A
"now solution" to reducing global warming
Posted: 9 June 2003
Operating motor vehicles with natural gas as the fuel is the only
"up-and-running" technology that can immediately —
and usefully — reduce global warming vehicle emissions, says
the International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles.
The world-wide organisation says vehicles using compressed natural
gas (CNG) and liquefied natural gas (LNG) now total more than two
million and are operating in more than 50 countries. "The natural
gas vehicle industry is mature and commercially viable in many countries.
More than 50 vehicle manufacturers are now producing factory-built
natural gas vehicles," says the organisation’s New Zealand-based
Secretary-General, Dr Garth Harris.
"Government policy makers around the world are becoming increasingly
aware and supportive of the contribution NGVs are making to the
environment as well as to the reduction of Greenhouse gases,"
Harris says.
He notes that "favourable policies" exist in many European
countries, South America, Egypt, and India, among others, where
he says NGVs are helping reduce severe air pollution.
The world’s largest NGV market is currently Argentina with
over 720,000 vehicles and almost 1000 refuelling stations. In Europe,
Italy leads the charge with 380,000 vehicles.
IANGV immediate past president president Dr Jeffrey Seisler, also
executive director of the European Natural Gas Vehicle Association,
says the transport sector is a big producer of Greenhouse gases
but says the targets to reduce global warming set by the Kyoto Protocol
- and ratified by the European Commission are achievable.
"Increased use of natural gas vehicles will reduce global
warming emissions of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxides
by 20 to 25% over present best-available petrol- engined cars and
light duty vehicles."
Dr Seisler says the European Commission has already recognised
the contribution natural gas vehicles can make to reducing global
warming by issuing a transport policy that provides for a 10% replacement
of petrol diesel vehicles with natural gas. "The United States
can make a contribution by passing pending legislation that will
provide major tax credits for users on NGVs. Australia and many
other countries are supporting the use of NGVs for Greenhouse gas
reduction."
Seisler says there is no easy solution to global warming, just
as there is no easy solution to local air pollution. "NGVs
are one part of a package of measures that will be needed to achieve
the Kyoto targets. Implementation of NGVs at the scale required
to achieve the targets requires the support of Governments, oil
and gas companies, and private sector investment. NGVs make good
commercial sense with the incentive that many Governments are giving
for Greenhouse gas reductions."
Dr Harris emphasises that using natural gas as a vehicle fuel is
a "now technology" — which, while continuing to
evolve — comes to today’s market with a background of
more than 50 years operational experience, in particular from Italy,
where gas was first used to fuel vehicles in the 1940s.
Fuel cells, he says, are starting to become fashionable as automakers
and their customers look to the future. "A lot of store is
being placed in the potential of fuel cells but at present they
represent a technology that is a long way off commercial viability."
That said, the NGV organisations around the world accept there
will be a future role for hydrogen fuel cells — but say the
necessary technical and commercial viability could be 10 or 20 years
or more away.
Natural gas is seen as a potential carrier for the hydrogen that
fuel cells will need, while existing and future natural gas refuelling
infrastructure could have a role in a hydrogen supply system.
Posted by Richard Price,
Editor Pipeline Magazine
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