MHyBus LIFE07 ENV/IT/000434 - Methane and Hydrogen blend for public city transport bus: technical demonstrative application and strategic policy measures
Overview
Background & policy context:
Transport in the Emilia Romagna Region was noted as being responsible for 90% of total CO emission, 46% of NOx, 41% of primary PM10, and 42% of total non-methane volatile organic compounds (NMVOC). More specifically, CO2 emissions from the road transport sector in this region were the second highest in Italy, representing 30% of total regional emissions.
A hydro-methane gas blend of transportation fuel had been proven to give very positive performance both from an environmental and energy perspective. A study carried out for the Emilia-Romagna Regional Government reported that a mix of 15% hydrogen and 85% natural gas significantly reduced CO2 and atmospheric pollutants emissions. Moreover at these percentages, the overall energy balance of the system – including hydrogen production through a steam reforming process – compared favourably to the same vehicle fuelled with natural gas.
Objectives:
The MHyBus project aimed to reduce negative environmental impacts from the public city passenger transport sector (in terms of CO2 and air pollutants emissions). This would be achieved through the use of a gaseous fuel blend for buses of up to 20% hydrogen and 80% natural gas (in short “hydro-methane”). The project sought to implement the first prototype hydro-methane bus and to support the spread of this technology through regional policy measures. It planned to increase awareness in the Emilia-Romagna region about climate change and air quality topics through the active demonstration of the prototype vehicle.
Expected project results were:
- Optimising the percentage composition of the hydro-methane blend (of up to 20% hydrogen and 80% natural gas);
- Verifying the functioning of the prototype fuel supply system and its components;
- Developing a public transport city bus prototype able to use hydro-methane (developed from an existing bus fuelled by natural gas);
- Developing a standardised procedure for the prototype bus (which may be used to transform the entire bus fleet);
- Experimental results with valuable and important reference for the diffusion of the hydrogen technology in the transport sector (e.g. acting as a starting point for the improvement of air quality and tackling climate change);
- Regional technical guidelines for the conversion of the natural gas fuelled buses currently in circulation to hydro-methane fuelled buses.
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