BioLNG EuroNet: Iveco, Scania, Shell team up to boost green truck adoption across Europe
A consortium called BioLNG EuroNet announced a commitment to the further expansion of LNG as a road transport fuel across Europe with new infrastructure that should ensure the long-term success and mass scale adoption. The group includes Shell, Disa, Scania, Nordsol and Iveco, which will each deliver separate activities that will see 2,000 more LNG trucks on the road, 39 LNG fueling stations and the construction of a BioLNG production plant in the Netherlands. The LNG stations will form part of a pan-European network and be built in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland and Spain. They will be located approximately every 400 km along core road network corridors from Spain to Eastern Poland. Moreover, the bioLNG facility will produce 3000 MT/year of biomethane, generated from waste, which will be sold to end-users via the LNG network. “LNG is an increasingly affordable fuel for heavy goods vehicles which will make it an important energy source as the transport sector evolves,” commented Istvάn Kapitάny, Executive Vice President, Shell Retail. “Shell is committed to offering our customers lower carbon energy and the new LNG stations are a vital piece of the puzzle. I look forward to seeing this important network of stations welcome European motorists in the years to come.” “This program covers filling stations, biofuel production and subsidies which are all necessary for progressive customers to invest in the trucks, despite the extra initial cost,” explained Jonas Nordh, Director Sustainable Transport Solutions, Scania. “Whilst LNG which reduces CO2 emissions by about 20%, is more broadly available today, biogas, which reduces CO2 emissions by over 90%, can increasingly be blended in with the natural gas as production of biogas is ramped up.” Pierre Lahutte, IVECO Brand President, also said: “This project opens the possibility for a seamless transition to a circular economy approach based on generating energy from waste. This makes even negative GHG emissions and carbon sequestration possible. The project’s funding will enable us to help our customers convert their fleets to LNG through competitive IVECO Capital finance & leasing plans, increasing the number of natural gas vehicles on European roads and making progress towards a sustainable transport industry.” About the project:
• The BioLNG Euronet project is bringing together major players in the European market: and IVECO, Shell, DISA, Nordsol and Scania. These project partners aim to help the European Union meet its goal of a 60% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2030, by triggering long-term decarbonization of heavy duty road transport across mainland Europe.
• The bioLNG facility to be constructed in the Netherlands will transform biogas from organic waste to biologically derived LNG (BioLNG). The use of smart and innovative, patented technologies combined with the financial backing and stabilized BioLNG offtake make the Nordsol proposition unique. This allows Nordsol to build and operate its own BioLNG facilities together with biogas production partners grounded by a solid business framework.
• The 2,000 new LNG HGVs will be leased to end users through competitive financing and trucking solutions to reduce the cost of them. Only the additional costs of an LNG HGV compared to a diesel truck will be financed. The average eligible costs for each LNG HGV are capped to a maximum of €30,000.
• The energy density of BioLNG means that trucks can travel longer distances, better suiting the needs of transport operators now, and in the future. Due to the use of industrial organic waste as a resource, the CO2 emissions will be much lower than the CO2 emissions of traditional fuels. BioLNG is essential in achieving the long-term aim of further decarbonization for the road transport sector in Europe by 2030. BioLNG virtually eliminates sulfur and offers a reduction in NOx and particulate matter.
• Each BioLNG EuroNet consortium member will receive 20% funding from the EU towards the cost of their commitments.
• The EU funding received by the BioLNG EuroNet consortium members falls under the connecting Europe facility (CEF) for the transport sector.
• Directive 2014/94/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure defines a common framework of measures for the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure in the European Union and to mitigate the environmental impact of transport. It sets out minimum requirements for the building-up of alternative fuels infrastructure, including LNG and CNG.