Public forum for a diversified mobility energy mix including (bio)gas and hydrogen

GRTgaz has joined a group of associations, environmental organisations, local elected representatives and companies* that have made public a forum promoting (bio)gas and hydrogen as solutions for the low-emissions engine technologies energy mix.

On 14 July 2021, the European Commission announced a series of measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These included stopping the sale of petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles within the EU by 2035.

This decision aims to fight climate change and the deadly effects of air pollution. It entails the wholesale renewal of the vehicle fleet with low-emissions engines. 

GRTgaz is working alongside a group of members of associations, environmental organisations and transpartisan elected representatives including Eric Piolle, Mayor of Grenoble, and Christophe Ferrari, President of Grenoble Aples Métropole. Their goal is to avoid repeating past errors by abandoning or limiting economic and ecological alternatives to diesel and petrol. 

These alternatives are now mature sectors that provide jobs and are good for the climate, air quality and health, and customers’ and companies’ wallet share. (Bio)gas and hydrogen are solutions that can play a significant role in the low-emissions engines energy mix. 

In recent months, both the European Commission and France have centred their efforts on electric solutions and hydrogen. This is an admirable goal, albeit one that it still biased. It takes shape via a European regulation that penalises (bio)NGV by only measuring CO₂ exhaust emissions. In France, while many public bodies and transporters are using more and more bioNGV vehicles, national-level incentive measures are largely down compared with the (overdue) support measures for electric and hydrogen offered to constructors, distributors and users.

This is a renewable energy that is produced locally from sewage sludge and anaerobic digestion of food waste and livestock manure. Using bioNGV generates savings of around 20% compared with petrol and diesel engines, which offsets the additional purchasing costs over time. These costs are small or even non-existent for private vehicles, and limited for light commercial vehicles. 

A 2020 study by IFP Energies Nouvelles (formerly the Institut Français du Pétrole) demonstrated that the environmental performance of bioNGV vehicles was better than any other solution based on a life-cycle analysis; i.e. the analysis of greenhouse gas emissions from the vehicle’s production to its recycling, including the production of fuel consumed. 

The “Climate and Resilience” bill provides for the creation of 35 low-emissions zones in France in the next few years, in addition to those currently in force in the cities of Grenoble, Lyon, Paris and Strasbourg. This development is in line with a sense of urgency to support the (bio)gas sector, which has been penalised at European level for several months. As things stand, there is a significant risk that momentum will be disrupted for the industry, constructors, distributors and operators.

Now is the time to act to provide access to a diversified (bio)NGV offer for private vehicles, light commercial vehicles and HGVs alike. The results in terms of range are there for everyone to see, and many public and private transporters, travellers and freight companies are already convinced.

Now is the time to act so that the transition to low-emission technologies leaves nobody behind, in particular by relying on technologies that are available, mature, and which users can purchase easily. Using bioNGV generates savings of around 20% compared with petrol and diesel engines, which offsets the additional purchasing costs over time. These additional costs are small or even non-existent for private vehicles, and limited for light commercial vehicles. 

Both the automobile industry and users need a clear direction, and there can be no ecological transition without social justice. So we are seeking to take some ambitious measures over the coming weeks and to promote multi-energy solutions at accessible prices, as an alternative to diesel and petrol. 

At both European and national levels, we have to adapt regulations and take support measures to incentivise constructors to focus on low-emissions vehicles, including bioNGV. This entails a European regulation easing the way for (bio)NGV and setting up substantive and sustainable financial support for the creation of charging points, which also have the economic and ecological benefit of using existing distribution networks. Strengthened and simplified State assistance for companies, local authorities and private individuals enhance a virtuous circle promoting the purchase of low-emissions vehicles. This includes integrating bioNGV into the “ecological bonus” and setting up a State-guaranteed zero-interest loan.

Now is the time to act.

>> The end of petrol and diesel vehicles should not lead to one energy monopoly being replaced by another