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Under the Bio-energy program, organized by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas

HungaryCountry’s sole LNG fi llingstation under construction

United States Disney Cruise Line will add new natural gas-powered ship to fl eet

First biogas bus and engines launched in India

AltFuels #03 / AUGUST 2017

NGVAFRICA

AltFuels Magazine is apublication of AltFuelsCommunications Group

AltFuelsAltFuelsMAGAZINE

2 THE GVR GAS VEHICLES REPORT 2017, August

3 GAS VEHICLES REPORT 2017, AugustTHE GVR

04. NGV European News

08. The Italian NGV Industry

10. Natural gas station infrastructure gains momentum in Spain

12 More biomethane mobility projects underway

13. Gasnam organizes Iberian route of Lisbon-St. Petersburg Blue Corridor

16. LNG Section

20. H2 Transport

AUGUST 2017

22. Nigeria could save $1.5 billion with NGV program

22. Mozambique advances natural gas plans

23. Norway advises Tanzania to work on LNG project

24. South Africa towards natural gas powered economy

24. Johannesburg strengthens transition to green bus fl eet

Summary

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NGVAFRICA

34. Disney Cruise Line will add new LNG-powered ship to fl eet

36. California energy fi rm launches rebates for CNG consumption

38. Brooklyn Borough plans to have more alternative fuel stations

40. More fl eets stories joining NGV industry

42. Canada announces zero-emission transport strategy

44. Governor of Virginia strengthens commitment to clean fuels

45. American Petroleum Institute highlights natural gas benefi ts

AltFuelsAltFuelsMAGAZINE

#03

A global voice in the service of ecology and economy, AltFuels Magazine is a publication of AltFuels Communications Group, publishing house and fairs-conferences organizer, whose website is www.ngvjournal.com.

AltFuels Magazine includes four existing publications: The GasVehicles Report, Asian NGV Communications, NGV Journal.US, and NGVAfrica.

The Group also manages other magazines reaching the whole world, such as Prensa Vehicular Argentina and GNV Latinoamérica. We speak to over 100 countries.

Moreover, Altfuels Communications sends a daily newsletter -in English and Spanish- to an email base with thousands of certifi ed contacts with the most signifi cant and up to date news on the natural gas and other alternative fuels sector, which you can fi nd at www.ngvjournal.com. The Group also sends a fortnightly newsletter with the main global news of Autogas industry, which you can read at www.auto-gas.net.

Signed articles are exclusive responsibility of the authors, as well as advertising companies and agencies are responsible for the published ads.

26. Tata Motors unveils India’s fi rst biomethane bus and engines

28. India opens fi rst R&D facility to test fuels

29. New EFI compatible CNG kits will enter Pakistani market

30. Arabian Gulf largest natural gas station will open soon

31. Worldwide LNG initiative gets more support with new members

32. First small-scale LNG reload performed at Singapore terminal

33. Japanese project completes operations to supply hydrogen forklifts

NGV European news

4

Hungary

The fi rst Hungarian LNG fi lling station will be located at the M0 highway and built within the frame of the PAN-LNG project. “Soon another four stations offering both LNG and CNG will be established in our country, along the main highways. As a result, Hungary will be able to join the LNG and CNG corridor of the Trans-European transport network (TEN-T),” said Henrik Domanovszky, president of the Hungarian Gas Transport Cluster Association (MGKKE) and coordinator of the PAN-LNG Project.

The investment is expected to be delivered in September 2017. “It means that from autumn, it will be possible to fi ll LNG-powered trucks on one of the most important transit ways of the country, and also another high-capacity station will be in service for CNG-fuelled vehicles,” commented Domanovszky on the foundation stone laying ceremony.

MGKKE elaborated the PAN-LNG project in order to improve the LNG refuelling infrastructure, and it has been selected amongst the projects eligible for the funding of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF). The primary goal of the project is to prepare the domestic construction of the infrastructure required for the development of LNG-based transportation, to actually build the fi rst fi lling stations, and to manage their supply.

“The investment in total is worth 1.2 million EUR, 85% of which is realized from EU sources. LNG-Tech Kft. is responsible for the technical details of the construction of the public LNG and CNG fi lling station,” said Domanovszky. It will be the fi rst establishment in Central-Europe – without considering Poland– serving LNG-powered vehicles, in the following years, dozens of new stations will open in the region.

of the refuelling station have been co-funded by the UK Government as part of Innovate UK’s low carbon truck trials. Additionally, a further 15 trucks will be converted to LNG during the coming year. In total, Containerships will operate up to 200 LNG-powered trucks together with the new-built LNG-fueled vessels in Europe by 2020.

In this regard building of Containerships’ three LNG-fuelled vessels is progressing at Wenchong Shipyard, Guangzhou (China). Launching of the fi rst vessel is scheduled for September. Containerships is building a total of four LNG container vessels, all scheduled to enter operations in 2018. It was granted funding of EUR 16.9 million awarded by the EU. Additionally, the Nordic Environment Finance Corporation (NEFCO) invested EUR 5 million in supporting the company’s environmental strategy in the Baltic Sea region.

United Kingdom

Containerships’ fi rst fully-owned LNG refuelling station was commissioned at its depot in Haverton Hill, Teesport. The facility will be serving the company’s growing fl eet of LNG dual fuel trucks in the UK, and endorses Containerships’ LNG strategy of operating Europe’s fi rst LNG-based container supply chain in 2018, which is involving an investment of over EUR 150 million.

Containerships’ station is a unique concept designed particularly for the company. It is a fully mobile station utilizing the transportable 40’ISO tank as the storage tank for LNG. When close to empty, the tank is simply exchanged for a full one, a quick process that reduces the transfer and handling of LNG and ensures seamless and effi cient refuelling at the station. Sourcing and transporting the LNG to the station can be done from across Europe via Teesport using Containerships’ own vessels.

Containerships currently runs its own fl eet of 40 LNG dual fuel trucks in the UK. In partnership with G-Volution the truck conversions and the installation

Spain

SEAT President Luca de Meo and GAS NATURAL FENOSA President Isidro Fainé have signed a strategic agreement between both companies to promote joint innovation projects and expand the use of natural gas in the scope of mobility in Spain. This long-term partnership will enable the utility company and the carmaker to spearhead the growth and positioning of natural gas as an effi cient, alternative transport fuel. Through this collaboration, SEAT and GAS NATURAL FENOSA will promote different courses of action for the introduction and commercialization of NGVs in three specifi c target groups.

One on hand, through the offi cial SEAT dealerships, where developing infrastructure featuring gas service stations will be analyzed, as well as training programs for the employees. Secondly, both companies will create a joint commercial offer for self-employed Spanish workers, whereby they will benefi t from economic advantages in cars and fuel. And fi nally, they will work on a domestic natural gas refuelling program aimed at private individuals to be promoted with the administration in order to comply with the regulatory aspects relating to this activity.

Additionally, both companies will launch economic measures for research into new, effi cient fuels, such as biogas. The strategic agreement includes a wider implementation of gas powered vehicles and promoting CNG in the area of public services.

SEAT President Luca de Meo underscored that “with this partnership we confi rm our commitment to developing compressed natural gas as an alternative fuel. CNG vehicles actively contribute to effi cient mobility in cities, to the reduction of emissions and to fulfi lling new environmental standards. The role of the administrations is also fundamental for investing in infrastructure that accelerates the number of refuelling stations and makes natural gas a more accessible technology”.

“This agreement will allow us to continue to promote sustainable mobility, both in the private and the public domain. Natural gas helps improve competitiveness

THE GVR GAS VEHICLES REPORT 2017, August 5

Finland

The fi rst natural gas station in Pori was opened by Gasum on June 27 at Maamiehenkatu in the Pori district of Tiilimäki. The station provides CNG and biogas for cars, delivery vehicles, waste management vehicles and buses. “The City of Pori is the largest municipal member in the Carbon Neutral Municipalities project. This means low emissions are naturally our goal in traffi c, too. The opening of this station is an important part of the city’s moves for low emission traffi c,” added Aino-Maija Luukkonen, Mayor of Pori.

“We are working for cleaner road traffi c and are now intensively building a network of fi lling stations. The number of NGVs in Finland is growing at a record rate. There is a desire to see more vehicles fueled by

and encourages economic development, thanks to its competitive price and key role in the improvement of air quality in cities”, pointed out GAS NATURAL FENOSA President Isidro Fainé.

SEAT currently features compressed natural gas and petrol hybrid technology on the Leon, in its 5-door and station wagon versions, and on the Mii, which will be joined by the CNG version of the SEAT Ibiza in the last quarter of this year, and of the new Arona crossover in 2018.

SEAT and GAS NATURAL FENOSA signed their fi rst collaboration agreement in 2013. Since then, 237 CNG vehicles have been added to the utility group’s vehicle fl eet in Spain. The company’s current CNG powered fl eet in Spain is made up of close to 300 vehicles. The collaboration agreement recently signed will enable both companies to continue working on expanding natural gas in the scope of transport and encourage its use as an alternative fuel, both for private vehicles as well as heavy transport.

Moreover, Ginés Huertas Cervantes, SEAT’s offi cial dealer in Murcia, is betting on sustainable mobility with the new León TGi, a bifuel model that runs on CNG. The vehicle was delivered to DFM Rent a Car of the Disfrimur Group, which acquired it as part of its commitment to the environment. DFM Rent a Car has the most modern, varied and sustainable fl eet of the Mediterranean region, consisting of more than 600 vehicles.

The León TGi powered by CNG allows a fuel saving of up to 50% compared to gasoline and 25% compared to diesel. The engine always uses the natural gas tank and, only when it is completely empty, it switches to gasoline.

One of its most notable novelties is that the vehicle has an auxiliary display that tells the driver instant consumption, average consumption and CNG range autonomy. It also has a GPS that permanently indicates the location of the nearest refuelling station.

The Region already has a natural gas station, located in the district of Era Alta in the capital, while a second station is scheduled to open in 2018 in Molina de Segura.

renewable energy on Finnish roads and biogas is one of the most attractive options to traditional fuels. The opening of the station in Pori has been eagerly awaited in the Satakunta region and further improves the possibilities for consumers and companies in the area to switch to using biogas,” said Gasum CEO Johanna Lamminen.

Moreover, Gasum opened a CNG station in Hämeenlinna on June 20. It is located on Paroistentie, in the immediate proximity of the motorway between Helsinki and Tampere and, like Pori station, offers CNG and biogas for all kind of NGVs. “The new station is at the heart of growth corridor Finland and we are especially pleased that we will be part of the natural gas station network in Southern Finland. This station symbolizes Hämeenlinna’s commitment to reducing carbon dioxide emissions and the use of natural gas in road traffi c is a big step towards this,” said Timo Kenakkala, Mayor of Hämeenlinna.

“Octavia is Finland’s most popular model in Škoda’s CNG range and sales of this version have soared. Hämeenlinna is an important region for us and our local distributor Nelipyörä-autoliike is more than happy to help our customers in choosing a Škoda CNG car. With regard to fuel economy, a CNG car is an excellent low-cost option for private customers, organizations and companies alike. We see great potential in vehicles running on low emission biogas and it is great that the refuelling network has now expanded also to Hämeenlinna,” said Maija Koskela, CEO of Helkama Auto, Škoda dealership in Finland.

NGV European news

6

Fluxys Managing Director Pascal De Buck added: “Anyone switching from petrol or diesel to natural gas will immediately lower their impact on the climate, the environment and public health. Natural gas-powered vehicles are also signifi cantly quieter. In Europe, more than one million cars are already fuelled by CNG, with Italy and Germany leading the way. Belgium is lagging behind in Europe, but the market is now burgeoning here too, with the total number of CNG vehicles having more than doubled to almost 6,500 since early last year”.

The Netherlands

Texelstroom, the ferry operated by Dutch shipping fi rm TESO is already running on CNG, a fi rst in Europe. Every year, TESO ships 2 million passengers and approximately 600.000 vehicles from the city of Den Helder to the island of Texel. By switching to CNG, the Texelstroom is now more sustainable, cleaner, and will reduce its fuel consumption. “This is a milestone for us. By using CNG we will reduce harmful emissions and are taking an important step to make shipping more sustainable,” said Cees de Waal, director at TESO.

This sustainable and innovative ferry is the result of a special collaboration between TESO and a number of partners including clean fuel supplier PitPoint. The project had a dual goal: to make the ship as sustainable, clean and economical as possible, whilst also guaranteeing a safe and reliable connection to the mainland. The ferry has also been technically equipped to run on biomethane. In addition to TESO and PitPoint this project was made possible by Lloyd’s Register, C-Job, LaNaval, Compressor System Holland, and Umoe.

TESO’s selection of a cleaner fuel was partly based on the analysis of practical data coming from PitPoint’s CNG and LNG refuelling stations. The positive impact on the environment demonstrated by this study was an important reason for TESO to consider both fuels more carefully. The operational reliability, combined with the fuel supply logistics and shipping pattern ultimately pointed in favour of CNG. Furthermore, this choice will enable TESO to make the switch to the 100% renewable fuel biomethane in the future.

Whilst in the canals of Amsterdam there are several sightseeing tour boats that already run on natural gas, a project of this size and scale – with a ship that can transport 340 cars and 1.750 passengers – is a fi rst in Europe. In the project, PitPoint took on the entire engineering, building, and exploitation of the biomethane/CNG bunkering station that will be used to refuel the Texelstroom.

Belgium

In 2014, transporter Eric Mattheeuws and natural gas infrastructure company Fluxys built an LNG fi lling station for heavy trucks at the haulage company’s premises in Veurne. Now the two partners are joining forces again to expand the facility, adding a publicly accessible CNG fi lling station. It will be strategically located close to the E40 motorway.

Veurne will be the fi rst location in this part of Belgium where CNG vehicles can refuel. The station will open to the public this autumn.

CEO Eric Mattheeuws said: “When you look at a map of Belgium, you will fi nd that CNG vehicles have no refuelling possibilities in southwest Flanders. Our investment will bridge this gap and help round the cape of 100 CNG fi lling stations in Belgium by the end of the year.”

Ireland

The National Transport Authority announced that Ireland’s public transport fl eet will begin the journey to sustainability. Thus, energy company Gas Networks Ireland has called on the country’s transport operators to move towards natural gas and ultimately biomethane, since vehicles fuelled by CNG benefi t from fuel cost savings of up to 40% and offer emission reductions of up to 22% along with a 99% reduction in particulate matter, when compared to their diesel alternatives.

Gas Networks Ireland has conducted several trials of natural gas powered trucks and buses in Ireland and the fi rst CNG truck have commenced operating in the areas of waste collection and general haulage. As the refuelling infrastructure is currently being rolled out, the technology is “ready to go” with some Irish haulage companies already procuring NGVs in anticipation of renewable gas, which will be available on the network in 2018.

“We are delighted with this new initiative from the National Transport Authority. Transport emissions represent a signifi cant challenge for Ireland. By replacing diesel engines with cleaner natural gas power and ultimately with renewable gas, we will make a major contribution to cleaning up our environment and particularly the quality of the air that we breathe. We are already developing the network to make this happen,” said Denis O’Sullivan, Head of Commercial, Gas Networks Ireland.

Gas Networks already announced the development of a network of 70 CNG stations providing high speed refuelling across Ireland. The infrastructure will be aimed primarily at commercial users. Shortly after this initial statement they announced the roll-out of a Vehicle Fund, offering grants of up to €20,000 per vehicle, to support haulage companies to invest in new CNG commercial vehicles (including vans, trucks and buses). In partnership with Topaz, the company is building Ireland’s fi rst public refuelling facility. At the same time, Clean Ireland Recycling, in county Clare, operates the country’s fi rst private CNG station.

Benelux

The cooperation between Pipelife, one of the largest manufacturers of plastic piping and fi ttings in Europe, and Vos Logistics is still going strong. Vos Logistics has added two new LNG Ecocombi trucks to their fl eet to

THE GVR GAS VEHICLES REPORT 2017, August 7

meet the companies’ common goals on cost effi ciency and sustainability, owing to their lower emission of hazardous substances such as NOx, SOx, particulates and greenhouse gases

In addition, trucks running on LNG have been equipped to also run on bio-LNG where available, contributing to more sustainable energy consumption and a better living environment. The Ecocombi itself takes up to 60% more volume (145 m3) in one move.

Mark van Loon, Managing Director at Pipelife Benelux: “At Pipelife we are going to great lengths in order to be a trendsetter in the area of sustainability. We are always on the lookout for innovations in technology and plastics, while at the same time lowering our energy consumption when it comes to our processes.”

“Up until now there was the choice of either one of the two: employing an LNG truck or taking use of the Ecocombi for transporting goods. This combination is quite innovative,” said Roy van Tilburg, Manager Domestic Transport & Service Deliveries at Vos Logistics. “We are now moving plastic pipes and fi ttings this way, but of course this also has potential for a wide range of other product areas, such as construction and retail.”

In January 2016, Pipelife Netherlands transferred all domestic and international transport operations to Vos Logistics as a result of the successful partnership with Pipelife Belgium since 2013. All daily shipments from Enkhuizen to different building sites and retailers are the norm. For this, a wide range of transport equipment has been deployed, including semi-deep loaders, crane trucks for long transport and taut liners.

The Italian NGV Industry08

F iat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has led the initiatives organised by the side of the G7 ministerial meetings once again. FCA was present in Cagliari at “Nice to Meet You G7!” organised by the Italian

G7 presidency after the summit in Taormina (of which FCA was official partner and vehicle fleet supplier) and in the wake of the “Natural gas and biomethane, national excellences for sustainability” conference held on June 8 in Bologna for the Environment G7. The one-day event was organised to prepare for the meeting between the seven Transport Ministers which was held in the city on June 21 and 22, in which innovative projects were presented with the goal of illustrating the best sustainability and technological excellence of transportation in Italy.

In this scope, FCA presented the #BioMetaNow experiment conducted with the CAP Group, the company which manages the Integrated Water Service in the Metropolitan City of Milan. The project consists in driving a Fiat Panda Natural Power for 80,000 kilometres over a few months using the biomethane produced by the CAP Group from sewage sludge and waste water as fuel. The car will fill up at the Bresso-Niguarda purifying plant in Milan, where the first Italian locally produced biomethane fuel station is about to open. The Bresso purifying plant alone could produce 342 thousand

FCA biomethane at the “Transports G7” in Cagliari

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) has led the initiatives organised by the side of the G7 ministerial meetings once again. FCA was present in Cagliari at “Nice to Meet You G7!” organised by the Italian G7 presidency after the summit in Taormina.

kilometres of biomethane, sufficient to fuel 416 vehicles for 20,000 kilometres a year: over 8 million 300,000 kilometres as a whole, equivalent to 200 times the circumference of the Earth.

Furthermore, biomethane – a bio-fuel which can be made from municipal and farming or animal farming waste – contributes to solving the problem of recovering this type of waste in circular economic perspective and its use is fundamental to reach the objective established by the European Union of 10 percent of renewable energy in transports by 2020. In well-to-wheel perspective, i.e. considering the entire energy production and use cycle, biomethane can generate the same advantages in terms of CO2 emissions as electric cars using energy produced from renewable sources: equal to 97 percent less than petrol. Furthermore, it is a renewable and therefore virtually inexhaustible biofuel: Italy will have a biomethane production potential in 2030 from farming alone equal to approximately 8 thousand millions of cubic metres and all methane fuelled vehicles and the distribution network are ready to use this biofuel as from today.

The innovative project was presented by Elisa Boscherini (FCA Italy Institutional Relations Manager) and Michele

GAS VEHICLES REPORT 2017, August09

F iat Chrysler Automobiles è ancora protagonista nell’ambito delle iniziative collaterali alle riunioni ministeriali del G7. Infatti – dopo il summit di Taormina (in cui FCA è stata il partner ufficiale,

fornitore della flotta di vetture) e dopo il convegno “Gas naturale e biometano, eccellenze nazionali per la sostenibilità” dell’8 giugno a Bologna in occasione del G7 Ambiente – FCA è presente oggi a Cagliari al meeting “Nice to Meet You G7!”, manifestazione organizzata sotto gli auspici della Presidenza Italiana del G7. Si tratta di una giornata, preparatoria dell’incontro tra i sette Ministri dei Trasporti, in cui vengono presentati progetti innovativi che hanno l’obiettivo di raccontare il meglio della sostenibilità e dell’eccellenza della tecnica nel settore dei trasporti nel nostro Paese.

In questo ambito, FCA presenta #BioMetaNow, una sperimentazione condotta insieme con il Gruppo CAP, gestore del Servizio Idrico Integrato della Città Metropolitana di Milano. Questo progetto prevede che una Fiat Panda Natural Power percorra 80 mila chilometri nell’arco di alcuni mesi utilizzando come carburante il biometano prodotto dal Gruppo CAP a partire da fanghi di depurazione e acque reflue, con rifornimento presso il depuratore di Bresso-Niguarda (Milano), dove sta per nascere il primo distributore italiano di biometano a km zero. Il solo depuratore di Bresso potrebbe arrivare a produrre 342 mila chilogrammi di biometano, sufficienti ad alimentare 416 veicoli per 20 mila chilometri all’anno: oltre 8 milioni 300 mila chilometri complessivi, equivalenti a più di 200 volte la circonferenza della Terra.

Inoltre, il biometano (biocarburante che può essere prodotto anche a partire da rifiuti urbani e agricoli o da allevamento) contribuisce a risolvere il problema del recupero di tali tipologie di rifiuti in un’ottica di economia circolare e il suo uso è fondamentale per raggiungere l’obiettivo stabilito dall’Unione Europea pari al 10 per cento di energia rinnovabile nei trasporti entro il 2020. In un’ottica well-to-wheel (dal pozzo alla ruota, considerando

Il biometano di FCA al “G7 Trasporti” di Cagliari

Fiat Chrysler Automobiles è ancora protagonista nell’ambito delle iniziative collaterali alle riunioni ministeriali del G7. Infatti – dopo il summit di Taormina e dopo il convegno “Gas naturale e biometano, eccellenze nazionali per la sostenibilità” dell’8 giugno a Bologna in occasione del G7 Ambiente – FCA è presente oggi a Cagliari al meeting “Nice to Meet You G7!”.

cioè l’intero ciclo di produzione e utilizzo dell’energia) il biometano è in grado di generare gli stessi vantaggi nelle emissioni di CO2 dei veicoli elettrici che utilizzano energia prodotta da fonti rinnovabili: pari al 97 per cento in meno rispetto alla benzina. E ancora, si tratta di un biocarburante rinnovabile quindi virtualmente inesauribile: l’Italia ha un potenziale di produzione di biometano nel 2030 dal solo settore agricolo pari a circa 8 mila milioni di m3 e tutto il parco dei veicoli a metano, così come la rete distributiva, sono già pronti a utilizzare questo biocarburante.

La presentazione di questo innovativo progetto, a cura di Elisa Boscherini (responsabile in FCA Italy di Institutional Relations) e Michele Falcone (direttore generale del Gruppo CAP) è stata esposta nell’ambito dei progetti selezionati dal Cluster Trasporti Italia 2020, l’associazione riconosciuta dal Ministero dell’Istruzione dell’Università e della Ricerca come riferimento per l’innovazione tecnologica nel settore dei mezzi di trasporto e dei sistemi per la mobilità di superficie terrestre e marina.

Il Cluster raggruppa i maggiori protagonisti nazionali, industriali e scientifici, che operano nella mobilità su gomma, su rotaia, su vie d’acqua e nell’intermodalità, con l’obiettivo di creare sinergie tra le diverse filiere e individuare le “traiettorie” future di ricerca e innovazione del settore trasporti di superficie. In particolare l’associazione intende sviluppare l’attitudine verso un approccio di sistema che miri alla valorizzazione delle eccellenze made in Italy: sono coinvolti oltre 200 mila lavoratori, per 6,4 miliardi di euro di investimenti in ricerca e sviluppo e con ricavi per 33,3 miliardi di euro.

Attualmente aderiscono al Cluster Trasporti Italia 2020 un’ottantina di realtà italiane: università, enti di ricerca, organismi di ricerca e di formazione, aggregazioni pubblico-private, associazioni di categoria e piccole, medie e grandi imprese tra cui il CRF, Iveco, Magneti Marelli e FCA che ne detiene, per il secondo mandato, la Presidenza.

Falcone (CAP Group Managing Director) in the scope of the projects selected by Cluster Trasporti Italia 2020, the association recognised by the Italian Ministry of Education, University and Research as technological innovation reference in the transport and land and sea mobility systems sector.

The cluster brings together the country’s most important national, industrial and scientific organisations operating in the area of road, railway, waterway and inter-modal mobility with the goal of creating synergies between the various supply chains and identifying the future search and innovation directions in the land and sea transport

sector. In particular, the association intends to develop the attitude towards a system approach which aims at bolstering Italian made excellences: over 200 thousand workers, 6.4 billion Euro of R&D investment and of 33.3 million Euro in proceeds.

Some eighty Italian organisations are currently members of Cluster Trasporti Italia 2020: universities, research agencies, research and education organisations, public-private associations, trade unions and small, medium and large enterprises, including CRF, Iveco, Magneti Marelli and FCA, which is chairing the cluster for the second term running.


Gas Natural Fenosa

T he Councillor for Regional Affairs and Sustainability Josep Rull, the Managing Director for Retail Energy Businesses of GAS NATURAL FENOSA Daniel López Jordà, and the Manager of Petronieves Luis

Nieves opened the first LNG refuelling station in Barcelona, located in the city’s Zona Franca. The station supplies this sustainable fuel for transport vehicles and also has a dual CNG pump for light vehicles.

Josep Rull stressed that cleaner energies are more competitive and profitable, as well as a powerful ally in the fight against climate change and atmospheric pollution. Daniel López Jordà stressed that natural gas is the fuel putting itself in the best position to become a clean and sustainable alternative to conventional fuels, especially for goods haulage by road, contributing to energy diversification. In turn, Luis Nieves said that the company “is committed to change in order to maintain growth”.

Catalonia currently has 12 natural gas stations, seven of which belong to GAS NATURAL FENOSA, in such towns as Barcelona, L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Viladecans, Santa Perpètua de Mogoda and Girona. Catalonia is the autonomous region of Spain with the most LNG refuelling facilities, while Spain and the United Kingdom are the leaders in Europe.

At present, over 6,000 natural gas vehicles are on the roads in Spain, a figure that rose by over 20% in the last year. Spain has 54 public natural gas refuelling stations, of which practically half belong to GAS NATURAL FENOSA. Over 20 million natural gas vehicles are on the roads worldwide and there are over 25,500 stations in operation.

The first LNG station in Barcelona will stay open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and has been especially designed to serve transport professionals, with a room for rest and relaxation, showers, shop, Wi-Fi, offices, restaurant and

Natural gas station infrastructure gains momentum in Spain

Gas Natural Fenosa has opened the first public LNG refuelling facility in the city of Barcelona, while HAM and Galp launched the first natural gas station in Cornellá (province of Barcelona). Repsol also put into operation a new site in Burgos.

secure parking facilities.

The installations are especially designed for supplying natural gas to large trucks and enable natural gas to be supplied to some 100 vehicles, the equivalent of 14 GWh/year of energy. The station also has a CNG pump for light vehicles.

Galp/HAM

Thanks to a cooperation agreement, HAM and Galp launched the first natural gas station in Cornellá, in the province of Barcelona. The facility is located on Progreso St. and Albert Einstein St., in Cornellá de Llobregat, a very busy point since it is very close to the Cornellá-El Prat stadium, the WTC Almeda Park business centre and the Hospital de Bellvitge, an area with a large volume of traffic.

The installation, operation and start-up of the CNG station by HAM and Galp’s confidence in reaffirming its efforts towards innovation and respect for the environment, as well as its commitment to the installation of CNG dispensers at its service stations in Spain, serve to give a new approach to alternative fuel mobility in the transport sector.

The inauguration ceremony was attended by HAM marketing manager Antoni Murugó, HAM technical director Jaume Suriol, responsible for Galp’s Spanish Service Station Network Projects José Manuel Serna, and responsible of Gas&Power Fernando Martín Nieto.

In addition to this new refuelling station in Cornélla (Barcelona), additional openings are planned in La Junquera (Girona), Jarama (Madrid), Alfajarín (Zaragoza) and the Port of Barcelona.

Repsol

REPSOL and Gas Natural Fenosa (GNF) have recently opened an LNG refuelling point at Fontioso service station


Logistics company adds CNG trucks

Integra2, the Logista Group’s temperature-controlled transport distribution network, is investing in sustainable mobility with tractor unit with a refrigerated trailer, powered by CNG. The new 8.7 litre Cursor 9 CNG engine reaches an output of 294Kw (400BHP). The fuel storage is provided by 8 115 litre gas cylinders located in both sides of the vehicle, which allow it to carry out medium-distance routes without any diffi culty.

It is the most powerful engine in the market, with similar performance and lower CO2 emissions than the Euro VI diesel version. One of the advantages provided is that it does not require (AdBlue) fuel additives for the exhaust after-treatment system, because the engine complies with emission levels using a conventional 3-way catalyser. The reliability and simplicity of the engine and the exhaust after-treatment system may reduce downtime, due to periodic maintenance, by up to 45%.

Its introduction is part of the company’s Sustainability Policy, within which Integra2 is committed to the care and protection of the environment and climate. Up until today, ECO distribution vehicles have been introduced for delivery and pick up in Integra2 hubs in Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia.

Integra2 is an interlinked distribution network that provides temperature-controlled deliveries, whose fl eet goes from 3,500kg temperature-controlled delivery vehicles to rigid vehicles or tractor units + trailers with dual refrigeration units. Integra2 guarantees traceability and maximum quality in all of their shipments and incorporate criteria for sustainability, and the protection of our cities’ environmental health, in the company’s strategy. In addition, they provide information on the CO2 impact of every shipment made.

in the province of Burgos, Spain. GEcrio participated as an integrator of the LNG supply equipment, as well as was responsible for the commissioning the project.

The facility was co-fi nanced with European funds from the BESTWay project, and own funds from the consortium REPSOL – GNF.

The station is prepared for the supply of LNG and CNG. It is equipped with an LNG dispenser with MID (directive on measuring instruments) approval.

This homologation of measurement equipment allows the metrological guarantee of the dispensing of the product and, consequently, the commercial transactions.


France

Carrefour and ENGIE opened a public natural gas station at La Courneuve (Seine-Saint-Denis), in the Paris region. With this opening, Carrefour and GNVERT, a subsidiary of the ENGIE Group, are materializing their collaboration in favour of the development of biomethane in the road haulage sector for goods. By encouraging the use of a product that cannot be relocated, Carrefour has chosen an energy that creates jobs in France and supports the farming sectors.

Pioneers in France, Carrefour and GNVERT, back in 2013, innovated and tested the use of bio-CNG for the road haulage of goods. Bolstered by the success of the tests carried out, Carrefour has decided to accelerate the deployment of these clean and quiet vehicles with the goal, by the end of 2017, of opening nine service stations allowing 200 trucks to deliver to 250 urban stores in Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Bordeaux and Lille. The station of La Courneuve is the first to be inaugurated.

The choice of biomethane is part of Carrefour’s ambitious transport policy which aims by 2025 to achieve a 30% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions per pallet carried compared to 2010. The trucks using this biofuel have shown an excellent environmental performance with a 75% reduction in CO2 emissions, no fine particle pollution and a 50% reduction in noise pollution.

The new station at La Courneuve enables 60 Carrefour trucks to refuel every day. Ideally located close to the major

More biomethane mobility projects underway

routes of the Ile-de-France, the A86 and A1, the station is open to the public and is also designed to supply domestic refuse trucks and coaches running on natural gas. It features a power of 2,000 Nm3/hour allowing any type of vehicle to refuel in just a few minutes.

Florence Batchourine, Carrefour France Supply Chain Director, said: “The reduction in CO2 emissions and fine particle pollution is a major issue for society and we must act collectively to overcome this challenge. That is why Carrefour and ENGIE are deploying biomethane widely in France and are opening up their refueling network to all transport actors.”

Philippe Van Deven, GNVERT CEO, stated: “The inauguration of this station marks a new stage in the development of alternative fuels in France, and in particular that of biomethane. Carrefour is the first actor to have committed itself so resolutely to using biomethane in France and in Europe.”

United Kingdom

New research shows that biomethane generated from food and drinks process residues has growing potential as a low-carbon alternative to diesel used in commercial vehicles. The study, carried out by Aker Associates Ltd for Clearfleau Ltd., focuses on the use of biomethane in the commercial vehicle market, assessing drivers for change and barriers that may inhibit a wider adoption, and on its potential use with on-site anaerobic digestion plants on industrial sites.

Carrefour and ENGIE are encouraging the use of biomethane trucks with a new refuelling station in Paris. Moreover, a British report shows the growing potential of biogas to replace diesel used in commercial vehicles.


CNH Industrial highlights role of biogas in Europe’s energy transition

The fight against climate change has become an integral part of the international political agenda following the enforcement of the Paris Agreement. Consequently, it is now at the centre of an international political debate. In order to achieve the goals under the agreement, it will be necessary to further reduce emissions in the energy, transportation and construction sectors, as well as throughout the industrial sector. Generating energy from renewable sources and achieving energy efficiency appear to be the way forward.

“The role of Biogas in the European energy transition”, the latest Top Stories instalment on CNHIndustrial.com authored by environmental journalist Rudi Bressa, examines how Biogas will play a decisive role in decarbonising the energy economy.

Bressa’s piece breaks down the significance and uses of biogas, examines case studies in Italy and Germany and features insightful interviews on the topic at hand with Jan Štambaský, President of the EBA (European Biogas Association), Andrea Gerini, Secretary General of the NGVA (European Natural & Bio Gas Vehicle Association) and Piero Gattoni, the President of the Italian Biogas Consortium (CIB –Consorzio Italiano Biogas).

Biomethane produced from Biogas exemplifies the concept of a circular economy as it involves using waste and refuse from conventional production processes to obtain further benefits—in this case a sustainable fuel—and thereby avoids wasting both materials and energy. You can read the full story at CNHIndustrial.com.

New biogas project arrives in Italy to reduce carbon footprint

Malmberg will build its first biogas upgrade plant in Italy for customer HERAmbiente S.p.A, which today has a composting plant in Sant Agata (Bologna). This existing plant will be supplemented with treatment and digestion of 135,000 tons of food waste per year. Biomethane will be produced using Malmberg Compact® GR 20R. Capacity is 1,000 Nm3/h and the customer estimates to produce 7,500,000 Nm3 environmentally friendly biomethane per year for the Italian gas network.

HERAmbiente has done a thorough evaluation of technology and the choice fell on water scrubber. Malmberg won the tender due the fact that can show good references from plants where the substrate is food waste, which requires robust and reliable technology that produces gas reliably, and can show with its high availability figures proven from extensive experience with over 100 biogas upgrading plants around Europe.

Italy is a large market with a gas network that extends across the entire Italian peninsula. There are more than 1,000 natural gas filling stations and more than 900,000 natural gas cars running on the Italian roads already today, so the infrastructure is already there for the environmentally friendly biogas.

“We see very positive on the Italian biogas market and are pleased that we now also can make a green footprint in Italy,” said Erik Malmberg, CEO of Malmberg Water AB.

The report’s author, Andrew Winship of Aker Associates, said: “The pressure is on both government and business to reduce carbon emissions from transport, which lags behind other sectors in the adoption of renewable fuels. This requires new and innovative solutions. We expect to see growing numbers of food and drink processing companies looking to use this technology, which offers a low-carbon alternative to diesel for fueling their commercial fleets. With both suitable vehicles and fuels becoming more available, supported through legislation and tax treatment, biomethane as a low-carbon transport fuel is set to grow substantially.”

Biomethane is particularly appropriate for the dairy sector, as creameries use vehicles to collect raw milk from local farms and bring it to their sites for processing. Clearfleau’s unique approach provides a circular economy solution, enabling collection and delivery trucks to be powered by biomethane generated on site from the by-products of making cheese.

Richard Gueterbock, Marketing Director of Clearfleau, said: “Using process residues to produce biomethane for transport fuel on factory sites is a perfect example of the circular economy in action. Clearfleau has a proven track

record of delivering our on-site digestion technology for processing residues and byproducts and we’re excited that we can now offer clients an alternative use for the clean biogas they generate. Our report will help to stimulate greater interest from the food industry and other stakeholders.”

The research also indicates that more should be done by government working with industry to stimulate investment and promote the use of cleaner biofuels in the commercial transport sector, including the classification of biomethane as a development fuel in the revised Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO).


T he organizers of the LNG Blue Corridor Iberia-Baltia Rally and GASNAM (Iberian Association of Natural Gas for Mobility) have already finalized the details of the rally, exclusively for natural

gas vehicles and particularly LNG trucks. This annual rally confirms the objectives of the European LNG Blue Corridors project, approved in 2013 and coordinated from Spain, which highlighted the broad potential of LNG as the only alternative to petroleum derivatives in heavy transport, both nationally and internationally.

The 18-day tour will begin in Lisbon on September 18 with an expected arrival in St. Petersburg on October 5, and will cover 5,700 km throughout Europe. It will consist of several stages in the Iberian Peninsula with the Lisbon – Madrid – Zaragoza – Barcelona route and two previous stages

Gasnam organizes Iberian route of Lisbon-St. Petersburg Blue Corridor

The 18-day rally, exclusively for natural gas vehicles and particularly LNG trucks, will begin in Lisbon on September 18 with an expected arrival in St. Petersburg on October 5. It will cover 5,700 km with several stages in the Iberian Peninsula.

Olaberría (Guipúzcoa) – Oporto – Lisbon. The beginning and end of each stage will take place in natural gas refuelling stations, belonging to the different members of GASNAM, where the participants will be able to refuel both LNG and CNG.

In each of these stages an event will take place with the local press to present the objectives of the rally and demonstrate the real possibilities of cleaner transportation with natural gas, with more than sufficient autonomy for the great trans-European routes.

The Iberian stages of the rally will include Russian LNG trucks of the Ural and Kamaz brands, as well as Iveco and Scania tractors and other dual fuel diesel-natural gas vehicles. Several CNG cars will also take part.


NGV mobility addressed by public and private sectors

On 5 July a meeting took place between members of the Popular Parliamentary Group and Unión del Pueblo Navarro with the Iberian Association of Natural Gas for Mobility (GASNAM). The meeting took place at the Barajas IVECO plant and was motivated by the interest aroused by both political forces in relation to natural gas as an alternative fuel.

At the beginning of the meeting, the president of GASNAM and representative of Gas Natural Fenosa, José Ramón Freire, presented the serious problem that local councils have today regarding local pollution. He also defended before the parliamentarians the advantages and opportunities that natural gas for vehicles brings to realize an energy transition, fulfil the decarbonisation and reduce the dependence of petroleum. As for the role of the public administration, it was stressed that the aid of MOVEA plan is scarce for NGVs, as these are the first to be exhausted in comparison to other alternative energies.

The general secretary of GASNAM, Manuel Lage, reported on the quantities of oil displaced by alternative fuels in Spain, and was clear that natural gas is by far the first alternative fuel used in the country and the only one that displaces a significant amount of petroleum derivatives.

LNG as marine fuel, the best solution for shipping industry

The general secretary of the Iberian Association of Natural Gas for Mobility (GASNAM) Manuel Lage defended LNG as marine fuel as the most efficient, economic and real solution for shipping companies, within the second day of the Green Energy Ports Conference, celebrated in the Port of Vigo. Lage noted that LNG is the best option to comply with international regulations regarding the reduction of emissions in maritime transport, due to its environmental advantages. In addition, its use generates economic benefits in operating costs and maintenance of the ship throughout its life cycle.

The secretary general of GASNAM explained the privileged position of the gas logistics infrastructure in the Iberian Peninsula, which has eight regasification plants (Barcelona, Cartagena, Sagunto, Huelva, Sines, Mugardos, Gijón and Bilbao) as well as a fleet of 250 LNG tank trucks, larger than the rest of the EU, which allows supply at any point on the peninsula.

Lage reviewed in detail the most important LNG-related projects that have been developed in Spain. He cited the CleanPort project, with the conversion to LNG of the Abel Matutes auxiliary engine from Balearia, and CORE LNGas hive which features 25 different initiatives, including the design of an LNG bunkering vessel and several studies on its demand and promotion; in addition to the three new LNG-fuelled ferries commissioned by Baleària or the 12 bunkering operations carried out last year in Spanish ports.

For Lage, all these elements demonstrate the technological knowledge and maturity in engines, installations and general use of LNG as a marine fuel. To further advance, EU support is needed through funding projects (Connecting Europe Facility, TEN-T program) to make the operation of European vessels more sustainable; more incentives, such as Spanish ports that have a 50% bonus on port taxes if ships use LNG, and a fiscal policy that favours the development of LNG supply as during the early years, Manuel Lage concluded.

It should be added that last month GASNAM appeared before the Energy, Tourism and Digital Agenda Commission to report on the use of natural gas as fuel for heavy road, urban and rail transportation. Lage explained to the members of the Commission the advantages of natural gas, defining it as “the only real alternative to diesel which is also economical and environmentally friendly, for all types of transport and use, including rail and maritime sectors. In the time horizon in which we move, we can also consider it as an inexhaustible resource.


Iberian Peninsula increases interest in LNG as marine fuel

With the global fuel sulphur limit of 0.5% entering into force in 2020, the interest towards LNG as a marine fuel is increasing. One of the main obstacles to the accelerated uptake of LNG, however, is the uncertainty regarding future market volumes for LNG. DNV GL has addressed this issue in a recent market study on the future LNG market in the Iberian Peninsula, as part of driving the development of an EU-wide network of LNG refuelling points.

DNV GL conducted the market study on behalf of the six-year CORE LNGas hive project, which aims to provide an investment plan for LNG fuelling in Spain and Portugal. The 33 million Euro project is coordinated by Enagas, and co-funded by the European Commission.

The study has forecasted the potential future demand for LNG as a ship fuel and the required future infrastructure for the areas around Spain and Portugal, covering the Mediterranean, Atlantic and Gibraltar Strait peripherical regions. The results of DNV GL’s analyzes have now contributed to the CORE LNGas Hive project’s recommendations for the development of the LNG supply chain infrastructure, involving over 40 ports in the project area.

Despite LNG fuelled shipping being high on the agenda in the maritime industry, the market drivers are seen to change. From previously being encouraged by a lower price of LNG compensating for the added cost for installation of the LNG fuel equipment, results from interviews conducted by DNV GL indicate a shift towards compliance with emissions regulations to be the main motivation.

The study has revealed a huge potential for LNG as a marine fuel that will utilize the current spare capacity of the existing LNG import terminals. The consolidated quantitative results show that by 2030 up to 2 million m³/y of LNG is to be bunkered by ships (with Algeciras, Las Palmas and Barcelona as most important ports) and by 2050 approximately 8 million m³/y of LNG.

European Commission approves JV to build LNG terminal in Germany

Gasunie LNG Holding B.V., Oiltanking GmbH and Vopak LNG Holding B.V. have acquired the approval under the EU Merger Regulation to establish a joint venture for constructing, owning and operating a multi-service LNG terminal (including import and small scale services) in Northern Germany.

This approval and positive decision of the European Commission is an important milestone within the feasibility study the companies are currently conducting to develop the LNG facility. The location under investigation is Brunsbüttel along the Elbe river close to the city of Hamburg.

The feasibility study consists of economic, technical, nautical and regulatory assessments as well as the permits procedures. Now that the EC approval is in place, the parties are ready to jointly work towards the next development phases. No financial investment decisions have been taken yet.

Oiltanking GmbH is one of the largest independent tank storage providers for petroleum products, chemicals and gases worldwide, and operates 79 terminals in 24 countries within Europe, North and South America, Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Gasunie is a European gas infrastructure company, providing the transport of natural gas and green gas. Royal Vopak is an independent tank storage company, which operates a global network of terminals located at strategic locations along major trade routes.

LNG SECTION


LNG tank construction advances at Fluxys terminal in Zeebrugge

Duro Felguera, through its subsidiary Felguera-IHI, has successfully completed the dome air-rising process of the LNG tank that it is constructing for Fluxys LNG in Zeebrugge, Belgium. The 93.5-metre diameter dome with a weight of 1,300 tons is one of the largest of its type in the world.

This task is one of the main milestones of a turnkey project that also includes the engineering, procurement, construction and commissioning of the 180,000-cubic meter tank and a boil-off gas recovery system at the client’s LNG terminal in the port of Zeebrugge. After the extension, the storage capacity will exceed half a million cubic meters, making it one of the facilities with the largest LNG terminal capacities in Europe.

This project consolidates DF’s leadership in the fuel storage fi eld with Felguera-IHI as the worldwide pioneer in this innovative technology and joins others under construction by the company in Canada, Peru, Costa Rica and Bahrain, among other markets.

Given the millimetric precision required for continuous, balanced hoisting of the dome, placing the roof of a LNG tank is considered to be the most complex and delicate phase of the construction process. A pneumatic pressurization system that raises the structure in a safe, controlled manner was used to execute the task. The habitual diffi culty of this type of undertaking was increased by the size of the dome: with a diameter of 93.5 meters and a weight of 1,300 tons.

The country’s requirement that the self-supporting full containment tank (one 9% nickel steel inner tank and an outer tank of post-tensioned reinforced concrete) be partially buried added another layer of extraordinary technological complexity of which very few companies are capable.

Having successfully reached this milestone, DF will now fi nish assembly of the inner tank and its insulation and

perform the associated testing. The Company will then be able to conduct the hydrostatic tests as the prior step to commissioning the facility.

DF is also installing the boil-off gas recovery system that enables recirculation and recovery of evaporated LNG during shipping operations. The four compressors that comprise this system are the fi rst that Felguera-IHI (through his Japanese partner IHI) has manufactured with dual technology that enables the same compressor to work within both the high and low pressure ranges. These units have already been delivered to the construction site and are currently undergoing electromechanical assembly.

CORE LNGas hive project presents its latest developments in Barcelona

The fi rst CORE LNGas hive project conference for the promotion of LNG as a fuel in the transport sector took place in Barcelona. The conference was opened by the President of the Spanish Ports Authority, José Llorca; the Gas Assets General Manager of Enagás, Claudio Rodríguez and the President of the Barcelona Port Authority, Sixte Cambra.

The aim of this conference was to reveal the status of the project and the efforts made by the European Commission and the Spanish Government to promote sustainable transport, especially maritime transport.

For Helmut Morsi, Advisor to the European Commission, “these types of projects are key initiatives for the application of the Clean Power for Transport directive, which supports sustainable transport, the fi ght against climate change, the improvement of air quality, which are of benefi t for all European citizens.”

The conference also explained the National Action Framework for Alternative Energies in Transport which highlights the efforts made by the Spanish Government in this fi eld. Studies on the Demand and Social Perception of LNG produced by CORE LNGas hive were also presented.


According to the results of the study on the Demand, developing a European network of LNG refueling stations would motivate the market, and the Iberian Peninsula would play a key role.

Three round tables were also held, in which value was placed on LNG as a sustainable fuel and consumer and shipper viewpoints were explained, as well as those of other similar European projects. In this sense, LNG is increasingly in demand as a fuel in the maritime sector, in the context of reducing emissions.

This first conference was held in Barcelona, one of the main cities where the CORE LNGas hive project is being developed. The aim of the project is to create a safe, efficient and integrated logistics and supply chain for LNG as a fuel in the transport sector, particularly for maritime transport, in the Iberian Peninsula.

Led by the Spanish Ports Authority and coordinated by Enagás, the CORE LNGas hive project has a total of 42 partners from Spain and Portugal: 8 institutional partners; 13 port authorities and 21 industrial partners, LNG operators, shipbuilders, regasification companies and other companies. The initiative involves 25 studies, to be conducted by the partner companies for the adaptation of infrastructure and logistical and commercial development, in order to offer LNG small-scale supply and bunkering services.

Brittany Ferries orders LNG-fuelled ferry to cross English Channel

Brittany Ferries has confirmed the order for a new LNG-powered cruise ferry with a budget of around £175m. It will operate on the company’s busiest route from Portsmouth to Caen with a planned arrival in spring 2019 – as Brexit negotiations move towards completion. The new ship will be named Honfleur after the charming seaside destination on the Seine estuary in Normandy. First details have been revealed after contracts were signed with the Flensburger Schiffbau-Gesellshaft shipyard in Germany.

She will be powered by LNG and promises to be the most

environmentally-friendly vessel operating on the English Channel. In LNG-electric propulsion, four engines feed electric generators and two electric propulsion motors. This quieter and more efficient form of power delivery reduces vibration, meaning an even smoother ride for passengers.

CEO of Brittany Ferries Christophe Mathieu said: “It is important that we invest in new technologies and new vessels that respect the environment in which we operate. Equally, we must not forget that our customers expect Brittany Ferries ships to be comfortable, relaxing and adapted to the digital age. These objectives are compatible and I believe Honfleur will set a new standard for ferries operating on the Channel.”

Innovation goes beyond the powertrain. “This is a ship that has been truly designed with the customer at heart and Honfleur will be the first full-service cruise ferry to embrace the digital age,” added Mike Bevens Brittany Ferries commercial director. “She will reaffirm our position as a class-leading operator thanks to LNG propulsion and an interior that has been carefully considered to meet the needs of everyone.”

Port of Gothenburg expands LNG shipping infrastructure

Swedegas is investing in a new LNG infrastructure at the Port of Gothenburg, primarily to meet the need in the shipping industry for a more environmentally friendly fuel, driven by increasingly stringent emission controls. The LNG facility, the first of its kind in Gothenburg, comprises a discharge station, a cryogenic pipeline and bunkering equipment, and will allow vessels to bunker LNG at the quayside while loading and unloading, thus making effective use of the time spent in port. It is expected to be fully operational in 2018.

“This investment marks the starting point for the gradual expansion of the facility, eventually supplying the transport sector and Swedish industry with LNG. Regardless of the sector, it ultimately comes down to making the


transition from oil-based products,” said Johan Zettergren, Swedegas chief executive.

There has been widespread demand in the shipping sector for this type of solution, and the concept has been designed in close consultation with key players on the market. “We have for a long time believed in LNG as the fuel of the future. This investment by Swedegas is entirely in line with our ambition to reduce the environmental impact of shipping and establish a sustainable Scandinavian freight hub,” said Magnus Kårestedt, Gothenburg Port Authority chief executive.

The facility is the first stage in the establishment of a more extensive gas infrastructure solution for the Port of Gothenburg that can also be connected to the gas transmission grid. As is the case with the grid, which is used for the transport of both natural gas and biogas, the new infrastructure at the port is flexible and can also be used for the storage and transport of renewable gas.

The EU has assigned the project PCI (Project of Common Interest) status, making it one of the most prioritized infrastructure projects in Europe. The EU has also approved support via the INEA (Innovation and Networks Executive Agency) to ensure the project can be realized. Swedegas has already signed an EPC (Engineering, Procurement and Construction) contract with a supplier for the actual construction of the facility.

New institute to promote Australian LNG as primary fuel for marine use

Port Hedland Mayor, Camilo Blanco, and the Town of Port Hedland’s CEO, David Pentz, attended the launch of the LNG Marine Fuel Institute at Parliament House, Canberra on 21 June. The Institute, which was opened by The Honourable Josh Frydenberg MP, Federal Minister for the Environment and Energy, hopes to see Australian LNG as the primary fuel for marine transportation, powering the road, rail and mining industries.

Mayor Blanco said that the Institute will work with industry and government partners to position Australia at the forefront of LNG, as a marine fuel and for future fuels development.

The LNG Marine Fuel Institute will support the

establishment of a ‘green corridor’ for the bulk ore and LNG export trade between Australia and Asia. They believe that collaboration between industry, government and the community will lead to the establishment of an LNG bunkering industry in Australia, jobs for Australians and enhanced energy security for Australia.

“The desire for cleaner fuels is creating a potential worldwide market for LNG as a transition fuel to renewables. With extensive gas reserves, especially in Western Australia, there is a significant business case to develop these energy resources for the benefit of the local economy,” added Blanco.

First LNG bunkering station in Germany under construction

PitPoint.LNG will build Germany’s first LNG bunkering station in the harbor of Cologne. The new station will facilitate the bunkering of LNG-powered inland waterways vessels that sail on Europe’s busiest transport waterway, the Rhine. The construction of the bunkering station is a next step in PitPoint.LNG’s strategy to develop a European LNG infrastructure to facilitate the uptake of LNG as fuel for road and marine transport.

As from the start of operation, which is planned for at mid-2018, this LNG bunkering station will also bunker LNG for the inland dual-fuel barges that Shell Western LNG B.V. (Shell) has chartered. For this purpose, Shell and PitPoint.LNG have signed a long-term agreement.

Jan Willem Drijver, Managing Director at PitPoint.LNG, said: “We are very pleased to start with the realization of this LNG bunkering station and to have Shell as a key launching customer. Enabling companies such as Shell to transport and deliver their goods in a cleaner and more environmental friendly way supports PitPoint’s mission to realize 100% clean transport in 2030.”

Lauran Wetemans, Shell’s General Manager Downstream LNG, said: “Together with the infrastructure developed in Rotterdam, this station will expand the availability of LNG fuel for customers on the Rhine – Europe’s key inland waterway. We look forward to working with PitPoint.LNG to make this a reality.”.


H2 SECTION

Honda UK signs new hydrogen fuelling contract with ITM

ITM Power has signed a fuel contract with Honda (UK), who will purchase hydrogen at £10/kg. The contract covers fuel dispensed across ITM Power’s hydrogen refuelling network. The refuelling network has been fi nancially supported by Innovate UK, Offi ce for Low Emission Vehicles (OLEV) and the Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking (FCH JU). This is the seventeenth fuel supply contract for refuelling fuel cell vehicles ITM Power has signed.

ITM Power is currently rolling out a network of 10 hydrogen refuelling stations in the UK of which 4 are now open for public access. Each station produces hydrogen on site via ITM Power’s rapid response electrolyser system, and can refuel a fuel cell car in three minutes, providing 300 to 420 miles of clean emission driving, without compromise to drivers’ normal refuelling routine.

Graham Cooley, CEO, ITM Power, commented: “We look forward to supporting Honda and its HyFIVE customers with their refuelling requirements for the Clarity Fuel Cell as our hydrogen refuelling station network expands throughout the UK.”

Thomas Brachmann, Automobile Powertrain and Materials Research Expert at Honda R&D Europe (GmbH): “We are delighted that customers using Honda’s Clarity Fuel Cell in the HyFIVE project can refuel at ITM Power’s hydrogen refuelling stations. Working together with industry partners, such as ITM Power, drivers of fuel cell vehicles can enjoy rapid refuelling at one of the growing number of stations across the UK.”

French minister and Paris mayor christen hydrogen powered boat

Energy Observer was christened in Paris by Nicolas Hulot, Minister for Ecological Transition and supporter and godfather of the boat, in the presence of Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris, Florence Lambert, director of the CEA-


Liten and godmother of the boat, and Bertrand Piccard, President of the Solar Impulse Foundation. Born in 1983 under the name of Formule Tag, the boat was reborn as Energy Observer and primed to make the first trip round the world on hydrogen and renewable energies.

This founding moment of the adventure was preceded by a press conference at the Bateaux Mouches Club, port partner, to present the boat’s technologies and the first images of the voyage up the Seine powered by renewable energies and hydrogen to the Paris media, as well as to announce the tour of France that Energy Observer is going to perform until 2017.

At Port du Gros Caillou, the crew, partners and press welcomed Nicolas Hulot and Anne Hidalgo. After a tour of the boat by Victorien Erussard, Jérôme Delafosse and Didier Bouix of CEA-Liten, it was in the central cabin that everyone gave their support to the project and to the crew.

“Paris is a city which channels innovation and the desire to invent the future, with solutions from the future. There is a will among the inhabitants of cities like Paris to be proactive. We are not condemned to thinking that tomorrow must be worse than yesterday. I am convinced that tomorrow will be better, because there will be more respect for the planet and for the human beings that we are,” said Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris.

Norway: goods supplier advances on Scania hydrogen truck deployment

Hydrogenics Corporation has been awarded a contract to deliver four HyPM™-HD90 fuel cell systems to be integrated into Scania hydrogen trucks owned and operated by ASKO, Norway’s largest convenience grocery wholesaler with a fleet of 600 trucks. The first Scania hydrogen-powered vehicles are expected to be operational by late 2018.

“By signing this contract for our first four fuel cell operated trucks, ASKO has reached another milestone on the path to achieving our 2020 environmental goals of reducing energy consumption by 20%, being a self-sufficient provider of clean energy, and using 100% renewable fuel. We are happy to have the most competent partners contracted for this project, including Scania for the truck, Hydrogenics for the integrated fuel cell and tank system, and Thermo King for the self-powered truck temperature control solution,” said Jørn Arvid Endresen, CEO of ASKO Mid Norway.

“We’re pleased to have been selected to supply our innovative PEM fuel cells to ASKO for their hydrogen truck project,” added Daryl Wilson, President & CEO of Hydrogenics. “ASKO is at the forefront of clean energy transportation, and we look forward to being a part of implementing this zero-emission vehicle initiative in Norway. Likewise, Scania is a world leader in the

manufacture of trucks and buses for heavy duty transport, and our HyPM HD fuel cells are perfectly suited to powering their truck platform.”

Last year, Scania announced ASKO will start testing its hydrogen fuel cell trucks. Moreover, Nel ASA has been awarded a contract by ASKO for the delivery of a new solar-powered hydrogen production facility and fuelling station solution in Trondheim, enabling delivery trucks to be fuelled with locally produced renewable hydrogen.

Scottish energy project reaches hydrogen production milestone

The Levenmouth Community Energy Project has reached a major milestone as the Toshiba control system is operational. The Methil-based site can now maximize its use of renewable power as hydrogen vehicle refuelling begins. This concludes the final commissioning step of the project. Both sites, Methil and Bankhead are now focused on the ongoing optimization of the systems ahead of the official launch. The key partners involved in the Levenmouth project are Bright Green Hydrogen, Fife Council and Toshiba.

The new Scottish Energy Strategy ‘The Future of Energy in Scotland’ sets out a clear target for renewable energy to meet the equivalent of 50% of Scotland’s total energy needs by 2030. Hydrogen produced from renewables will play an important part in achieving this goal. The project also showcases to other business parks a route to operating from a renewable microgrid and provides the opportunity for local business, social enterprises and charities to have access to zero emission vehicles.

At Methil, wind power and solar power is used to generate green hydrogen, which is stored on site. This hydrogen is then used for supplying energy to the surrounding business park, dispensing into vehicles and providing hydrogen for the Council’s Bankhead refuelling station, in Glenrothes. The fleet of 17 hydrogen-powered vehicles will be able to access refueling at both sites, reducing emissions from transport in Fife.

Stephen Stead, sales and business development director, at Toshiba International, said: “The Levenmouth Community Energy Project has provided the perfect location to engage our technology with innovative green hydrogen applications. The project shows hydrogen produced from renewables has a pivotal role in local energy systems, and can maximize the benefits from renewable energy for businesses and communities.”

22 NGVAFRICA GAS VEHICLES REPORT 2017, August

dependence on imported oil, save valuable foreign exchange, reduce subsidy burden on government and usher in utilization of Nigeria’s own domestic gas with substantial reductions in emissions resulting in improved air quality of the city and Reduced health costs, he said.

On safety regulations, Teotia informed that countries that have adapted NGVs have enacted extensive technical and safety standards for both NGVs and CNG dispensing stations and that ISO standards have already been established for design of various components of the NGV fuel system. He said that these regulatory requirements can be adapted to the Nigerian situation.

Some of the requests by firms interested in investing in the project are tax waiver on imported conversion kits and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) special foreign exchange allocation to operators.

“One possible way is that the gas company provides an attractive conversion package to the vehicle owner and also allows the gas company to recover its contribution through gas sales. This will require ‘special gas pricing’ from government to keep the end price attractive to the customer, government shall provide subsidy to vehicle owners for CNG conversion”, he argued.

He also recommended that CNG stations have to be tied to the gas pipeline network, which currently exist only in the Southern part of Nigeria which lie between Eastern and Western domestic gas network, while conscious efforts be put by Government to ensure Gas Pipeline Availability across the country.

Mozambique keeps on the natural gas route

Mozambique is now “undoubtedly on the natural gas trade route”, declared President Filipe Nyusi on 1 June, at the ceremony where the partners in the Rovuma Basin Area Four consortium made their Final Investment Decision for the project to set up a Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (FLNG) unit, above the Coral South gas field.

Area Four is 50 kilometres off the coast of the northern province of Cabo Delgado, at a depth of between 1,500 and 2,600 metres. During exploration 15 wells were drilled, and the known reserves in Area Four are over 85 trillion cubic feet of gas.

Coral South is a “structuring project” for our economy,

Nigeria could save $1.5 billion with NGV program

Nigeria federal government plans to save about $1.5 billion annually if the natural gas vehicle project, an initiative that was first introduced by Nigerian Gas Company (NGC) in 1989, is sustained. The project reportedly achieved a modest success despite the almost unavailability of CNG stations.

In 2007 the federal government had granted license to NIPCO Plc to implement pilot project in Benin City, Edo State, in partnership with NGC, which led to the formation of a Joint Venture (JV) known as “Green Gas Ltd”. The JV successfully implemented the pilot with nine operational CNG stations catering to over 4,000 NGVs.

According to the managing director of NIPCO Plc, Sanjay Teotia, the federal government, between 2012 and 2016 saved over $10 million in foreign exchange, adding that the NGVs provides lot of prospects and opportunities for countries that have realized the need, created awareness and made appropriate regulations for using natural gas as a vehicular fuel.

Teotia said the project presents significant potential for gas utilization in Nigeria as the economic situation is mainly driven by fuel pricing and scarcity of petroleum products, while fuel pricing issue is driven by the “excessive subsidy” required by government to maintain availability of refined products.

According to Teotia, with 1 million vehicles on natural gas, Nigeria will be saving foreign exchange of about $1.5 billion it required in purchasing 4 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit, PMS, also called petrol annually.

Listing the benefits of the initiative, the managing director said that apart from natural gas being a clean, economical and domestic fuel resource, NGV technology is available, proven and cost competitive just as renewable natural gas provides a path to near zero carbon.

He said: “Globally natural gas industry is increasing its focus and effort to support natural gas transportation. But policy and regulatory support is needed to create programs and incentives on par with those for other fuels.”

The project if realised will further reduce over

23NGVAFRICAGAS VEHICLES REPORT 2017, August

President Nyusi said, which “will have a great impact on our lives”. The signing of the agreement on the FLNG project marked an end to the moments of “hesitation, uncertainty and nervousness” that had preceded it.

Over the past three years, he added, the behaviour of the energy market had been adverse, with the slowdown in the economies of the developed world, and a fall in energy prices, including the price of gas, which was why it had been impossible to comply with the initial timetable for extracting and exporting Rovuma Basin gas.

The initial forecast was that the gas would be flowing by 2019. But under the current agreement, the Area Four consortium has five years to complete the project. The FLNG vessel will have the capacity to produce 3.4 million tonnes of liquefied gas a year.

All the gas from the FLNG unit will be exported under an agreement reached with British Petroleum with none being set aside for use on the domestic market. President Nyusi said that was because the government had agreed “to renounce immediate economic advantages to guarantee the viability and sustainability of the business”.

The FLNG unit is just the start, and Coral South is only one of several gas fields discovered in the Rovuma Basin. The next step will be to process gas from the Mamba field, also in Area Four, in an onshore facility to be built on the Afungi Peninsula in Palma district. The operator of this facility is expected to be the American petroleum giant, ExxonMobil.

The Final Investment Decision, the President added, would mean a change in the international perception of Mozambique, and the revenues that would be forthcoming would reduce the deficit on the country’s public accounts.

The Italian energy company ENI is the operator of Area Four, and its Chief Executive Officer, Claudio Descalzi, declared that the project is “very robust”, with 15 banks and other financing agencies committed to lending around US$6 billion of the US$8 billion that the project requires. These figures do not include the US$2.8 billion already invested in Area Four.

“At this moment of extreme financial difficulty across the world we were able to convince 15 banks, three of them national and 12 international, to come to Mozambique with US$6 billion”, Descalzi declared. “Mozambique has been tested and it has passed the test”.

The US$6 billion was just the start - when other Area Four gas projects came on stream, the investment could rise to “30, 40, 50 billion dollars”, he said.

“We cannot miss this opportunity, we cannot fail”, said Descalzi. “The eyes of the world will be on Mozambique. We have to achieve”.

The Area Four consortium is led by ENI-East Africa, with a 70 per cent holding. That stake is divided into 20 per cent for the Chinese company CNPC, and 50 per cent for ENI itself, which has signed an agreement to sell half of this to ExxonMobil. The other partners, each with ten per cent, are Kogas of South Korea, GALP Energia of

Portugal, and Mozambique’s own National Hydrocarbon Company (ENH). The CEOs of all these companies signed the Final Investment Decision.

Norwegian Minister advises Tanzania to work on LNG project

During his recent visit to Tanzania, Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende said completion of the LNG project is going to improve foreign direct investment (FDIs) to the country and noted that this would take a great effort.

“Tanzania has huge opportunities in the industry especially if transparency and accountability are fully exercised but there are a lot of works needed before benefits can be felt,” he said.

Tanzania has so far discovered 57.2 trillion cubic feet from both onshore and offshore and efforts are now advancing in developing the $30 billion LNG.

Brende said that his country would be sharing experience with Tanzania. In the 1970s, Norway invited companies to invest in oil and gas and now the country is the second largest exporter of offshore gas after the United States.

He said the government should keep the public expectations at a realistic level because the oil and gas industry is challenging and costly as the gas is extracted 100km across the cost.

On his part, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investment Charles Mwijage said Tanzania would be glad to share experience and learn from Norway.

He noted that there is misconception about the industry with a section of people telling the public that any citizen can invest in oil and gas.

“This is leading to a lot of excitement which needs to be toned down by educating Tanzanians about the sector’s full potential,” he said.

He noted that currently investment in the sector has decreased following reduction of gas prices.

24 NGVAFRICA GAS VEHICLES REPORT 2017, August

South Africa towards a natural gas powered economy

A gas economy could significantly drive South African economic growth, and the discovery of substantial natural gas reserves in the Karoo would be akin to finding gold and sparking a new gold rush, speakers said at the opening of the 4th annual Africa LPG Summit and Natural Gas & CNG Africa Forum in Johannesburg in July. However, challenges such as affordability and accessibility, the regulatory environment, and a dearth of infrastructure and skills stood in the way of a rapid move to a gas economy, they said.

Opening the Summit, Niall Kramer, CEO of the South African Oil & Gas Alliance(SAOGA), said: “What do we do when the sun is not shining and the wind’s not blowing? Natural gas can be switched on quickly and is an ideal complement to renewables. Natural gas (initially imported and possibly from indigenous supply later) can power industrial growth and enable the responsible viability of renewables. Bringing gas into SA is a first, but large, step for building a gas economy and a ‘renewables-gas’ energy system. Then once the exploration legal framework is finalised, assuming attractive commerciality in the Mineral and Petroleum Resources Development Amendment Act (MPRDA) and market conditions, exploration work could start up again and support economic and employment opportunities.”

Other session panellists said gas made up only around 3% of Africa’s energy mix currently, and could easily be pushed to up to 10% of the mix, creating jobs and growing the economy.

“Emerging economies need energy and fossil fuels and renewables will undoubtedly play major roles. Gas, both imported and produced on the continent, will be a large part of that. The real advantages of gas are that it is plentiful and affordable, as well as having a lower (roughly half) the CO2 impact. The other elements are importing LNG and using that in power and industry and also exploring for indigenous SA gas,” explained Kramer.

Johannesburg strengthens initiative to transition bus fleet to green fuels

With efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas (GHG) emissions by 25%, the City of Johannesburg metropolitan municipality is driving its ‘green’ Metrobus fleet initiative. They also aim to achieve an operational cost efficiency using gas at R7/l for bus equivalents, and, over three phases, create more supply chain opportunities using its clean fuel bus fleet.

City of Johannesburg green transport strategic support adviser Alex Bhiman said: “Around 2011, there were moves to usher in the transformation of Metrobuses to achieve operational efficiency. This, when it eventually took off, paralleled the increasing focus by the city on its role as a ‘world-class African city’ demonstrating leadership on environmental concerns, particularly the reduction of GHG emissions.”

According to Bhiman, the green Metrobus fleet project was preceded by an early study on alternative fuel power for the fleet, with a view to improving cost efficiency and operational savings, media reported.

To date, the municipality has converted 30 diesel-fuelled buses and 150 newly procured buses into cleaner, greener modes of transport, including natural gas vehicles.

Bhiman added: “These supply chain opportunities will especially include those related to renewable gas with the potential to create enterprise development and employment, as well as an increase in the local content.”

He also highlighted that the city’s roadmap under the present circumstances envisages a combination of alternative fuel power for public transport: dedicated CNG buses, biogas, hydrogen fuel-cell and electric buses.

2017, August26

Tata Motors unveils India’s first biomethane bus and engines

The bus was launched under the Bio-energy program ‘Urja Utsav’, organized by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. The manufacturer has also designed and developed biomethane engines (5.7 SGI & 3.8 SGI) for its bus models.

T ata Motors has unveiled the country’s first biomethane-powered bus under the Bio-energy program ‘Urja Utsav’, organized by the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. Tata Motors has

pioneered the introduction of natural gas vehicles in India and has launched several technologies in CNG engines. Moving towards NGVs will not only contribute majorly towards decreasing emissions for a cleaner environment, but operating engines on biomethane will also help promote Government of India’s Smart City initiative.

Tata Motors has designed and developed biomethane engines (5.7 SGI & 3.8 SGI) for LCV, ICV & MCV buses. Displayed at the event were three engines, along with the lead model: Tata LPO 1613 with 5.7 SGI NA BS-IV IOBD-II compliant bus. The Tata LPO 1613, already operated by PMPML (Pune Mahanagar Parivahan Mahamandal Limited), was also showcased at the event with biomethane propulsion.

Girish Waugh, Head of Commercial Vehicles Business, Tata Motors, said: “Tata Motors has been at the fore front in pioneering latest technologies in the commercial vehicle industry. We are delighted to present yet another product with innovation in alternative fuel technologies, to cater to the need for a greener country. The use of Bio-CNG will contribute in a positive manner to the Smart Cities proposition of keeping them clean and is a good option for wet garbage management.”

Rajendra Petkar, Head of Power System, Engineering, Tata Motors, added: “The showcase of the biomethane bus is a step towards developing environment friendly vehicles. Biomethane is produced out of bio-degradable materials like kitchen waste. This gas, which gets produced out of natural degradation process, escapes into the atmosphere unused. However, if this is trapped and used in engines, it reduces the net impact on environment and at the same time produces useful power.”

Trials begin at country’s first biogas plant

The trial for bio-CNG filling at the High-Power Methane Plant I, Haibowal Dairy Complex, has started, under the guidance of Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Aggarwal. The project comes under the Punjab Energy Development Agency (PEDA). Aggarwal said, “This is the first biogas plant in country where biogas will be divided into two parts for the generation of methane and carbon dioxide gases, which will be used as domestic gas cylinders or for commercial use and it will be available in market also.”

Users will be given an option to use this gas as it will be relatively cheaper from other gases. The trial will continue for next 15 days, after which it will be sold to public.

According to PEDA officials, the gas will be available in 10-kg cylinder and 40 cylinders will be filled at a time. At present, the plant has the capacity to generate 4,000 kg of gas, which can be filled in 400 cylinders.

They said the plant required 235-tonne cow dung to prepare the gas and carbon dioxide generated through cow dung could be used for making cold drinks (in their agencies). Aggarwal said this was the new technique introduced in the region to produce gas.

Anupam Nanda, district manager of the PEDA, said the plant was complete to start with the trails. He said gas would be available at the plant for Rs 45 per kg and 10-kg cylinder would cost Rs 450 to a consumer. The cost of the bio-CNG plant is Rs 7 crore.

272017, August

2017, August28

O perated by state-run Indian Oil Corp (IOC), the R&D facility is designed to test all types of fuel including CNG, LNG, hydrogen-CNG and 2G-ethanol blends to ensure they meet the superior BS-VI norms that

are to be implemented across the country by April 2020, a Petroleum Ministry statement said.

This “first-of-its kind” facility was inaugurated by Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan in Faridabad in the National Capital Region (NCR). “In addition to generating emission data, the facility will also evaluate

the fuel blends for energy-efficiency and engine durability,” the statement said.

On the occasion, Pradhan complimented the IOC scientists for developing a “nano-additised battery for use in e-rickshaws, with better efficiency and longer life than commercially available batteries.”

Pradhan hoped IOC would take a “quantum leap” in alternative and renewable fuel research arenas in the next 3-4 years, the statement added.

India opens first R&D facility to test fuels

The new state-run Research & Development plant will ensure fuels such as CNG, LNG and hydrogen meet the superior BS-VI quality fuel emissions. The facility will also evaluate the fuel blends for energy-efficiency and engine durability.

IRClass issues rules for LNG-powered vessels

Indian Register of Shipping (IRClass) has released Rules for LNG fuelled coastal and inland vessels in addition to its already established Rules for ocean going ships. In a significant move, which underscores the increasing importance of using cleaner fuels, these Rules will help the maritime stakeholders to promote environment friendly fuels for Coastal as well as Inland vessels.

The Rules for gas fuelled vessels have been developed based on a study of the various international requirements such as the ESTRIN (European Standard laying down Technical Requirements for Inland Navigation Vessels), the IMO IGF Code and consultations with various stakeholders.

IRClass has also developed Rules for Pleasure Crafts above 24 metres length, which are in addition to its Rules for Pleasure crafts below 24m length already published

earlier. These new rules are developed based on several national standards as well as ISO standards.

In view of the growing ownership of pleasure crafts (yachts) in India there was a pressing need to address the regulatory aspects of such crafts. With the development of these Rules IRClass is also planning to target key markets in Europe.

292017, August

Latest electronic fuel injection (EFI) compatible kits and 22kg weight CNG cylinders will enter local markets soon, according to Pakistan Compressed Natural Gas Association. The new technology is easy to handle and useful in fuel consumption, which will give better mileage.

New EFI compatible CNG kits will enter Pakistani market

T he All Pakistan Compressed Natural Gas Association (APCNGA) is awaiting the approval from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (Ogra) to start import of new lightweight 22kg CNG

cylinders and compatible kits, which could be used in 660cc to 3,000cc vehicles, APCNGA chairman Abdul Ghiyas Paracha.

“The association is hopeful to get the Ogra’s nod soon after the authority completes its board quorum,” Paracha told APP. The lightweight cylinders will have the same eight kilograms CNG filling capacity as of the old 60kg CNG cylinders, adding that the new technology would be easy in handling and useful in fuel consumption, which would give better mileage.

“It will be cost-effective as compared to the increased

prices of vehicles. However, price of new cylinders and kits will be determined after their import,” he said. Paracha said the association is in negotiations with different foreign companies, including those from Italy and Argentina for importing the new technology and launching in Pakistani markets.

The APCNGA chairman said a number of international entrepreneurs are contacting the association and showing keen interest to invest after seeing potential in CNG sector of Pakistan. In 2012, Pakistan was on top among CNG user countries with 3.7 million CNG-run vehicles, he said, adding, “By the grace of Allah Almighty it will soon achieve the past glory.” He expressed the confidence that with continued government policies to revive the CNG sector, Pakistan would again become number one CNG user country in the next four years.

2017, August30

A DNOC Distribution recently opened the Mahawi North service station, located in the Mahawi area on the Abu Dhabi – Al Ain highway. This new addition takes the total number of stations in Abu

Dhabi city and its suburbs to 98 service station and 10 ADNOC Xpress. Throughout 6 islands and 12 dispensers; Mahawi service station will offer its customers with an around-clock conventional refuelling services of fuel, including CNG in the future.

The company is advancing its mission to offer alternative low-emissions fuels through its plan to announce Mahawi North service station as the Arabian Gulf’s largest natural gas for vehicles service station. By 2017, the new station will be the main CNG provider to the wider service station network of ADNOC Distribution. The station’s planned pumping capacity is 2,850 cubic meters per hour.

Saeed Mubarak Al Rashdi, Acting Chief Executive Officer of ADNOC Distribution, said: “The provision of infrastructure that will encourage the spread of clean energy vehicles, particularly compressed natural gas, is

ADNOC plans Arabian Gulf largest natural gas station

The company is advancing its mission to offer alternative low-emissions fuels through its plans to open the Arabian Gulf’s largest refuelling facility for NGVs at Mahawi North service station.

one of the key elements of ADNOC’s distribution strategy to support Abu Dhabi’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions for vehicles.”

“The opening of these two new service stations represents the latest stage in ADNOC Distribution’s overall expansion strategy aimed at meeting growing energy demand from various sectors in the UAE,” explained Al Rashdi.

“Since the beginning of 2017, we have opened 22 new stations out of the 35 scheduled for completion this year across the UAE. We are proud of this achievement and will continue to work towards enhancing the experience of our customers by offering high-quality services and products through an expanded presence across the country,” Al Rashdi added.

Like all ADNOC Distribution service stations, the newly opened service station is fitted out with state-of-the-art HSE equipment, creating a safer and healthier environment for employees and customers as well as residents of the surrounding areas.

312017, August

The world’s most eco-friendly, dry cargo vessel was named Viikki

The new eco-friendly dry cargo vessel of ESL Shipping, a member of the Aspo Group, was christened today at the Jinling shipyard in Nanjing, China. The first of the two ordered vessels was christened Viikki in honor of the shipping company’s tradition to name its ships for places in Helsinki. Viikki is the first ecologically designed district in Finland, and has won a number of national and international awards. The vessel’s godmother is Anne Lexelius, Director, Raw Materials, Procurement at SSAB. According to her request, the christening gift was donated to the Clean Baltic Sea project.

“We are proud to reduce the carbon footprint of our shipping company with these innovative vessels. These new vessels are a significant step towards even greener shipping,” says Aki Ojanen, CEO of Aspo Plc and chairman of the Board of Directors of ESL Shipping.

The 160-meter vessel of 26,000 dwt fueled by liquefied natural gas produces more than 50 percent lower carbon dioxide emissions than vessels of the previous generation.

“Our new vessels are full of innovation, and they are pioneers in eco-friendliness and transportation efficiency,” said Mikki Koskinen, Managing Director of ESL Shipping.

Viikki will start operating in the Baltic Sea during the first half of 2018. The construction of its sister vessel is also proceeding on schedule, and it will be christened in September.

“SSAB assumes responsibility for sustainable oceans by such means as our work to minimize carbon dioxide emissions from our production and our transport operations”, said Thomas Hörnfeldt, SSAB’s VP Sustainability & Public Affairs.

This construction project is part of the Bothnia Bulk project, co-funded partly by the EU. Its objective is to modernize the sea route between Luleå, Oxelösund and Raahe to be more eco-friendly. These vessels have been designed in Finland, and European equipment suppliers account for roughly 60 percent of all vessel systems.

Worldwide LNG initiative gets more support with new members

Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation (YKIP) has recently joined SEA\LNG, what will help the coalition acquire essential knowledge from a port’s perspective and unlock the potential for LNG as a marine fuel.

S EA\LNG, the multi-sector industry coalition aiming to accelerate the widespread adoption of LNG as a marine fuel, announced Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation (YKIP) as a new

member. Representing the Japanese ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki, YKIP brings essential knowledge from a port’s perspective to SEA\LNG, which is working collaboratively with key players across the entire LNG value chain.

Peter Keller, SEA\LNG chairman and executive vice president of TOTE Inc., said: “Ports around the world are taking LNG seriously. As customers begin to adopt LNG as a viable, scalable solution, ports are recognizing that it’s an essential part of a strong future fuel offering. Representing the ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki, YKIP is well placed to share its learnings in relation to infrastructure development, effective port operations, and customer needs, and we know that the coalition will benefit from its perspective on unlocking the potential for LNG as a marine fuel.”

Masamichi Morooka, President and CEO of Yokohama-Kawasaki International Port Corporation said: “From a geographical perspective, the ports of Yokohama and Kawasaki are perfectly placed to serve as the first or last bunkering points on the Asian side of the Trans-Pacific route. Since August 2015, the port of Yokohama has accommodated an LNG-fueled tugboat, NYK-owned Sakigake, which has provided us with LNG bunkering experience and enabled YKIP to develop its understanding of technical improvements and safety management.”

Novatek Gas & Power has also joined the SEA\LNG Association to help promote LNG. “The recent adoption of stricter emission standards for marine transportation by 2020 is consistent with our strategy for entering into new prospective LNG market segments including bunkering. We are confident that more shipping companies will opt for LNG to meet these stricter requirements, and we are ready to facilitate the LNG bunkering market and infrastructure development,” said Chairman of NOVATEK’s Management Board Leonid Mikhelson.

SEA\LNG and its member organizations continue to advocate for the need to collaborate, demonstrate, and communicate on key areas such as safety, regulation, emissions, and the economic case, to provide the confidence and demand required for an effective and efficient global marine LNG value chain by 2020.

2017, August32

S ingapore LNG Corporation Pte Ltd (SLNG) has successfully performed its first small-scale LNG gas-up/cool-down and reload at its terminal on Jurong Island. The operation was carried out from

18-20 June 2017 for the newly built, 6,500m3, Cardissa, an LNG bunker vessel owned by Shell and co-financed by the European Union’s Connecting Europe Facility that will serve customers in Northwest Europe.

The operation was conducted at the SLNG Terminal’s secondary jetty, which is originally designed to accommodate LNG vessels from 60,000m3 to 265,000m3 in size. Detailed compatibility studies were carried out in advance to ensure that the vessel could safely call at the jetty.

Among other things, the compatibility studies involved checking whether the vessel’s equipment would be able to connect with the equipment at the secondary jetty, and the marine conditions needed to ensure that the operations could be conducted smoothly. Prior to this, the smallest LNG carrier that had called at the SLNG Terminal for unloading or reloading was about 65,000m3 in size.

John Ng, CEO of SLNG, said, “The successful completion of our first small-scale LNG reload operation is significant

First small-scale LNG reload performed at Singapore terminal

The first small-scale LNG gas-up/cool-down and reload took place at SLNG terminal’s secondary jetty on Jurong Island. “The successful completion of the operation is significant as it demonstrates the terminal’s ability to play the role of LNG supply hub for the region,” said the company.

Kogas signs MOU with Alaska Gasline on LNG development

The Alaska Gasline Development Corp and Korea Gas Corp (036460.KS) signed a memorandum of understanding in Washington on Wednesday to cooperate on developing an Alaska LNG project, the two entities said in a joint statement.

Alaska LNG is a gas pipeline and LNG infrastructure project aimed at moving natural gas from Alaska’s North Slope to growing LNG markets in Asia, while Kogas is a state-run natural gas company that is the primary LNG buyer in South Korea and the second-largest corporate LNG buyer in the world, the statement said.

as it demonstrates the SLNG Terminal’s ability to play the role of LNG supply hub for the region. The terminal is able to break LNG cargoes into smaller parcels and facilitate deliveries of small volumes of LNG to other terminals in the region, or as bunker fuel to ships in our port. We are already looking ahead to further enhance our capabilities in this area, by exploring possible modifications to our secondary jetty to accommodate LNG vessels as small as 2,000m3. This is expected to come onstream in 2019.”

332017, August

A Japanese partnership, consisting of the Kanagawa Prefectural Government, the municipal governments of the cities of Yokohama and Kawasaki, Iwatani Corporation, Toshiba

Corporation, Toyota Motor Corporation, Toyota Industries Corporation, Toyota Turbine and Systems, Inc., and Japan Environment Systems Co., Ltd. announced that all facilities to be used in the FY2015 Regional Cooperation and Low-carbon Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Project commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment have been completed, and full-scale operations have commenced.

The goal of the project is to implement and evaluate a low-carbon hydrogen supply chain which will utilize hydrogen produced from renewable energy in facilities along Tokyo Bay (in Yokohama and Kawasaki) to power forklifts.

A system has been created for using electricity generated at the Yokohama City Wind Power Plant (Hama Wing) to electrolyze water to create low-carbon hydrogen, which is then compressed and stored. The hydrogen produced at the site will be transported in a hydrogen fueling truck to a fruit and vegetable market, a factory, and warehouses. The hydrogen will be used in fuel cells to power forklifts at these locations.

The creation of this hydrogen supply chain in cooperation with local partners is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by at least 80 percent when compared with a supply chain using forklifts powered by gasoline or grid electricity. The goal of the project is to establish a hydrogen supply chain, analyze costs, and estimate potential CO2 reductions that can be achieved with a full-scale supply chain in the future.

1. The project includes:

• a system to produce hydrogen by electrolyzing water using wind power

• a system to optimize storage and transportation of hydrogen

• use of fuel cell forklifts• a hydrogen supply chain feasibility study

2. Specific items to be verified by the project

The business case for hydrogen supply chains and future expansion to other regions will be verified, through cost analysis and measurement of the project’s contribution to global warming countermeasures.

Hydrogen cost• The demonstration project will use evaluations of current

conditions (demonstration project costs) to examine future courses of action required to reduce hydrogen costs, including verification of savings from economies of scale and identification of the steps needed to implement deregulation.

Japanese showcase project completes operations to supply hydrogen fuel cell forklifts

The Hydrogen Technology Demonstration Project was commissioned by the Ministry of the Environment and seeks to evaluate a low-carbon hydrogen supply chain which will utilize hydrogen produced from renewable energy in facilities along Tokyo Bay to power forklifts.

• The project will also examine the development of a promotional and deployment model through technological innovation, as well as the development of full-scale supply chains, based on projections of needs in 2030.

CO2 emissions reductions• The project aims to construct a low-carbon hydrogen

supply chain that can reduce overall CO2 emissions by at least 80% when compared with conventional approaches.

• The project will examine measures for further reducing CO2 emissions.

3. Overview of future full-scale operations (from July 2017)

• Commencement of low-carbon hydrogen production using power from Hama Wing

• Verification of hydrogen supply using 12 fuel cell forklifts and two hydrogen fueling trucks

• Cloud-based management and operation, from hydrogen production to usage

4. Results of full-scale operation pilot trial (November 2016 to July 2017)

Trial objectives• To acquire proficiency in hydrogen supplying and filling

work• To gain further knowledge of hydrogen and fuel cells• To complete the pilot deployment of fuel cell forklifts

Overview• One forklift was deployed to the Yokohama City Central

Wholesale Market and one to Nakamura Logistics for test runs.

• A hydrogen fueling truck from the Iwatani Industrial Gases Corp. Chiba plant was used to deliver hydrogen.

Evaluation of trial• Compared to forklifts powered by electricity, fuel cell

forklifts had shorter recharging times, were used flexibly without issues, and were generally well reviewed.

• There were requests for more frequent hydrogen deliveries in order to improve fuel cell forklift uptime.

2017, August34

B ob Chapek, Chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, announced plans at the D23 Expo in Anaheim, Calif., to add a seventh ship to Disney Cruise Line’s award-winning fl eet, giving families

even more opportunities to create magical memories at sea and visit spectacular destinations around the globe.

Last year, the leader in family cruising announced plans to build two new ships at the Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany with scheduled completion dates of 2021 and 2023. The seventh ship will be built at the same shipyard and is scheduled to be completed in 2022.

“We decided two ships wouldn’t be enough to hold all of the exciting new experiences we have been dreaming up to take family cruise vacations to a whole new level with immersive Disney storytelling, world-class family entertainment, and imaginative innovations that are fantastically fun and uniquely Disney,” Chapek said. “By the time all three new ships are sailing, we’ll have nearly doubled the size of our existing fl eet.”

All ship names, design plans and itineraries are still in development, with each of the ships expected to have their own unique experiences. The three new ships will be

Disney Cruise Line will add new LNG-powered ship to fl eet

The company announced a third LNG-powered ship, the seventh in the fl eet, will be built at Meyer Werft shipyard in Germany and is scheduled to be completed in 2022. All ship names, design plans and itineraries are still in development, with each of the ships expected to have their own unique experiences.

powered by clean-burning liquefi ed natural gas and be the same size – approximately 135,000 gross tons with about 1,250 guest staterooms planned – which is slightly larger than the newest Disney Cruise Line ships, the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy.

Since fi rst setting sail in 1998, Disney Cruise Line has provided a quintessential family cruise vacation experience that combines the magic of Disney with the wonder of exploring different parts of the world. Guests step aboard majestic and beautiful ocean liners to enjoy legendary Disney entertainment, exquisite dining, spacious and well-appointed staterooms and magnifi cent public spaces.

With the launch of the Disney Dream and Disney Fantasy in 2011 and 2012, the company introduced several fi rsts for the industry, including a water coaster at sea (AquaDuck) and virtual portholes in interior staterooms (Magical Portholes) that provide real-time views of the sea as well as sightings of animated Disney characters. With a legacy of revolutionary design, Disney Cruise Line’s new ships will usher in the next generation of innovative cruise experiences designed especially for families that will transform the art-of-cruising and take guests on adventures in a way never dreamed of before.

352017, August

ExxonMobil, Eagle LNG Partners LLC (Eagle LNG Partners) and Crowley have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on the development of LNG as a marine fuel. The goal is to establish the storage and technical support necessary to provide safe, reliable LNG delivery for vessel operators bunkering in North America. The parties will initially focus their efforts in Florida before expanding to other North American markets.

ExxonMobil will provide its technical support and expertise to help the parties carry out safe bunkering operations and sell LNG bunker fuel to vessel operators. Eagle LNG Partners will supply the LNG and will design, build and operate small-scale production and storage facilities as well as coordinate land-based LNG transportation. Crowley will provide bunker logistics and

ExxonMobil, Eagle and Crowley team up to develop LNG bunkering

ensure reliable operations.

“The Memorandum of Understanding is another major step forward in developing LNG as a marine fuel. It will leverage the specialist knowledge and expertise of ExxonMobil, Eagle LNG Partners and Crowley to the benefi t of vessel operators bunkering in North America,” said Luca Volta, LNG Venture Manager at ExxonMobil. “This agreement provides additional opportunities for vessel operators looking to adopt LNG as a marine fuel.”

The decision by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to introduce a global 0.50 percent sulfur cap on vessel emissions in 2020 will impact bunker fuel selection. The parties believe that the marine industry is heading for a multi-fuel future that will include low-sulfur options, with LNG an important part of that mix.

2017, August36

California energy company launches rebates for CNG consumption

The new $4-million Clean Fuel Rebate program for customers driving vehicles using CNG as a clean transportation fuel will be available for customers who already have a compressed natural gas account and fi ll up at PG&E stations across Northern and Central California.

P acifi c Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced the launch of the new Clean Fuel Rebate program for customers driving vehicles using compressed natural gas as a clean transportation fuel. Eligible

customers already have a compressed natural gas account and fi ll up at PG&E stations across Northern and Central California.

The new rebate is part of California’s statewide Low Carbon Fuel Standard initiative, which aims to reduce transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions by encouraging the adoption of clean fuels like compressed natural gas. Transportation is the single largest contributor to greenhouse gas emissions in California at 40 percent.

Today, compressed natural gas is one of the cleanest burning fuels available and produces less greenhouse gas emissions than other burning fuels. Each mile driven using compressed natural gas reduces vehicle greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent compared to gasoline cars and 25 percent compared to diesel trucks.

“Clean fuel vehicles are a critical part of creating cleaner air and meeting our ambitious climate goals in California. Providing this rebate for natural gas vehicles is part of our ongoing commitment to clean transportation. We continue to support our customers who are adopting clean fuels to reduce their environmental impact and move towards the state’s clean energy future,” said Aaron Johnson, PG&E Vice President of Customer Energy Solutions.

Compressed natural gas is mainly used by businesses or government agencies for their fl eet vehicles as it can provide a cleaner and more affordable way to fuel. Additionally, compressed natural gas continues to get cleaner as both fuel and engine technologies advance and

become more effi cient.

The initiative

• What is the rebate? The Clean Fuel Rebate for compressed natural gas is a program for customers who have a compressed natural gas account and fuel their vehicles at PG&E stations across Northern and Central California. The fi rst rebate will be issued in 2017 and is expected to be an annual rebate through 2020.

• Where does the money for the rebate come from? By participating in the statewide Low Carbon Fuel Standard program, PG&E generates credits when customers purchase compressed natural gas as a clean transportation fuel. After selling these credits to regulated parties, PG&E returns the revenue to its compressed natural gas customers through the Clean Fuel Rebate.

• How do customers know if they are eligible and apply for the rebate? Eligible customers have an active compressed natural gas account and are fueling their vehicles at PG&E’s compressed natural gas stations. There is no need to apply. Eligible customers will automatically receive the rebate as an annual credit on their bill through 2020.

• Will every eligible customer receive the same rebate amount? The rebate amount varies for each customer as it is based on the customer’s consumption of compressed natural gas from one of PG&E’s fueling stations during a certain time period. The 2017 rebate will be larger than future rebate amounts as it retroactively accounts for customer usage for a period of fi ve years from January 1, 2011 through September 30, 2016. In subsequent years, the rebate will cover one year of usage.

• How will customers be paid the rebate? The rebate will appear as an on-bill credit for customers who will receive it.

372017, August

The nation’s leading state in compressed natural gas facilities will soon be home to another CNG station. Athens Services, a waste-collection and recycling company based in Los Angeles County, recently selected Love’s Trillium CNG, part of the Love’s Family of Companies, to design, build and maintain a CNG station for its fl eet of refuse haulers.

Athens Services committed to converting more of its fl eet to alternative fuel vehicles to provide service in the cleanest, quietest and most environmentally friendly manner possible. The company operates 229 CNG vehicles in various cities. The partnership with Trillium CNG allows them to provide more service to Los Angeles residents.

“Partnering with Trillium to build a new CNG station was needed for Athens to provide the best service to certain zones in the city of Los Angeles,” said Marty Mitchell, director of maintenance for Athens Services. “The new station will allow our drivers to fuel in the most effi cient way and avoid taking vehicles miles away to another fueling facility. We’ve worked with Trillium on other projects, and we know they provide a quality product.”

The private station at 12355 Montague Street in Pacoima

New station under construction in Los Angeles

will provide CNG fuel to approximately 110 Athens Services refuse trucks. Construction is underway, and the station is scheduled to be complete this fall. According to the Alternative Fuels Data Center, California has more than 320 public and private CNG stations, more than any other state.

“We understand companies in California emphasize alternative fueling solutions to meet state mandates of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2020,” said Bill Cashmareck, managing director of Trillium CNG. “We are honored to help Athens Services with its goal of converting more vehicles to CNG by providing top-notch equipment and services.”

Trillium will procure biomethane for use with the station, which is derived from renewable sources. When combined with Cummins near-zero emissions CNG engines, the use of biomethane signifi cantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Trillium partnered with Athens Services on two other CNG stations in Irwindale and La Puente. Trillium owns 10 CNG stations in California, and operates an additional 31 stations. Love’s Travel Stops, a national travel stop company with more than 430 stores in 41 states, has nine locations in California.

2017, August38

Brooklyn Borough plans to have more alternative fuel stations

“Fueling Brooklyn’s Future: Refueling Needs in a Resiliency Era” report includes recommendations for modernizing Brooklyn’s fi lling stations with sustainable fueling solutions, such as natural gas.

B rooklyn Borough President Eric L. Adams unveiled “Fueling Brooklyn’s Future: Refueling Needs in a Resiliency Era,” a report with recommendations for modernizing Brooklyn’s fi lling stations with

sustainable fueling solutions. The announcement took place at the parking lot of Whole Foods Market in Gowanus, beside several clean energy cars of the future. One of the vehicles, a Toyota Mirai powered by hydrogen fuel cell technology, was driven by Adams to the press conference.

“When it comes to creating the infrastructure needed to support the future of fueling Brooklyn, we’re stuck in neutral,” said Borough President Adams. “Fossil fuel is a thing of the past. Let’s fi nd ways to encourage industry to grow here around hydrogen and electric vehicles. If we’re asking the industry to prioritize, we have to incentivize, and have our businesses and corporations fi nd reasons to invest in this new, cutting-edge technology.”

Borough President Adams, who convened a hearing last November to address the fueling infrastructure challenges facing Brooklyn, discussed the imperative for the City and State to step up and prepare for technology and resiliency adaptions that the borough’s gas stations and alternative fueling sites need to make. According to his offi ce, since Superstorm Sandy, nine stations have closed in Brooklyn, with two more planning to close, and another 12 being at risk in the next few years, including locations in Bushwick, Clinton Hill, Downtown Brooklyn, Greenpoint, Midwood, Sheepshead Bay, and Sunset Park. His report notes that “the borough’s land prices have skyrocketed, often making residential, commercial, or hotel development the highest value for land where gas stations are sited.” Additionally, there are currently only 60 charging stations for electric vehicles across Brooklyn, with a signifi cant dearth in central and southern neighborhoods that have higher rates of car ownership.

392017, August

Key recommendations that Borough President Adams made in his report included his call for Empire State Development (ESD) and New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) to create incentives for businesses to retrofi t existing stations with new electric vehicle, hydrogen, and compressed natural gas (CNG) stations. As a resiliency measure to protect against fueling interruptions, such as those experienced in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, he also recommended New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s Fuel NY initiative be expanded to provide backup power supply at every fueling station in the borough, incorporating solar panels, wind-power, and/or backup batteries that are not reliant on the main power grid to operate or generators to operate. To protect existing fueling stations, Borough President Adams asked the New York City Department of City Planning (DCP) to undertake a zoning text amendment to enable fueling stations in Fuel NY priority corridors to more liberally transfer development rights; in order to qualify, stations would have to incorporate resilient power-generating measures and alternate fuel technologies into station redesign. Additionally, to support and encourage technological innovation to improve resiliency and decrease reliance on fossil fuels, he announced that he will commit capital funding to the New York City Department of Transportation (NYCDOT) for the siting of electric vehicle charging stations in Brooklyn.

Borough President Adams thanked groups who provided feedback and testimony that contributed to the report, including the American Automobile Association (AAA), Air Liquide, Brooklyn Community Board 1 (CB 1), National Grid, and the New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV).

“Borough President Adams has prepared a detailed analysis of his county’s preparedness as relates to the past, present, and future of providing fuel, gasoline, and alternatives for the many drivers in the area,” said Robert Sinclair, northeast manager of media relations for AAA. “The report’s recommendations should serve as a guideline for our entire region to ensure adequate fuel

supplies for the growing number of vehicles on our roads during normal and crisis situations.”

“Borough President Adams’ support for the electrifi cation of transportation and the infrastructure to enable it in Brooklyn, coupled with commitments from Mayor de Blasio and utilities like Con Edison and many others in New York City, marks an exciting milestone for the City,” said Anne Smart, vice president of public policy for ChargePoint, Inc. “Efforts like this are in line with ChargePoint’s mission of helping everyone get behind the wheel of an EV. Collaborating with partners like BMW, Pfi zer Energy, Whole Foods, and community leaders to install charging stations is an important fi rst step in helping to enable the increased adoption of electric vehicles in the New York City area.”

“The future of urban mobility is dependent on switching to alternative energy solutions and electrifi cation, and I commend Borough President Adams for focusing on sustainable options,” said Alejandro Agag, founder and CEO of Formula E. “This vision is part of what drew us to Brooklyn for our upcoming race and we look forward to working with all New York City residents to achieve our shared energy and climate goals.”

“New Yorkers must be bold in the face of our changing climate,” said Marcia Bystryn, president of NYLCV. “NYLCV applauds the steps that Borough President Adams has taken to adapt to a more sustainable future and better protect us in times of crisis through the incorporation of alternative fuel technologies and resiliency measures for our fueling infrastructure.”

Borough President Adams’ report, which is accessible on his website, brooklyn-usa.org, comes out at a time of signifi cant transformation in the auto industry. In just the last week, Volvo became the fi rst mainstream automaker to plan a move to an all-electric fl eet, while Tesla began to manufacture its fi rst mass-produced affordable electric vehicle. This weekend, Formula E, the world’s fi rst fully-electric single-seater racing series, is preparing to hold the inaugural New York City ePrix in Red Hook.

American Natural Gas (ANG) has opened a public CNG station in Liverpool, New York, a suburb of Syracuse. Located less than one mile from exit 38 on the New York State Thruway (I-90), the Liverpool fast-fi ll station will meet regional demand for high-performing, easily-accessible CNG fueling facilities for the region’s heavy-duty and long-haul class 8 trucking fl eets.

“Our customers are helping drive our expansion, as we continue to hear and respond to their needs for alternative fuel infrastructure across New York State,” said Drew West, CEO of ANG. “This facility supports our customers with a strong addition to our network of stations and will offer easy on-and-off highway access for class 8 vehicles. It also creates new opportunities for fl eets interested in CNG, which will now have convenient access to the cleaner, safer and more affordable fuel.”

ANG currently owns and operates approximately 40 fueling stations in 13 states across the United States, inclusive of stations in process and under development. In New York State, ANG’s developed a CNG network along I-90 for over-the-road-truck fl eets traveling between Buffalo, Rochester,

New CNG station for class 8 vehicles opens in New York

Syracuse and the Albany area.

This Liverpool station is built around cold weather-reliable systems, including a top-of-the-line 250 HP GE compressor packaged by Cobey Energy, with two points of temperature compensation and a Xebec dryer. The station features two Bennett CNG dispensers equipped with NGV1 nozzles for light and medium-duty use and NGV2 nozzles to accommodate heavy-duty and transit vehicles. The fast-fuel station is designed to accommodate high-capacity, large volume users.

2017, August40

Wisconsin

W hen faced with the obstacles of added costs and lack of infrastructure to accommodate Concentrated Natural Gas (CNG) vehicles, John Sheehy, CEO of Sheehy Mail Contractors,

decided to make such a conversion in favor of reducing fl eet emissions for their 100 trucks. Serving the U.S. Postal Service for years as an expert in effi ciency, Sheehy realized that to make CNG viable it would require innovative ideas such as those of Todd Fowler, Founder and CEO of Commercial Hydrogen, Inc. Now, over 90 vehicles of 100 in their fl eet have converted to CNG that outperform their initial diesel counterparts.

John Sheehy said: “We have converted over 90 trucks of 100 in our fl eet to clean running CNG fuel. One of the issues with CNG is it typically gets 11% lower mileage than its diesel counterparts (which average 7.2 MPG). Commercial Hydrogen has helped solve that problem with the additional mileage that the hydrogen system gives our trucks. The system is compact and highly customizable for our operation.”

This also means lowering the impact on the environment, the impact to an owner/operator, and enterprises alike could be a lot greater, not just in fuel savings, but also in

More fl eets stories joining NGV industry

maintenance costs. Considering maintenance on large vehicles gets rather pricey, any way to lower those costs and keep the vehicles on the road in working order for as long as possible is essential to operations and overhead of any owner/operator or company.

Though CNG is to be a clean burning alternative fuel, the addition of hydrogen allows the engine to run longer and more effi ciently overall, without the residue and buildup of other fuels which burn much more ineffi ciently. The result is an engine that can run for a longer time without regular maintenance as often, and thus, as costly.

Commercial Hydrogen Board Member, Troy Bohlke, said, “We fi rmly believe that the trucks that need fuel savings the very most are those trucks in daily use today. Since Commercial Hydrogen is a retrofi t technology that can be installed today on virtually any semi-truck on the road- it is positioned to make the biggest impact on the economy of the U.S. trucking industry.”

California

EDCO is taking delivery of 25 new Near Zero (NZ) natural gas powered collection vehicles and placing them into service throughout its fl eet. The technologically advanced Near Zero engines produce almost zero emission of

A Wisconsin fl eet has combined hydrogen with CNG to obtain greater results. Moreover, two waste operators in California and Ohio have invested in new clean-burning natural gas vehicles.

412017, August

Nitrous Oxide (NOx), which is the primary generator of air pollution and EDCO’s will be some of the fi rst collection vehicles to operate in the State of California.

The NOx emissions are 90% less than 2010 standards, with ten NZ engines producing the NOx equivalent of just one 2010 engine. In addition, the NZ technology meets the State of California 2023 NOx and 2031 petroleum reduction goals. The California Air Resources Board (CARB) identifi es that the NZ engine emissions are equivalent to a 100% battery powered vehicle using electricity from a modern natural gas power plant.

EDCO has pursued a conversion to a biomethane powered fl eet, with over 200 trucks now in service. “We are very excited to add Near Zero engines to our RNG powered fl eet, which will further reduce emissions in the region,” said Steve South, President and Chief Executive Offi cer of EDCO. South went on to state that, “EDCO anticipates that the RNG powered Near Zero engines will become a recognized component of Climate Action Plans throughout the region.”

Ohio

Republic Services of Northern Ohio announced the addition of 25 CNG powered trucks to its fl eet. The new CNG-powered trucks are replacing older, diesel-powered trucks, and help to reduce unwanted noise and air emissions in the communities they serve. The expansion includes a new CNG fueling station and highly advanced maintenance facility, which will enable more effi cient operations and service for customers throughout Lorain, Cuyahoga and Medina counties.

“Everything we do is for our customers – from providing outstanding service to ensuring environmental responsibility in every facet of our operations,” said David Vossmer, general manager of Republic Services. “We know that our customers care about the environment, and they rely on us to help them realize a cleaner, safer and healthier future for their community. We are proud to make this investment in our local operations, and do our part to preserve the natural beauty of northern Ohio for future generations.”

As part of the local CNG-fl eet expansion, Republic added a new CNG fueling station that enables drivers and technicians to refuel vehicles overnight. In addition, Republic built a new, highly advanced maintenance facility where technicians can leverage the Company’s standardized maintenance practices and supply chain innovation to ensure a more durable fl eet and achieve greater environmental effi ciencies.

Republic Services of northern Ohio employs approximately 340 people who serve over 190,000 residential customers, and more than 13,000 commercial and industrial customers. In addition to its total fl eet of 195 collection vehicles, Republic operates a recycling center, transfer station and landfi ll in the area.

Known as the Blue Planet™ sustainability initiative, Republic is defi ning its approach to sustainability through decreased vehicle emissions, innovative landfi ll technologies, use of renewable energy, community engagement, and employee growth opportunities. This includes saving approximately 26 million gallons of diesel fuel annually from CNG-fl eet operations nationwide.

New CNG compact fuel solution program will benefi t smaller fl eets

TruStar Energy LLC, developer of compressed natural gas fueling stations and subsidiary of Fortistar, has launched the Compact Fuel Solution and CNG Fleet Development Program (CFS Program), which will provide smaller fl eets the ability to gain the benefi ts of natural gas and to lower their costs when fueling at public CNG stations.

“We are excited for the launch of our CFS Program,” said Adam Comora, President of TruStar Energy LLC. “Our CFS Program was designed to address the needs of smaller fl eets, pilot programs for larger fl eets and those looking to improve their current public fueling experience.”

“We have heard the voice of customers and are excited to offer this solution,” said TruStar’s Chief Operating Offi cer, Scott Edelbach. “In addition, the CFS Program allows us the ability to offer a private, convenient fuel solution without a capital or take or pay commitment. TruStar Energy takes care of this. All you have to do is call us and six months later fuel up.”

CFS program will help save time and money with CNG fueling. As with all TruStar fueling programs, renewable CNG is available with the CFS program for additional sustainability and cost savings benefi ts.

Kenworth trucks available with new ultra clean natural gas engine

Kenworth’s T680 on-highway fl agship and T880 and T880S vocational models are now available for order with the 8.9-liter Cummins Westport ISL G Near Zero NOx emissions natural gas engine, rated at 320 hp and 1,000 lb-ft of torque.

Exhaust emissions are 90% lower than the current Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and California Air Resources Board (CARB) NOx limit of 0.2 g/bhp-hr, and the engine also meet the 2017 EPA greenhouse gas (GHG) emission requirements. It uses advanced engine calibration, a unique maintenance-free, three-way catalyst after-treatment system, and a closed crankcase ventilation system to help achieve this reduction.

The Cummins Westport ISL G Near Zero engine operates on 100% natural gas, which can be carried on the vehicle in either CNG or LNG form. The engine is also compatible with renewable natural gas, which can provide even further reductions in GHG emissions.

“The Kenworth T680 and T880 specifi ed with the ISL G Near Zero emissions engine are ideal for regional haul, vocational and refuse fl eets focused on decreasing their environmental impact and reducing operating costs,” said Kurt Swihart, Kenworth marketing director.

2017, August42

M arc Garneau, Minister of Transport, and Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, announced that the Government of Canada is moving forward

with provincial and territorial partners, industry and stakeholders, to develop a national strategy to increase the number of zero-emission vehicles (ZEVS) on Canadian roads by 2018. ZEVs which include natural gas and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, among other alternative fuel vehicles, offer the potential to signifi cantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the light-duty vehicle sector.

Under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, federal, provincial and territorial governments committed to work with industry and stakeholders to develop a Canada-wide ZEV strategy by 2018. This strategy will be ambitious and will build on existing initiatives, such as light-duty vehicle regulations, provincial ZEV programs, and Canadian innovation

Canada announces zero-emission transport strategy

Under the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, federal, provincial and territorial governments committed to work with industry and stakeholders to develop a Canada-wide zero-emission vehicles strategy by 2018.

superclusters, to help meet the 2030 greenhouse gas emissions reduction target.

The Government of Canada has made an important start in supporting further deployment of ZEVs by providing $62.5 million through Budget 2016 and an additional $120 million through Budget 2017 for Natural Resources Canada to deploy refueling stations for alternative fuel such as natural gas and hydrogen, as well as to support technology demonstration projects. Investments like this will make it easier for Canadian ZEV drivers to travel farther, enabling them to do their part to address the climate change challenge.

“We understand Canadians’ concerns about the environment and are developing an aggressive strategy to tackle climate change by taking actions to reduce greenhouse gases and air pollution. By putting more zero emission vehicles on the road, we are investing in the future of cleaner transportation for all Canadians,” said Minister of Transport.

432017, August

A new report released by the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance (CNGVA) says major economic benefi ts and emissions reductions can occur by expanding the use of natural gas as a marine fuel on Canada’s Great Lakes and East Coast. “Liquefi ed Natural Gas: A Marine Fuel for Canada’s Great Lakes and East Coast” is a summary report of an in-depth study undertaken in partnership with Transport Canada and with the support of a broad cross section of industry, government and other stakeholders.

The report says that using LNG and CNG as a marine fuel will provide major economic benefi ts to the owners and operators of vessels, especially coastal vessels. As well, the report notes that natural gas is a clean energy option that offers a way of reducing emissions to meet current and pending environmental regulations. Several barriers to greater adoption of natural gas are also outlined, including LNG and CNG production and distribution capacity, human resources needs, and unfamiliarity with the technology and fuel.

The report concludes that under a “medium” adoption scenario: 148 LNG-powered vessels could be operating on the Great Lakes and East Coast, requiring 783,000

Red Deer Transit (Red Deer, Alberta) rolled out 17 new CNG buses, which will join the local fl eet as they are phased in over the next few weeks. The vehicles will lessen Red Deer Transit’s impact on the environment with reduced greenhouse gas emissions, while saving on the costs of fuel and regular maintenance. The city used $5 million of its federal Gas Tax Fund allocation, as well as $10.1 million in provincial GreenTRIP funding toward this project, and funded $600,000 from fuel and capital reserves to cover the remaining costs.

“These new CNG buses in Red Deer will help ensure residents have access to modern, clean and reliable public transit services,” said Amarjeet Sohi, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities. “Canada is committed to investing in local infrastructure that helps to create eco-friendly services while providing a way for Canadians to

Report commends natural gas use as marine fuel on Canadian coast

Canadian transit operator commits to offering green, effi cient service

metric tons of LNG annually provided through Canadian port facilities in 2025; vessel owners may see annual fuel cost savings of 25 to 50% in 2025; signifi cant emissions reductions in 2025 (880,000 tons/year in CO2e emissions, 37,100 tons/year in sulfur oxides, 19,600 tons/year in nitrogen oxides, 6,100 tons/year in particulate matter).

“With the arrival of LNG powered ferries in eastern and western Canada, this promising clean and affordable marine fuel has begun to gain a toe hold in Canada. Ongoing collaboration remains essential to clearing the regulatory path to ensure that Canada’s abundant natural gas resources can be more widely used in the marine sector,” said Bruce Winchester, Executive Director of the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance.

“Natural gas utilities are playing a critical role in advancing the use of clean and affordable natural gas in Canada’s transportation markets, and this includes fl eets that operate at Canada’s ports. This report is useful to all stakeholders as it provides information on the marine opportunity and makes recommendations on how to realize that opportunity,” said Timothy M. Egan, President and CEO of the Canadian Gas Association.

effi ciently get to where they’re going and then back home to their families at the end of the day.”

In addition to the purchase of new buses, the project also included construction of a CNG station and upgrades to the bus storage facility and maintenance garage at Civic Yards. The project came forward as part of the city’s Environmental Master Plan, which outlines its commitment to the environment. “The CNG buses allow us to continue to provide affordable transit within our community while reducing the impact on our environment and the city’s operational budget,” said Mayor Tara Veer.

Red Deer Transit will expand the natural gas powered fl eet by replacing aging diesel buses with new NGVs as they reach the end of their lifespan. Six new CNG paratransit buses are expected to arrive this November to replace older vehicles.

2017, August44

G overnor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe announced that 319 state and local government vehicles have been transitioned to alternative fuels, including natural gas, in the Commonwealth. This announcement

exceeds the Governor’s 300-vehicle goal by the end of the administration and is a major milestone in the progress toward low-carbon clean fuel energies in Virginia. He also awarded Chesterfi eld County with the Governor’s Green Fleet Award for its leadership in the transition by implementing 50 green vehicles and fi ve clean fuel stations.

Governor McAuliffe said: “With our 2014 energy plan, we set out to expand access to alternative fuel vehicles in a way that was cost effective for the Commonwealth and that leveraged best practices from the private sector. These vehicles reduce air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, cut down on gasoline costs and support our Commonwealth’s growing alternative fuels industry, leading to job growth here at home and more sustainable transportation solutions.”

The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy (DMME) and the Department of General Services (DGS) supported this goal by establishing the public-private contracts that made possible the installation of fueling infrastructure and the purchase of vehicle conversions. These contracts, combined with DGS contracts for new CNG, LPG, and electric vehicles, paved the way for state agencies and local public bodies to have easy access to alternative fuel solutions.

“This is important because Virginia produces nearly no oil and has an economic and environmental opportunity to transition to cleaner domestic fuels,” said Alleyn Harned, Executive Director of Virginia Clean Cities. “Natural gas, propane and electricity are low-cost alternative fuels, often representing cost savings as much as $1 per gallon.”

Governor of Virginia strengthens commitment to alternative fuels

319 state and local government vehicles have been transitioned to alternative fuels, including natural gas, what exceeds the Governor’s 300-vehicle goal by the end of the administration and is a major milestone in the progress toward low-carbon clean fuel energies in Virginia.

New U.S. bill supports tax incentives to promote biogas production

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) and U.S. Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY) introduced the bipartisan Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act, which provides tax incentives for farmers and rural electric cooperatives to invest in biogas technology. “We must help our dairy farmers fi nd a cost effective way to use processes that are environmentally friendly. This tax credit will make these new technologies more affordable and the use of such methods will benefi t our communities,” said Congressman Reed.

“Wisconsin’s agriculture industry, responsible for $88.3 billion in economic activity and 413,500 jobs, is critical to increasing job creation and growing the local economy. By making it more affordable for Wisconsin farmers to pursue biogas technology we make sure they have more resources to create jobs and protect our natural resources for future generations,” said Congressman Kind.

“By creating incentives to make biogas and manure resource recovery technologies more affordable the Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act will encourage more widespread use of manure digesters. This benefi ts society by decreasing nutrient runoff in waterways, decreasing farm odors, and improving water quality,” said Jim Mulhern, President and CEO of the National Milk Producers Federation (NMPF).

The Agricultural Environmental Stewardship Act promotes investment by allowing biogas technology to qualify for an energy tax credit that is on-par with the 30% tax credit for solar energy. The legislation is geared toward properties that use anaerobic digesters or other biological, chemical, thermal, or mechanical processes to make biogas that is at least 52% methane as well as nutrient recovery systems which make digesters run more effi ciently and reduce harmful waste runoff.

452017, August

American Petroleum Institute unveils report with natural gas benefi ts

The study shows that all 50 states benefi t from natural gas produced domestically, including non-producing states. It examined the economic benefi ts and opportunities from the entire natural gas value chain.

T he American Petroleum Institute (API), one of the strongest trade associations in Washington, released a new study on the benefi ts natural gas brings to the nation in terms of consumer savings,

family-sustaining jobs and economic growth. The study shows that all 50 states benefi t from natural gas produced domestically, including non-producing states. It examined the economic benefi ts and opportunities from the entire natural gas value chain, including the production of natural gas, its transportation and end uses.

“From power generation for homes and businesses that benefi t from affordable and reliable electricity, to the industry’s skilled workforce that produces natural gas, to pipelines and the workers who build them, the advantages

of natural gas are wide-ranging,” said API President and CEO Jack Gerard. “With energy week in full swing, this study is another example of the job and consumer benefi ts of natural gas across the country.”

The report also found out that natural gas industry is expected to support more than 6 million jobs across the country from production to end uses by 2040, while in 2015 it generated 4 million jobs.

Moreover, by 2040, consumers across the country will save an estimated $100 billion, or $655 per household, from the increased use of natural gas throughout the economy – from manufacturing to generating affordable electricity.

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