strength of LPG is its versatility. It is readily available and comes in handy cylinders or larger bulk tanks depending on the amount of space required. This makes it suitable for a vast range of different industries and applications — from leisure, hospitality, and agriculture, to industrial heating and manufacturing processes, and even steam generation. It can be used practically anywhere, including the most remote areas. For companies that own a fleet of vehicles or those that operate forklift trucks, LPG can also be used a cost effective, efficient fuel supply.

How does LPG compare to other fuels?

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LPG also has an important role to play in delivering the Government’s net zero targets. It has the lowest carbon footprint of all off-grid fossil fuels emitting 20% less CO2e than oil and 30-40% less than coal. It offers valuable environmental benefits compared to more traditional fuels, as it emits virtually no black carbon and very low levels of other pollutants. It can therefore make a valuable contribution to improving local air quality.

What is BioLPG?

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BioLPG is chemically identical to LPG. However, it is made from biological sources such as waste, sewage and energy crops – meaning that it is fully renewable. BioLPG can be phased into an existing LPG network.

How do plans for a liquid gas pipeline support the drive to net-zero?

Plus

We plan to build an underground pipeline linking our storage terminal in Avonmouth to Bristol Port in order to diversify our supply routes and ensure greater security of supply for off-grid consumers in the UK.

 

As the lowest carbon, cleanest burning conventional off-grid fossil fuel, LPG offers significant carbon and air quality benefits compared with oil and solid fuels. The proposed pipeline will play a vital role in delivering the Government’s net-zero targets by switching a greater number of off-grid businesses and homes from higher carbon fossil fuels such as oil to liquid gas.

 

The option to truck in gas from other UK ports is uneconomic, making the pipeline the only viable way to maximise the significant benefits that LPG offers over the use of oil. Every 100,000 tonnes of LPG imported through the pipeline which displaces oil use would reduce CO2 emissions by 72,700 tonnes a year. The pipeline would also eliminate the number of HGV road travel each year to fill the facility, with one ship able to do the job of 900 trucks.

What role will the pipeline play in the energy transition?

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For some off-grid customers, switching from gas to electricity may not be practical for some time, if at all, due to the unsuitability of some homes and businesses. LPG has a key role to play here in moving these homeowners and businesses to a lower carbon fuel source whilst the transition to very low or zero carbon technologies takes place.

 

Liquid fuels will form a vital part of the energy mix for off-grid customers in the medium term. The proposed pipeline would ensure significant additional supply into the UK market and enable us to switch large numbers of homes and businesses away from higher carbon fossil fuels such as oil to liquid gas.

 

Improving diversity of supply, the pipeline would ease pressure on UK refineries and open up access to a global market which includes future fuel types. We are actively researching renewable fuels which utilise existing infrastructure and the potential for green ammonia, hydrogen and renewable di-methyl ether which could extend use of liquid gases well beyond 2050​.