Cnr-Iia study, strategic bioLng for transport decarbonisation

Liquefied biomethane (bioLng) can play an important strategic role in the decarbonisation process of transport, in particular heavy transport, and in the abatement of greenhouse gas emissions, paving the way for achieving the European environmental targets set for 2050. emerges from the “Study of greenhouse gas emissions and nitrogen dioxide into the atmosphere from the transport sector powered by diesel, methane and liquefied biomethane”, carried out by the Institute on Atmospheric Pollution (Iia) of the National Research Council, promoted by Cib and Iveco, presented during the conference “Traveling by decreasing CO2. A possible paradox” at Ecomondo. The study evaluates the environmental impact of different fuels used in the automotive sector, with particular focus on biomethane whose different mix of biomass used to feed the anaerobic digester. BioGnl, explains Valerio Paolini, researcher and Cnr-Iia, “is particularly advantageous and the benefit of its use increases as the percentage of zootechnical effluents increases. The global biomethane process is always advantageous compared to fossil fuels, also thanks to the high percentage of renewable energy in the Italian energy mix. The study also shows that it is even possible to obtain negative emissions if the livestock effluent commitment is greater than 60% of the biomass mix and a recovery of CO2 from upgrading for food use “. The study, which takes the market as its reference context Italian, among the first in Europe for the number of vehicles powered by methane and for the presence of CNG and Lng refueling stations, analyzes 11 different scenarios, differentiated by raw material for the production of biogas and by the presence or absence of capture of the CO2 during the upgrading process The results obtained show that in the mobility sector, bioLng allows a reduction of greenhouse gas emissions up to 121.6% compared to the use of diesel and a 65% decrease in nitrogen dioxide. “The development of liquefied biomethane – declares Lorenzo Maggioni, Head of Research and Development of the Cib – today represents the only immediate alternative to the use of fossil fuels available in the heavy transport sector which is difficult to electrify. Our farms are ready to contribute to the ecological transition of the mobility sector through the production of a biomethane produced from 100% made in Italy and sustainable agricultural by-products “. To measure CO2 emissions and compare the efficiency of the different solutions, the Cnr study adopted a well-to-wheels approach (“from the well to the wheel”) by tracing the biofuel process along the entire supply chain from production to use. For Fabrizio Buffa, Iveco’s Italy Market Alternative Propulsions Manager, “biomethane is a technologically mature resource that constitutes an unparalleled advantage with other technologies both from an environmental and an economic point of view. Furthermore, it does not require adjustments to vehicles or investments in the distribution network. To combat the climate crisis we need a concrete and immediate response. In this context, biomethane represents the solution of the present for the future of our planet “. The study presented, adds Alessandro Bratti, general manager of Ispra, “represents a fundamental trend for achieving the European decarbonisation objectives. It will not be possible to do everything with electricity and the solution proposed by the study is of great interest. work should also be investigated on the issue related to fugitive emissions of methane and issues related to the occupation of agricultural land “. Biomethane is a strategic asset capable of accelerating the achievement of the decarbonisation objectives of the transport sector and achieving European Union of emissions reduced by 55% by 2030 to reach zero emissions by 2050.