The National Association of Road Transport Public Goods (ANTRAM) and the Iberian Association of Natural and Renewable Gas for Mobility (GASNAM), taking into account the proposed Regulation of Emissions of CO2 for Heavy Vehicles, consider that it is necessary to implement policies encourage the adoption of more sustainable fuels in the fleets of professional transport companies.

 

The European Council's proposal for a CO2 Emission Regulation for Heavy Vehicles states that "the deployment of current and future more innovative GNL-based technologies will contribute to meeting short- and medium-term CO2 emission targets, of GNL technologies leads to lower CO2 emissions compared to diesel vehicles. ... In addition, current LNG technologies ensure a low level of emissions of atmospheric pollutants such as NOx and particulate matter. " It also refers to the existence of an infrastructure suited to current supply needs.

 

In particular, the use of GNL (Liquefied Natural Gas), which in heavy vehicles is the only economically and technologically viable solution for replacing diesel, so that fleet management companies are not penalized in the near future.

 

The Regulation identifies the objectives to be achieved by the transport fleet, stating: "... this Regulation lays down CO2 emission performance standards for new heavy duty vehicles, so the specific CO2 emissions of the Union fleet of heavy goods vehicles will be compared to CO2 emissions as follows:

 

(a) for the reference periods from 2025 onwards, by 15%;

(b) for the reference periods of 2030 and beyond 30%, ... "

 

In the context of the review and monitoring of the effectiveness of the Regulation, the Commission attaches particular importance to liquid and gaseous fuels, requiring an "assessment of the potential contribution to the reduction of emissions from the use of synthetic liquid and gaseous renewable alternative fuels and advanced technologies, including e-fuels, produced with renewable energy and meeting the criteria for sustainability and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions under the Directive ".

 

Increased demand

Although there is already an infrastructure adequate to the current market development in Portugal, it is expected to double this year, due to the increase in demand from national and international operators, as a result of the sustainability demands placed on companies of the most varied sectors and in accordance with the binding rules laid down in Directive 2014/94 / EU on the establishment of an infrastructure for alternative fuels.

 

In this context, Portuguese companies are at a competitive disadvantage, particularly in relation to their Spanish counterparts, which have significant, non-reimbursable support for the purchase of heavy goods vehicles under GNL. These supports have been successively implemented over the last years by the Central Government and the Autonomous Governments, contributing to an energetic transition of the heavy fleets.

 

Effectively the over-cost of GNL solutions are still more costly (30% to 50%) than conventional ones, so the economic viability of this option is always more difficult to achieve.

 

Two measures in support of sustainable mobility of natural gas are foreseen in POSEUR (Portugal 2020), in particular Section 2, "Promotion of energy efficiency and the use of renewable energies in enterprises" and Section 8 "Energy efficiency and diversification collective public transport and promoting the use of green transport and sustainable mobility ".

 

In terms of energy efficiency in companies the measure includes:

 

"(G) the purchase of electric vehicles or vehicles powered by natural gas, compressed or liquefied, provided that the size of the fleet does not increase;

h) Conversion of own vehicles to natural gas, compressed or liquefied. "

 

Council of Ministers Resolution 88/2017 recognizes that "GNL as a fuel for long haul heavy goods vehicles is a viable solution in the short and medium term and is considered an environmentally advantageous option to improve emissions emissions (NOx, PM and CO), despite a significant increase in hydrocarbon (HC) emissions. "

 

This resolution provided for the regulation of a system of incentives for the acquisition of vehicles to Natural Gas in 2018, which was not verified.

 

 

Competitive disadvantage

Portuguese logistics and transport companies are therefore in a competitive disadvantage vis-à-vis their counterparts in Spain, and have not so far had significant support from the Portuguese State to meet the current energy transition needs and the regulation.

 

The implementation of incentives for the energy transition of the heavy goods transport fleet, in line with what is practiced in Spain, is decisive for the adoption of more sustainable solutions and guarantees the competitive capacity of Portuguese companies in the European logistics and transport market.

 

ANTRAM and GASNAM consider that the transition to Natural Gas from a significant part of the professional transport fleet corresponds to the development required for a low carbon economy and creates the conditions for the implementation of Renewable Gas and other advanced fuels in the form of mobility sustained and sustainable, in order to comply with the objectives of the National Energy and Climate Plan and the European Directives.

 

ANTRAM and GASNAM call for the effective implementation of incentives and support for the energy transition in professional freight transport fleets, notably by opening tender notices under the measures provided for in POSEUR, which reduce the current competitive disadvantages of transport companies and logistics to their international counterparts and ensure a path of decarbonization in accordance with the European Union Regulations.

 

Source, Logistica & Transportes Hoje.