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Increasing interest in natural gas as an alternative vehicle fuel will be channelled by Energy and Utility (EU) Skills into the new Natural Gas Vehicle Network (NGV).
Companies including National Grid, Calor Gas, CNG Services, Flogas and Gas Alliance Group are working together in the new NGV Network to drive forward the development of the NGV market in the UK, focusing on trucks and buses.
Neil Robertson, chief executive of EU Skills says: “It is becoming clear that one of the ways the UK can respond to increasing pressure to improve air quality is to use gas as a fuel for HGVs and buses.”
“Gas delivers big greenhouse gas reductions as well as getting rid of hazardous NOx and particulate matter which can lead to myriad health problems, from shortness of breath to lung cancer. This has meant there is some urgency to look for alternatives to diesel engines.”
“But the future is here now as demonstrated by Argos who are running dedicated Scania gas powered tractor and Bristol and Reading using compressed natural gas (CNG) buses.”
“Gas is demonstrably the cheapest, cleanest fuel for HGVs and buses and the network is going to help show people how to make the switch. We will provide a sector focus and will influence policy makers, encourage collaboration, as well as bringing together leading experts and influential industry figures. We are seeing the creation of a vibrant new industry.”
The UK is currently going through a transitional phase, whereby legislation has been passed to set a target to reduce greenhouse gases (GHG) by at least 80% by 2050. This sits in conjunction with a shorter term European Union commitment to reduce GHG emissions by 10% across all transportation fuels by 2020.
Source: GNV Magazine.
