NGVAmerica News Week in Review: January 9, 2017

• Mass Transportation Authority to Expand Alt Fuel Fleet with 32 Natural Gas Buses
• NGVAmerica Applauds Collaborative Approach of New Study that Identifies Opportunities for Improving on Emission Benefits of NGVs
• Supply & Demand Chain ExecutiveNames Ryder a Green Supply Chain Award Winner
• New ISO Standards Published for CNG and LNG Fueling Stations
• NG Advantage Extends Natural Gas Virtual Pipeline Service to Maine
• Wärtsilä Increases Operational Safety and Predictability for Two LNG Carriers
• Port of Duisport in Germany to Develop LNG Fueling Capabilities

Mass Transportation Authority to Expand Alt Fuel Fleet with 32 Natural Gas Buses

January 9, 2016

The Mass Transportation Authority (MTA) of Genesee County, which services Flint, Michigan, will receive 32 new CNG buses, according to an article by the Davison Index. The new natural gas buses will be delivered over the next 18 to 24 months.

MTA was the recipient of a $12.8 million federal grant provided through the Federal Transit Administration’s Bus and Bus Facilities Grant Program that aims to provide more modern, reliable bus service for transit riders across the country. Sixty-one projects in 41 states and other territories received a share of nearly $211 million to replace, rehabilitate, and purchase transit buses and related equipment, and construct bus-related facilities.

With the state providing an additional 20 percent in funding, MTA will use more than $15 million for the purchase of CNG buses and a workforce development training program for mechanics and bus drivers to operate the new technology.

MTA has the goal of transitioning to a 100 percent alternative fuel fleet. The move will help the transportation authority better manage fuel costs and reduce its environmental impact.

NGVAmerica Applauds Collaborative Approach of New Study that Identifies Opportunities for Improving on Emission Benefits of NGVs

January 5, 2017

NGVAmerica commended the release of a new study by scientists from West Virginia University’s Center for Alternative Fuels, Engines and Emissions (CAFEE). The study published online by Environmental Science & Technology was supported by the Environmental Defense Fund and numerous organizations from the natural gas industry, including a variety of NGVAmerica members.

“The natural gas vehicle industry has taken a proactive approach to reducing methane emissions and this study provides a valuable baseline from which to understand emissions from natural gas vehicles and fueling stations on a pump-to-wheels basis,” said NGVAmerica President Matthew Godlewski. “The findings confirm that many of the technologies being deployed on the latest generation of natural gas engines and refueling infrastructure are dramatically lowering emissions and continue to make natural gas the ‘greenest’ choice for fleets across North America.”

Today’s natural gas vehicles provide significant environmental benefits including the lowest emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx), particulate matter and other pollutants that directly affect public health. Additionally, the latest engines (which were not among those studied as part of this research) include closed-crankcase systems and other upgrades that optimize operation and increase efficiency. For these new spark-ignited natural gas engines, these changes have resulted in a more than 70 percent reduction in methane emissions compared to engines produced only a few years ago.

The study found that emissions from natural gas stations and refueling infrastructure contributed less than 20 percent of the methane emissions examined. New technologies and best practices at CNG and LNG stations with dispensers, compressors, boil off gas management systems for storage tanks, and other equipment are lowering these emissions even further and the study provides a solid baseline to demonstrate future improvements.

While the WVU study did not examine the increasing role of renewable natural gas (RNG), recent studies have found that RNG (captured from landfills, wastewater treatment and other sources) can reduce total greenhouse emissions by more than 80 percent. NGVAmerica estimates that 20 – 30 percent of all natural gas used for transportation is now low-carbon RNG. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, renewable natural gas accounts for the largest share of cellulosic biofuel currently sold in the U.S.

“NGVAmerica applauds the cooperative approach taken with this study and will incorporate its findings in the ongoing work of our Technology & Development Committee that is continuously evaluating further product enhancements and best practices,” said Godlewski.

CAFEE scientists collaborated on the study with the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and a group of natural gas industry leaders including the American Gas Association, Chart Industries, Clean Energy, Cummins, Cummins Westport, International Council on Clean Transportation, PepsiCo, Shell, Volvo Group, Waste Management, and Westport Fuel Systems.

The study press release can be found here.

Supply & Demand Chain Executive Names Ryder a Green Supply Chain Award Winner

January 3, 2017

Ryder System announced that it was named a 2016 Green Supply Chain Award winner by Supply & Demand Chain Executive (SDCE). The Green Supply Chain Award recognizes companies that are making green or sustainability a core part of their supply chain strategy and working to achieve measurable sustainability goals within their own operations and supply chains. Ryder has received the award for eight years in a row.

“Ryder offers a range of fleet and supply chain solutions that help customers improve efficiencies and reduce environmental impacts,” said Dennis Cooke, President, Global Fleet Management Solutions for Ryder. “We are proud to be recognized for consistently helping our customers achieve their business and sustainability objectives.”

Advanced fuel solutions are one area where Ryder’s impact is evident. The Company is the leader in natural gas vehicles and maintenance solutions for the commercial transportation industry, with more than 100 million miles of operations, 22 NGV maintenance facilities, and more than 5,500 NGV trained maintenance and support personnel across Ryder’s North American service network.

Businesses can tap into Ryder’s extensive knowledge of NGV operations, expanding maintenance network, and its highly trained and experienced technicians, to ensure the safe operation, maintenance, and fueling of NGVs.

Supply & Demand Chain Executive received almost 100 entries for the 2016 Green Supply Chain Award. Submissions were judged based on the clarity and content of the goals and strategy, the extent of the steps being taken, the impact of the results to date and projected results, and the form and presentation of the information submitted.

New ISO Standards Published for CNG and LNG Fueling Stations

January 2, 2017

In December, ISO published two international standards that will play an important role in the deployment of the alternative fuels infrastructure. The publication of ISO 16923 and ISO 16924 enables parties to apply broadly supported requirements for the design, construction, operation, maintenance and inspection of CNG and LNG fueling stations.

A large group of experts from various countries across the world has worked on these ISO standards during the past years. All interested parties had the opportunity to provide comments during two public enquiries. ISO 16923 and ISO 16924 provide practical tools for industry and authorities to further develop the infrastructure for natural gas fuel.

The European Commission published the Directive on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure (2014/94/EU) in 2014. This Directive refers to technical specifications for this infrastructure that should be established in European standards with respect to interoperability aspects. For this reason, the European Commission has requested the European organizations for standardization—CEN and CENELEC—to develop these standards including CNG and LNG fueling stations.

European stakeholders have indicated that ISO 16923 and ISO 16924 will be adequate to be adopted as European standard, and with that as national standard in the 34 countries that are member of CEN. This adoption process will be initiated in 2017.

NG Advantage Extends Natural Gas Virtual Pipeline Service to Maine

January 5, 2017

NG Advantage, which is majority owned by Clean Energy Fuels, announced it has begun delivering CNG for the first time to customers in the state of Maine. The expansion was made possible through an asset acquisition from Global Partners LP.

NG Advantage specializes in transporting CNG to industrial, institutional, and commercial customers who are beyond the reach of a natural gas pipeline, allowing them to realize the economic and environmental benefits of the cleaner burning fuel.

“We welcome this opportunity to expand our delivery of natural gas for our customers,” said NG Advantage CEO Rico Biasetti. “From acquiring transportation logistics to enabling key software components which allow our customers to monitor their own fuel usage and deliveries, we have shown that we can expand our network quickly and reliably.”

In addition to providing virtual pipeline CNG service to customers in Maine, NG Advantage has helped deliver over 7.5 Bcf of CNG to industrial customers since the inception of the company, and currently has customers in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, and Vermont.

Wärtsilä Increases Operational Safety and Predictability for Two LNG Carriers

January 2, 2017

Wärtsilä has signed a ten-year maintenance agreement with MOL LNG Transport Europe, an affiliate of the Japanese MOL Group. The agreement, which covers two LNG carriers, increases the predictability of the vessels’ operations, enhances safety and reduces operational costs. The comprehensive service agreement includes all scheduled engine maintenance activities, workshop services and online remote support.

With Wärtsilä’s Condition Based Maintenance (CBM) solution, maintenance activities for the two vessels’ engines can be planned based on actual engine condition rather than following a strict calendar-based schedule. The CBM solution controls and extends the engine maintenance intervals, reducing operational costs and downtime. Wärtsilä’s CBM monitoring system continuously collects data about the engines’ operating parameters and transmits the information in real time to a Wärtsilä service center for technical expert analysis.

The vessels covered by the agreement, LNG carriers Spirit of Hela and Gigira Laitebo, are equipped with four Wärtsilä 50DF dual-fuel engines each.

“We value Wärtsilä’s expertise and knowledge about these engines,” says Martin Gallacher, Deputy General Manager, MOL LNG Transport. “We also place great importance on maximizing our vessels’ availability, which will be achieved through this agreement.”

Port of Duisport in Germany to Develop LNG Fueling Capabilities

January 4, 2017

RWE Supply & Trading and the Port of Duisport in Germany have committed to jointly create the necessary infrastructure to use LNG at the Duisburg port. The goal of the partnership is to develop and implement a joint and sustainable logistics concept for the storage, distribution, and use of LNG. LNG will be used replace diesel fuel to power vessels, trains, port vehicles and trucks.

“The port of Duisburg provides excellent possibilities for the use of LNG,” emphasizes Andree Stracke, Member of the Executive Board of RWE Supply & Trading GmbH. “As the biggest inland port in the world it has a perfect connection to all traffic channels.”

As a first step, a mobile fuel pump will be installed that can be easily relocated if needed. This pump will be used in the pilot phase to supply LNG to port as well as trucks from local logistics companies. The vehicles will be converted to LNG supply and thoroughly tested in daily operations. The investment required for this first step amounts to about $500,000.