BioLNG EuroNet to push large scale roll out of gas-fuelled trucks across Europe

The BioLNG EuroNet consortium, comprising Shell, Disa, Scania, Osomo, Nordsol and IVECO will each deliver separate activities that will see 2 000 more LNG trucks on the road, 39 LNG fuelling stations and the construction of a BioLNG production plant in the Netherlands. The EU funding received by consortium members falls under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) for the transport sector.

These project partners aim to help the European Union (EU) meet its 2030 carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions reduction target by triggering long-term decarbonisation of heavy-duty road transport across mainland Europe.

This programme covers filling stations, biofuel production and subsidies which are all necessary for progressive customers to invest in the trucks, despite the extra initial cost. Whilst LNG which reduces CO2 emissions by about 20 percent, is more broadly available today, biogas, which reduces CO2 emissions by over 90 percent, can increasingly be blended in with the natural gas as production of biogas is ramped up, said Jonas Nordh, Director Sustainable Transport Solutions, Scania.

Both BioLNG and LNG virtually eliminate sulphur emissions, offers a significant reduction in NOx and particulate matter (PM) compared to fossil diesel thereby improving local air quality.

The LNG retail stations will form part of a pan-European network and be built in Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, and Spain. The stations will be located approximately every 400 km along core road network corridors from Spain to Eastern Poland.

LNG is an increasingly affordable fuel for heavy goods vehicles which will make it an important energy source as the transport sector evolves. Shell is committed to offering our customers more lower carbon energy and the new LNG Retail stations are a vital piece of the puzzle. I look forward to seeing this important network of stations welcome European motorists in the years to come, said Istvάn Kapitάny, Executive Vice President, Shell Retail.

BioLNG plant in the Netherlands

The bioLNG facility will produce 3 000 tonnes per of BioLNG (also called liquefied biogas – LBG or liquefied biomethane – LBM) and will use biomethane (also called renewable natural gas – RNG).

Using municipal organic waste collected from supermarkets and restaurants as feedstock to produce biogas, the plant will use new patented membrane separation technology to upgrade to biogas to biomethane that will be liquefied. The bioLNG will be sold to end-users via the LNG network.

Unlocking BioLNG will enable LNG as the future energy source for the large transport sector.Nordsol  is determined to make BioLNG mainstream as a clean and safe advanced biofuel that is widely available at an affordable price. Our BioLNG concept is built around this mission and we look forward to rollout this expansion with the consortium partners” said Jerom van Roosmalen, founding partner at Nordsol.

Funding the cost differential

The 2 000 new LNG Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGV) will be leased to end users through competitive financing and trucking solutions to reduce the cost of them. Only the additional costs of an LNG HGV compared to a diesel truck will be financed.

The average eligible costs for each LNG truck are capped to a maximum of EUR 30 000.

This project opens the possibility for a seamless transition to a circular economy approach based on generating energy from waste. This makes even negative GHG emissions and carbon sequestration possible. The project’s funding will enable us to help our customers convert their fleets to LNG through competitive IVECO Capital finance & leasing plans, increasing the number of natural gas vehicles on European roads and making progress towards a sustainable transport industry, said Pierre Lahutte, IVECO Brand President-

BioLNG EuroNet has an aspiration to rollout the expansion of LNG as a road transport fuel across Europe even further in the future.