• The experts who gathered this morning at the ‘G-Mobility’ conference, organised by IE University, Enagás and Gasnam, see in renewable gases such as biomethane and hydrogen a real medium and long-term solution to decarbonise transport
• Natural gas in transport already reduces sulphur oxide emissions by nearly 100%, nitrogen oxides by 80 to 90% and CO2 emissions by 20 to 30%
Natural gas, biomethane and hydrogen are three energy vectors that are essential in achieving sustainable mobility goals, although each one at its own appropriate time of development.
This has been the main point of consensus by the panel of experts gathered this morning at the ‘G-Mobility: Solutions with gas, biomethane and hydrogen for sustainable mobility’ conference, organised by the IE Center for Transport Economics & Infrastructure Management at IE University, Enagás and Gasnam, featuring participation from representatives of Renfe, Alstom, Toyota, Acciona, Seat and the Gas2Move start-up.
“Social awareness of the importance of promoting sustainable mobility is a real accelerator of research and innovation in alternative sources to traditional energies. This is particularly true in the case of hydrogen, which will play an important role in the future. It is also necessary to bear in mind the role that natural gas has to play in long-distance and in high tonnage means of transport where, today, it offers competitive advantages that cannot be ignored”, said Julio Gómez-Pomar, Chairman of the IE Center for Transport Economics & Infrastructure Management, in the presentation of the event.
In his speech, the CEO of Enagás, Marcelino Oreja, highlighted the role of natural gas in decarbonising mobility: “It is fundamental in transport, especially heavy transport by sea and land, as a means of improving air quality”, as it “reduces sulphur oxide (SOx) emissions by nearly 100%, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions by 80 to 90% and CO2 emissions by 20 to 30% compared to traditional fuels”. In the medium and long-term, he also stressed that “renewable gases such as biomethane and hydrogen will be a real solution for mobility”.
The Secretary General of the association Gasnam, which promotes the use of natural and renewable gas for mobility on the Iberian Mainland, Eugenia Sillero, has highlighted that “there are many uncertainties about how decarbonised transport will be in the future”, although she states that “it is increasingly accepted that green or low-carbon gas and hydrogen will be an essential part of the energy mix, especially in those sectors of difficult electrification such as heavy transport and maritime transport”.
