In the green corridor
A production centre / refuelling station has been set up for the new generation of LNG lorries in Sadobre (Italy).
This is a cooperative venture, with collaboration between Gruber Logistics, APS Fuel and Ham paving the way for an emission-free European corridor. The project aims to make use of biomass to produce engine fuels and to have the sustainability of the process, from production through to use, completely certified. The new production facility in Sadobre (Italy) was inaugurated on 28 June; it will also include a re-fuelling station for organic LNG on the premises.
A fuel without any emissions
Liquid methane has become something of a true alternative in the overall range of alternative fuels. One of the great advantages that methane offers users is the fact that it eliminates particulate matter, and substantially reduces emissions, in comparison with the consumption of diesel fuel.
It’s also possible today, however, to produce organic liquid methane from biomass, a process which does away with all CO2 emissions into the atmosphere. The new fuel, called liquid organic methane, is slowly gaining ground in Europe. As the traceability of the organic molecule can’t be completely guaranteed, the practice today sees fossil methane mixed with organic methane.
The firm APS Fuel (Autoporto Sadobre) thus decided to established special infrastructure that provides the fossil fuel separately from the organic version. Owner Roberto Padovani said his facility is unique. “Ours is the only station in Europe that can supply pure organic fuel. We’ll also add a hydrogen pump by the end of 2021.” Riccardo Piccolo of Ham, the manufacturer of the liquid organic methane, emphasised the fact that the fuel not only reduces emissions by 95% in comparison with diesel, but also cuts CO2 emissions. The project was supported by Martin Gruber, managing director of the transport and logistics enterprise Gruber Logistics. “Many people ask – when will it be possible to talk about emission-free transport? Our answer is – today, in intermodal operations too.” Gruber will have 100 Iveco LNG lorries in action by the end of this year. The order was placed in April. Project supporters Iveco and Electrolux also attended the recent inauguration.
