The European Biogas Association (EBA), the Natural & bioGas Vehicle Association (NGVA Europe) and the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) are calling on EU policymakers to "accelerate the deployment of infrastructure" to deliver natural gas and biomethane (aka renewable natural gas – RNG) across the European Union (EU).
According to the joint call, Europe needs to trigger a successful energy transition as part of the roadmap leading to full net-zero emissions mobility by 2050. Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquified natural gas (LNG) are concrete solutions for both private road vehicles and freight transport that can make an important contribution to this transition, while also being complementary to other alternative powertrain and fuel options.
All options need to be on the table for road transport. Natural and renewable gas is an available resource that can help to reduce CO2 emissions from new and existing vehicles. Hence, we call on policymakers to deliver what the EU Directive on Alternative Fuels Infrastructure (DAFI) already provides and to put more emphasis on the roll-out of EU-wide infrastructure for all fuel and energy options in the future, said Petr Dolejsi, Mobility & Sustainable Transport Director, ACEA.
The progressive incorporation of such renewables in both gas grids and pipelines will contribute to the further reduction of carbon from the road transport sector. A considerable amount of renewable gas is already available, fully in line with the strictest sustainability criteria.
The use of natural and renewable gas is a quick and easy way to complement a complex system that will gradually change our way to move and to transport freights around the world. Recognizing its role for transport decarbonisation in the future revision of the legislative measures is the best way to create a safe, secure, sustainable and efficient system in favour of European citizens’ mobility and companies’ logistics. And this needs to start as soon and fast as possible, remarked Andrea Gerini, Secretary-General, NGVA Europe.
To accelerate the switch to renewable gases and further bring down the tailpipe carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of the current and future CNG and LNG fleets, the strategic and instrumental role of existing infrastructure has to be preserved. Not only new vehicles but also the existing fleet can benefit from the wider use of renewable fuels, thereby contributing to the decarbonisation process.
Gas mobility contributes to affordable, accessible, healthier and cleaner alternatives in the transport sector, fully in line with the European Green Deal. Bio-CNG and bio-LNG have very low well-to-wheel emissions and bring along multiple knock-on effects for the environment and European societies, commented Susanna Pflüger, Secretary-General, EBA.
Therefore, the signatories call on the European Union to:
- Expand natural gas infrastructure to evenly cover the whole EU territory;
- Support the integration and use of a growing rate of renewable gas in the market;
- Maintain support for R&I activities through EU funding schemes.
