The Freight Transport Association (FTA) has urged the government to increase the use of biomethane in heavy goods vehicles.

It said by doing this, the freight sector would ensure it is able to contribute towards the national targets on reducing the country's carbon footprint. A change in policy, it argued, would bring the use of gas in the industry into the mainstream.

According to the association, the case for using biomethane was first supported in the Autumn Statement, where the differentiation between the main rate of fuel duty and that for gases was maintained until 2025.

Rachael Dillon, climate change policy manager at the FTA, stated: "The recent commitment by government on the duty differential for gas provides much-needed confidence for the freight industry to invest in dual fuel."

She warned, however, there was currently a lack of refuelling infrastructure in the UK, which was limiting the take-up of biomethane.