Overview
The Directive 2014/94/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 22 October 2014 on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure defines a common framework of measures for the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure in the European Union in order to minimise dependence on oil and to mitigate the environmental impact of transport. It sets out minimum requirements for the building-up of alternative fuels infrastructure to supply clean fuels for maritime transport and ports operations, gradually replacing the current coal and oil propulsion systems. Interventions for stimulating implementation of such infrastructure are therefore necessary.
Within the framework of the Action, the overall objective is to demonstrate a viable clean alternative maritime power system consisting of on board gas auxiliary generation with Natural Gas (NG) and LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas). Hence the Action strives to contribute to the new infrastructure Directive 2014/94/EU and other EU Directives relating to emissions and air quality, such as Directive 2012/33/EU on sulphur content of marine fuels and on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe.
To achieve the overall objective, the Action will provide for a study with a pilot deployment of a new technological solution to reduce emissions within the Port Area in the Mediterranean Sea that is replicable, through four specific objectives, which will be met by carrying out of the Action six activities.
The first specific objective is to define and design an innovative and feasible technological solution for clean auxiliary power generation. This solution will be applied in the core port of Barcelona and will become a clear reference for the European port cities. The proposed technological solution will offer significant benefits in the emissions of NOx, CO2, SOx and Particulate Matter when compared to existing emissions from the auxiliary engines.
The second specific objective is to facilitate LNG and Natural Gas bunkering in the port of Barcelona, where a natural gas bunkering infrastructure will be developed by means of extending the local natural gas (NG) distribution network that is located close to the port, as well as development and installation of a mobile LNG bunkering terminal.
The third specific objective is to contribute to the harmonisation of standards and regulations for port bunkering based on the implementation of the pilot. This process will also take into account the Spanish experience on the deployment of alternative solutions. It will benefit from the constitution of Advisory Panels which will be established in the Action, facilitating the participation in the European technical fora, such as technical committees or working group.
The fourth specific objective is to develop new business models based principally on an energy service company (ESCO) model to verify the potential and repeatability of this solution. The Action will evaluate new operational and energy services solution offered by ESCO and demonstrate that such a form of contract is technically viable, offering alternative electricity generation on-board.
The action consists of a study with a pilot deployment which will provide information to overcome the barriers for harmonisation of the normative framework and for standardisation of technical solutions required for the supply of alternative fuels (natural gas and LNG) in ports and to ships. Simplified refuelling infrastructures in the port will form part of demonstration. Additionally, the Action will evaluate new operational and energy services solution offered by ESCO and demonstrate that such a form of contract is technically viable, offering alternative electricity on-board a boat for its auxiliary services when located with