Overview
LNG Blue Corridors unites and mobilises the critical mass of experience (know-how and expertise of industrial parties and stakeholders) in Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) transport and infrastructure technology. It involves cooperation between heavy duty vehicle manufacturers, fuel suppliers, fuel distributors and fleet operators. The project includes the first definition of European LNG Blue Corridors, with strategic LNG refuelling points in order to guarantee LNG availability for road transport in a simple and cost-effective way.
Demonstrate the use of LNG as a first alternative, and as an adequate substitute to diesel in the future.
Demonstrate four main routes (Mediterranean, Atlantic, West to East and North to South Corridors) through the building of 14 new LNG stations on strategical locations and performing a large demonstration with 100 LNG Heavy Duty Vehicles and/or Dual Fuel vehicles operating along the corridors over 3 years.
The use of LBM, (Liquified Bio Methane) will be also demonstrated for further studies to validate the neutral CO2 balance, as BioMethane is obtained from waste.
New Euro VI engines and vehicles are to be developed, reaching efficiencies closer to diesel than ever before. Special after-treatment studies will be assessed, in order to ensure compliance with the Euro VI and beyond standards.
The Consortium will create 14 LNG stations, which will be constructed and located in strategic medium and long distance locations, enabling the connection between countries as never before. Afterwards, thanks to the investment in infrastructure (LNG stations) the trucks (either 100% LNG or dual-fuel) will be used by fleet operators/logistic companies to demonstrate the use of the fuel on real operation.
Each truck will be monitored with a GPRS system, in order to identify the location, use, speed, fuel consumption and evaluate the results according to the specific location, route profile, environmental conditions and the driver profile. Different studies addressing all the fields of the chain, from the LNG trucks, LNG logistics, LNG stations will allow different Well-to-Well and Economical & Environmental studies along the project for all the solutions applied. Qualitative & quantitative analyses will be carried out in order to evaluate the project following a holistic approach.
To ensure the proper development of not only the demonstration phase but also future market development, important aspects such as the harmonisation, and standardisation of regulations related to natural gas vehicles (LNG) will be developed.
The aim is to remove existing barriers that block LNG development as fuel in Europe.