• The 'miciudadatodogas' initiative will use gas and biomethane vehicles to travel around Spanish cities committed to sustainability, and where events surrounding best practices of sustainable mobility will be organised
• The use of natural gas and biomethane in transport is key to achieving the objectives of air quality and decarbonisation in Spanish municipalities
Spanish municipalities face two major challenges: on the one hand, they must guarantee air quality to preserve citizens’ health and, on the other, they must protect the planet from climate change.
The use of natural gas as transport fuel is key to achieving these objectives. It is an energy source for all types of mobility: from light vehicles, vans, buses, trucks, to trains and ships. This alternative practically eliminates pollutant emissions that affect air quality and, therefore, people’s health. In addition, when using its renewable version (biomethane or renewable hydrogen), greenhouse gas emissions are completely neutralised.
The 'miciudadatodogas' initiative was unveiled today at a press conference in Seville with the participation of Jose Luis David Guevara, Deputy Mayor of the Ecological Transition Area of Seville City Council; Claudio Rodríguez, General Director of Infrastructures of Enagás; Eugenia Sillero, Secretary-General of Gasnam; and Ibon Basterrechea, CEO of Enerlis Technology.
In his speech, Jose Luis David Guevara pointed out that "the city of Seville has an unwavering commitment to sustainable mobility and the reduction of emissions reflected in the Seville 2030 Strategic Plan. Within this crucial line of work for the City Council, fundamental steps have been taken in the use of natural gas: our public transport company is a benchmark with 50% of its fleet already operating with natural gas and with the goal of reaching 75% in the coming years.
Claudio Rodriguez has highlighted "the need to take advantage of the opportunities offered today by natural gas to decarbonise heavy road, non-electrifiable rail and maritime transport, also improving air quality in cities". In particular, he highlighted the leading role at European level that Spain, based on its gas infrastructures, is developing based on its experience, capacity and logistical flexibility to promote innovative solutions, which through the 'National Framework of Action for alternative energies in transport', will allow Spain to move forwards in an effective and sustainable multimodality.
For her part, Eugenia Sillero has reiterated that "the current development and consolidation of the use of natural gas in mobility facilitates the steady penetration of renewable gas in the different modes of transport and represents a necessary resource to achieve the demanding objectives of decarbonisation, especially in those sectors that are difficult to electrify, such as heavy transport and maritime transport".
Ibon Basterrechea pointed out that "the vast majority of urban development strategies in Spanish cities contemplate specific actions aimed at incorporating sustainable mobility models into their cities that must inevitably include technologies such as natural gas and renewable gas in order to successfully tackle the energy transition and be able to comply with the objectives of the Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan".
This initiative, which will begin in Seville on 3 December using gas and biomethane vehicles, will travel through Spanish cities that are committed to sustainability. During this route, events will be organised around the best practices of sustainable mobility, representing a meeting space for political representatives, specialised companies and other relevant sector agents.
Seville City Council has demonstrated its commitment to sustainability by introducing the use of natural gas in a fleet of more than 200 buses. On 3 December, different round tables will be held to discuss sustainable mobility, refuelling infrastructures, the production of biogas from waste and its contribution to the circular economy. The sustainable mobility strategy being promoted by the city council will be presented and the exhibition of vehicles showcasing this initiative will be open to the public.
Andalusia has also been a pioneering region in the production of renewable gas and biogas for use as fuel in vehicles. The region is home to one of Spain's most prominent renewable gas production pilot projects, the 'All-Gas' project. This pilot, co-financed by the European Commission, is being developed in the Chiclana wastewater treatment plant, where biogas is generated from wastewater and microalgae used as fuel in vehicles.
Project promoters
As regards the promoters of the initiative, it should be noted that Gasnam is the association that promotes the use of natural and renewable gas for both land and maritime mobility on the Iberian Mainland, with the aim of achieving decarbonisation of transport, guaranteeing air quality in cities and boosting the circular economy.
In its commitment to innovation, Enagás has technically adapted its LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas) plants, which are currently ready to offer new services such as bunkering. In addition, Enagás promotes new uses of natural gas for mobility through its participation in projects such as CORE LNGashive and LNGHIVE2, and in the first LNG rail traction pilot test in Europe. The company also supports start-ups that have emerged from its ‘Enagás Emprende’ programme that are focused on promoting mobility with natural gas, such as Gas2Move.
Enerlis, for its part, is a consultancy firm specialising in strategic urban planning and the development of integrated sustainability and technology solutions for cities, acting as the technical secretariat for 'miciudadatodogas'.
