Propane provides a stable, cost-effective, clean energy solution that powers everything from forklifts and delivery vehicles to backup generators.
As the pressure of sustainable operation continues to become the top priority of business owners, it may be a challenge for warehousing businesses to find a way to balance sustainable development with elasticity and productivity.
Propane is an organic compound with the chemical formula of CH3CH2CH3. It is a colorless and odorless gas, slightly soluble in water, soluble in ethanol and ether, stable in chemical properties, and not prone to chemical reaction. It is commonly used as a refrigerant, fuel for internal combustion engines, or organic synthetic raw materials. LPG is the abbreviation of LPG, which is a mixture of propane and butane, usually accompanied by a small amount of propylene and butene.)
The supply chain is an important contributor to the company's overall carbon footprint, which is why they are seeking to reduce emissions to achieve a more sustainable fleet, while remaining resilient when challenges come. One way to do this is by using reliable energy sources to operate clean equipment. Fortunately, propane provides a stable, cost-effective, clean energy solution that powers everything from forklifts and delivery vehicles to backup generators.
Forklift
For decades, propane engines have been the main force in the U.S. supply chain, but some professionals still doubt their versatility. The propane forklift can be safely used indoors and outdoors, and provides the power equivalent to diesel, while eliminating the time waste of switching equipment during shift. Compared with diesel, propane has less hydrocarbon and nitrogen oxide emissions, and its adaptability makes the warehouse run smoothly and cleanly.
With the development of the "Electrification of Everything" campaign, many business owners believe that the solution to reduce emissions is to electrify their equipment. However, they may not know that propane emissions are cleaner and more transparent if life cycle emissions are considered. This includes on-site to source emissions from power generation and distribution, as well as emissions from the production of electric batteries.
According to a recent study conducted by the American Propane Education and Research Commission (PERC), in most states, the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions of propane powered forklift engines can be less than half that of battery powered electric forklifts powered by the grid. Moreover, since the Environmental Protection Agency believes that batteries are dangerous materials, operators cannot simply handle them without serious impact on the environment.
The battery of the electric forklift will also wear out over time, and it needs to be replaced many times during the operating life of the forklift. With proper maintenance, regular inspection and re certification, a single propane cylinder can last for 30 years. In addition, with the aging of the battery, the charging time will not be too long, which causes the forklift operator to stop to charge during work. Or worse -- if there is a power outage, the electric forklift fleet must follow the grid arrangement to restart and operate. On the other hand, the propane cylinder can work for the whole 8 hours even when the power is cut off. When the cylinder is empty, the operator can simply replace it with a complete cylinder and continue to work.
The material handling operation shall not waste the time waiting for charging. With propane forklifts, products can continue to move and employees can maintain productivity throughout the shift.
electricity generation
The overall power infrastructure in the United States is rapidly aging and may be unpredictable. The supply chain will not stop due to power failure or extreme weather, which is why commercial propane generators are a great solution to ensure the resilience and sustainability of the warehouse.
Different from diesel oil, diesel oil will degrade over time, and the shelf life of propane is uncertain, which makes it an ideal generator fuel. According to a white paper published by PERC, diesel generators produce 0.24 grams of particulate matter (PM) and 11.65 grams of nitrogen oxides (NOx) per kilowatt hour. However, propane generators only produce 0.03g/kWh of inhalable particulates and 1.4g/kWh of nitrogen oxides, making them a clear choice for achieving sustainability goals.
Commercial propane power generation can be used every day, not just as a backup power supply, but also to provide an uninterrupted main power supply. Because propane is non-toxic, it can be stored on the ground or underground, without the risk of polluting the underground or sea water.
The last kilometer of transportation
The potential of propane is beyond the scope of warehouse operations. Once the materials leave the distribution center, enterprises can rely on propane as a clean and reliable energy source for their distribution vehicles. Propane natural gas -- the name used for propane in vehicles -- is ideal for medium delivery fleets that need to travel 400 miles per day and can carry heavier payloads. Today's propane gas engine is 90% cleaner than the EPA standard, and its NOx emissions are 96% lower than the best clean diesel engine of its kind.
Enterprises looking for sustainable fleet solutions need to assess their energy sources' emissions from the site to the source -- not just what happens in the tailpipe. A study by PERC found that propane medium vehicles (Class 3-7) provide a lower carbon footprint solution in most parts of the United States compared with medium electric vehicles that use grid charging. When comparing the life cycle carbon dioxide (CO2eq) emissions of a medium-sized vehicle, the average emissions of propane automatic gas nationwide are 125 tons less than those of electric medium-sized vehicles.
Propane gas vehicle is not only a sustainable solution; This portable energy can provide a flexible choice for delivery fleets. A power outage would shut down electric fleets and shut down gasoline or diesel stations, which need electricity to pump and distribute water. During these interruptions, fleets using propane automatic gas can cooperate with their propane suppliers to equip a propane car on site to provide fuel for the fleet without requiring electricity. This ensures that there is a sustainable fuel supply at all times and that the vehicle can operate normally when it is most needed.
Most importantly, the propane supplier can cooperate with the warehouse manager to establish a convenient on-site gas station to keep all propane powered equipment running. The propane refueling infrastructure is customizable, and its design scale can easily meet the needs of any warehouse. In many cases, propane suppliers will even lease refueling infrastructure from companies at almost no cost in exchange for mutually beneficial fuel contracts.
A cleaner future
Advances in propane technology are making this already clean energy more sustainable through renewable resources. Renewable propane is a low carbon energy, which is now produced from various renewable materials. The production of renewable propane itself is environmentally friendly, as it is a by-product of renewable diesel and sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Raw materials and ways to produce renewable propane include soybean oil, shepherd's purse vegetable oil, vegetable oil, animal fat or used edible oil. As the molecular structure and physical properties of renewable propane are the same as those of traditional propane, renewable propane is the "landing" fuel of any existing propane engine, including forklifts, automatic gas vehicles and generators.
Warehouses across the United States have reaped the benefits of propane as a single fuel solution to improve its sustainability and resilience.
