LNG Blue Corridors

Going unnoticed by the general public, a Europe-wide project has been taking shape since 2013 which aims to significantly reduce the emissions of HGV traffic: this is done through the creation of the so-called “LNG Blue Corridors”, a well-developed network of LNG filling stations.

The four LNG Blue Corridors in Europe

The responsible European Natural & Bio Gas Vehicle Organisation (NGVA), has given a positive interim assessment of the situation; the BeNeLux region, Sweden, Spain and Great Britain all currently have a well-developed network of LNG filling stations in place, with the number of such filling stations in Italy due to total twenty by the end of 2017. A second LNG filling station has opened in Germany in April near to Berlin. The EU Commission is providing eight million euros of support for the constructin of LNG filling stations.

Four corridors in Europe are defined by the NGVA in which LNG operated HGVs can drive with security of supplies: from Scandinavia to Southern Spain (SoNor), from Scandinavia to Portugal via Northern France (Atl-Blue), from Scotland to Italy (WE-Blue) and from Southern Spain to Italy via Northern France (Med-Blue). The aim by 2025 is for there to be at least one LNG filling station every 400 kilometres along the main European traffic routes.

At present, there are 150 heavy goods vehicles running on LNG in Europe, with 43 transportation firms already involved in the project. Until 2030, the NGVA
is expecting a strong increased in the number of HGVs. “LNG-operated HGVs will make a key contribution to ensuring that the EU is able to meet its target of reducing CO2 emissions by 60 percent by 2050”, according to one spokesperson.

Did you like this article?

Please get further information and background reports about industrial valves and applications via the free HEROSE newsletter.

Photo on top: eugenesergeev – fotolia.com