NGVAmerica News Week in Review: October 30, 2017

• California Company Commissions 118 Near-Zero Emission CNG Concrete Mixer Trucks
• Wisconsin Clean Cities, CMD to Host Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable
• Mack LR, TerraPro Models Now Available with CWI L9N Natural Gas Engine
• City of Lincoln to Upgrade Biogas Facilities to Produce Vehicle Fuel
• Cenergy Solutions Introduces Proprietary Biomethane ANG Storage System
• City of Long Beach Fleet Achieves Top-Tier Sustainability Accreditation
• FortisBC Unveils New CNG Station in Kamloops, British Columbia
• IVECO Strengthens European Leadership in LNG trucks

 

California Company Commissions 118 Near-Zero Emission CNG Concrete Mixer Trucks

October 24, 2017

Catalina Pacific, a CalPortland company, recently launched its CNG-powered concrete mixer truck fleet that will reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) and smog-causing emissions in Southern California. At a ceremony at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, the company announced it has commissioned 118 new Kenworth’s T880S “Near-Zero Emission” concrete mixer trucks to be in operation by the end of 2017. Fifty-two of the new trucks are currently serving the market in the greater Los Angeles area.

“Catalina Pacific’s transition to a fleet of CNG fueled low-NOx engine mixers contributes to the attainment of greenhouse gas and NOx reduction goals set forth by the California Legislature, the California Air Resources Board, and other regional and local agencies,” said Allen Hamblen, President/CEO of CalPortland. “By selecting engines fueled by natural gas over diesel, Catalina Pacific continues to demonstrate our ongoing commitment to the environment, community, and the safety of our employees.”

Kenworth’s T880S mixers feature the ISL G Near Zero Cummins Westport 9L Engine that reduces GHG by 15 percent and NOx emissions by 90 percent (compared to a 2010 diesel engine). The 8.9-liter ISL G Near Zero can also be run on RNG, which allows for further reductions in GHG emissions.

McNeilus partnered with Kenworth to provide its 10-½ yard Bridgemaster Transit mixer body and the company’s NGEN twin vertical CNG system for the T880S mixers.

Catalina Pacific’s new natural gas fleet will initially refuel at stations operated by Redeem by Clean Energy that provide RNG fuel made entirely from organic waste. Catalina Pacific is building privately owned fueling stations at two plant locations. These fueling stations are being developed by OZINGA Energy and are scheduled to begin operation in January 2018.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently presented the 2017 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award to CalPortland for its continued leadership in protecting our environment through superior energy efficiency achievements. This is the 13^th consecutive recognition by U.S. EPA ENERGY STAR for CalPortland.

 

Wisconsin Clean Cities, CMD to Host Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable

October 25, 2017

Registration is now open for the Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable presented by Wisconsin Clean Cities in partnership with CMD CNG Energy Solutions. The Natural Gas for Transportation Roundtable will be hosted by CMD CNG Energy Solutions on November 9, 2017 in Appleton, Wisconsin. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. A tour of the facilities and demonstration of the 100 GCS Modular Compressor System for CNG fueling will follow lunch, provided by sponsor and host CMD.

Attendees will hear from government officials and industry experts on the latest trends and technologies as well as funding opportunities for implementing compressed, liquefied and renewable natural gas in a variety of transportation sectors.

The event will feature presentations on Wisconsin’s natural gas market, technology trends, vehicles, fueling and updates on funding opportunities including the Interstate 94 Michigan to Montana project and the Volkswagen diesel emissions settlement mitigation trust.

A variety of natural gas vehicles will be on display alongside representatives from the natural gas vehicle and technology industries with information on applications for diverse transportation sectors.

“Many transportation leaders understand the environmental benefits of natural gas as a vehicle fuel, but fear the vehicles can’t meet performance or budgetary expectations,” Wisconsin Clean Cities Executive Director Lorrie Lisek said. “That’s why events such as these are so important. Participants can learn from their peers in the industry how natural gas can improve efficiency, save money and provide exceptional performance.”

To register, visit the Upcoming Events tab at www.wicleancities.org. For more information, contact Courtney Long at 414.221.4487 or courtney.long@wicleancities.org.

 

Mack LR, TerraPro Models Now Available with CWI L9N Natural Gas Engine

October 26, 2017

Mack LR and TerraPro models are now available with the Cummins Westport L9N natural gas engine, enabling customers to meet near zero NOx emissions levels while providing excellent performance and efficiency. Mack made the announcement at the 2017 Canadian Waste & Recycling Expo in Niagara Falls, Ontario.

“Natural gas continues to be a viable alternative fuel, providing a secure fuel supply and a steady price,” said Curtis Dorwart, Mack refuse product manager. “With the L9N, customers can take advantage of natural gas’ benefits and further reduce their environmental footprint.”

According to Cummins Westport, the L9N is among the lowest certified NOx emission engines available in North America, producing NOx exhaust emissions that are 90 percent lower than the current EPA limit of 0.2 g/bhp-hr. The L9N is also certified to the EPA’s GHG2017 emission requirements. The spark-ignited engine produces 320 horsepower and 1,000 lb.-ft. of torque.

The Mack LR model is built specifically to meet the challenges of refuse customers who require enhanced maneuverability, increased driver comfort and improved visibility. With both 6×4 and 4×2 configurations available, the Mack LR model works for customers with tight urban or open suburban applications.

Mack’s 11-liter MP7 diesel engine is standard in the LR model, delivering up to 355 horsepower and 1,260 lb.-ft. of torque. The LR model is equipped with an Allison RDS five-speed or six-speed automatic transmission. In addition to the L9N, the TerraPro model is available with Mack’s MP7 and MP8 engines.

City of Lincoln to Upgrade Biogas Facilities to Produce Vehicle Fuel

October 27, 2017

The City of Lincoln, Nebraska is upgrading its technology to allow the biogas produced by wastewater treatment to be processed into vehicle fuel. The City says the project could deliver $800,000 to $4 million annually in added revenue for the Lincoln Wastewater System.

Since 1991, the Public Works and Utilities Department has used the biogas produced at the wastewater facility to generate electricity for the treatment plant. This has resulted in $4 million in operational savings. However, the generators are at the end of their useful lives.

Upgrading the technology to turn the biogas into vehicle fuel instead of electricity can return 2.6 to 13 times more in savings.

“This is another example of our department’s focus on doing things better, more efficiently and more affordably to deliver higher quality service to our customers,” said Donna Garden, the department’s Assistant Director of Utilities. “Giving a beneficial use to something typically considered waste is the type of innovative policy that gives Lincoln residents cleaner, greener lives and protects our environment for future generations.”

Nebraska-based HDR, Inc., which conducted the preliminary engineering and financial analysis, will proceed with final design work at a cost of $700,000. Total construction cost is estimated at $8 million, with a project payback period of as little as two years.

In addition to providing transportation fuel nationwide through pipelines, the project design will allow for the construction of a CNG fueling station for StarTran’s CNG buses and other local fleets. Construction could start as early as May 2018, with commercial operation expected in the summer 2019. A biogas marketing contract is expected to be in place by spring 2018.

 

Cenergy Solutions Introduces Proprietary Biomethane ANG Storage System

October 19, 2017

Cenergy Solutions is introducing a complete ANG system to capture, store, transport and use biomethane worldwide. Cenergy estimates that 1 trillion cubic meters of natural gas and 1.6 trillion cubic meters of biogas are vented or burned worldwide each year from oil wells and biogas digesters, this does not include the biogas that goes uncaptured.

Cenergy Solutions’ low- pressure adsorbent natural gas and biogas technology can economically capture, store, transport and utilize this wasted energy in vehicles, for cooking, heating and to power manufacturing and power plants.

Once this wasted gas is captured it can replace gasoline, diesel, and coal, as well as liquid propane gas (LPG) which is used around the world as a vehicle fuel, cooking, and other energy applications. Cenergy has a new system to fill tanks, which will replace LPG tanks, comprised of a CSA and UL certified natural gas compressor, DOT compliant tanks, a manifold system for filling several tanks at once and a proprietary valve and patent pending filter. Any application where LPG is used can be replaced with biomethane stored and transported in Cenergy Solutions’ ANG tanks.

“Throughout the world most countries rely heavily on LPG to supply their citizens the energy they need,” said Gary Fanger, COO of Cenergy Solutions. “Now countries have the option to supply their population with biomethane that is made on their farms, landfills and wastewater treatment plants with Cenergy’s ANG distribution system.”

Cenergy Solutions has signed their first licensing agreement with a biogas plant in India which currently makes over two tons of methane per day and is increasing their production to ten tons of methane per day. Using ANG tanks filled with biomethane will be a significant savings for the biogas plant and the customers they serve.

Cenergy Solutions’ adsorbent natural gas and biogas technology allows for the storage of methane molecules in a dense state at low pressures. Three to five times the amount of natural gas or biogas can be stored in an ANG tank as in a conventional CNG tank at the same pressure. Cenergy Solutions has filed patents for its ANG technology in 62 strategic countries.

 

City of Long Beach Fleet Achieves Top-Tier Sustainability Accreditation

October 27, 2017

The City of Long Beach Fleet Services Bureau has achieved a Tier Four ranking with the NAFA Sustainable Fleet Accreditation Program, which is the highest ranking of the five levels of the program.

“Fleet Services has been focusing on alternative and renewable fuels in order to take the City’s Green Fleet Program to the next level,” said Mayor Robert Garcia. “We are always striving to become greener and more efficient, and we are proud to be sustainability leaders in the fleet industry.”

Currently, 34 fleets nationwide are accredited from Tier One to Tier Four, including nine California cities and counties. Tiers are assigned by awarding points for current sustainability efforts. To earn a Tier Four accreditation, fleets must score 80 or more points out of 125 on a number of criteria including: emissions reduction, fuel efficiency, and air quality improvement.

The program is currently the worldwide standard for recognizing concrete improvements in air quality through reducing emissions, increasing fuel efficiency, and reducing fuel use.

Long Beach’s Fleet Services Bureau has a strong record of sustainability, and years of alternative fuel experience, reducing emissions and fossil fuel use. This year the City opened a new $3.9 million CNG station capable of fueling 100 heavy duty vehicles. According to last year’s figures, all natural gas and diesel that the fleet uses have been transitioned to 100 percent renewables, which is 52 percent of total fuel used.

In June 2017, the City’s fleet ranked Top Ten best government fleet out of thousands of fleet operations in the nation, in the Government Fleet magazine and American Public Works Association (APWA) 2017 Leading Fleets competition. The City’s fleet was also recognized as one of the Top 50 Green Fleets in Heavy Duty Trucking magazine’s 2016 competition, and #27 Government Green Fleet in the 2017 Green Fleet Awards.

 

FortisBC Unveils New CNG Station in Kamloops, British Columbia

October 25, 2017

FortisBC recently opened a new CNG fueling station in Kamloops, British Columbia, as part of FortisBC’s commitment to providing cleaner energy solutions for its customers.

FortisBC is dedicated to investing in infrastructure to develop natural gas for transportation in the City of Kamloops and throughout the Province. The size of the station, as well as the convenient location close to the highway and the Kamloops commercial and industrial area, makes the station ideal for providing fuel to medium to large duty CNG-powered vehicles in the area.

With B.C,’s transportation industry accounting for the largest share of provincial greenhouse gas emissions, approximately 37 percent, converting fleets and vehicles to natural gas helps the province meet its greenhouse gas reduction goals and helps improve air quality in the communities they serve.

IVECO Strengthens European Leadership in LNG trucks

October 27, 2017

Further demonstrating its ability to offer a full-range of alternative power solutions for the transport sector, IVECO, the commercial vehicles brand of CNH Industrial N.V., has unveiled the new Stralis NP 460 at its heavy trucks center of excellence in Ulm, Germany.

Classed as the most sustainable truck ever, the Stralis NP 460 delivers performance and productivity for all long-haul missions with the ability to achieve close to zero emissions on renewable LNG, cutting CO2 emissions by up to 95 percent when running on renewable compressed or liquefied natural gas.

IVECO says the Stralis NP 460 is fitted with the most powerful dedicated gas engine on the market, the IVECO Cursor 13 NP engineered by CNH Industrial’s powertrain brand FPT Industrial, which is protected by two patents. The new range maximizes the environmental advantages of natural gas.

The proprietary technology delivers a 99 percent reduction in Particulate Matter, a 60 percent reduction of Nitrogen Oxides and a volume level of less than 71 decibels, in comparison with the current Euro VI limits. In terms of autonomy, the truck’s double LNG tank version ensures a range of up to nearly 1,000 miles.

IVECO has pioneered natural gas transport for more than 20 years, making its commercial network among the most experienced in the industry. Some of Europe’s largest transport providers, including Jost Group with a 500-strong order and Jacky Perrenot Group with an order for 250 units, have put their trust in IVECO and the Stralis NP for their fleets.