Data collected for the leaflet shows that today, European natural gas vehicles (NGVs) use a fuel blend containing already more than 17% biomethane. This results in a 35% reduction at fuel and vehicle level when compared to emissions from conventional fuels.
The further deployment of biomethane will significantly reduce transport emissions in the coming years. According to estimations from EBA and NGVA Europe, 117 TWh renewable gas could be distributed as transport fuel as bioCNG and bio LNG by 2030.
Going by those estimations, that would represent 40% of the overall fuel consumption of the NGVs fleet, estimated at more than 13 million vehicles in 2030.
“The EU has set a goal to reduce transport emissions by 60% up to 2050 compared to 1990 levels. All technologies will need to play a role in the transition to carbon-neutrality, especially in the transport sector,” said Susanna Pflüger, EBA Secretary General.
“As this document shows, the deployment of bio-CNG and bio-LNG is already a reality. These fuels have very low well-to-wheel emissions leading to a high decarbonisation potential and their production stimulates the development of sustainable and healthy cities.”
Today, almost 25% of Europe’s refuelling network is supplying biomethane3. This fast-growing fuelling station network counts now on 3,840 CNG fuelling stations and 280 LNG units.
But an even faster development of the network is needed to meet the current estimations for 2030, which would lead to 10,000 and 2,000 stations, respectively.
Earlier this year, EBA and NGVA Europe, together with the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), launched a joint call to accelerate the deployment of refuelling infrastructure in Europe.
When fuelling vehicles with CNG or LNG, consumers benefit from huge fuel operation cost savings which results in a very competitive Total Cost of Ownership (TCO). Europe’s 2030 estimated natural gas vehicle fleet would result in a yearly fuel cost saving of more than 4 billion Euros, compared to conventional fuels.
“This brochure illustrates that with gas in transport, we can achieve the goal of the European Green Deal in a very reliable and cost-effective way already today,” said Andrea Gerini, NGVA Europe Secretary General.
“Both infrastructure, vehicle technology, and renewable gas production is ready to be used, resulting in sustainable economic growth for the benefit of European citizens. The European institutions must recognise these facts when laying out legislation surrounding the European Green Deal.”
A higher uptake of bioCNG and bioLNG in the sector will result in an overall greenhouse gas emissions reduction of 55%. The scaleup of biomethane is also estimated to created up to one million jobs.