<article><p class="lead">Europe's production of liquefied biogas (bio-LNG) could increase tenfold by 2030 and help decarbonise sectors such as heavy-duty and maritime transport, according to a study published by gas industry associations.</p><p>Europe could produce 380 TWh/yr of bio-LNG by 2030, up from present capacity of 31 TWh/yr, according to a paper published this week by the European Biogas Association, Natural and bio Gas Vehicle Association, SEA-LNG and Gas Infrastructure Europe.</p><p>Bio-LNG can help the EU reach its 2030 climate targets and become carbon neutral by 2050 by reducing transport CO2 emissions in a cost-effective and scalable way, the study states. Using an LNG fuel blend containing 17-40pc of bio-LNG to power heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) would reduce CO2 emissions by 34-55pc, compared with diesel-fuelled trucks. Similarly, using bio-LNG as a marine fuel could reduce emissions by up to 92pc compared with fossil LNG — the latter already reduces emissions by up to 21pc compared with oil-based marine fuels, according to the study. </p><p>Around 12,000 LNG-powered HGVs are in operation, but the number could grow to 280,000 by 2030, accounting for around a quarter of the region's heavy-duty transport fleet, the study said. This fleet of LNG-fuelled vehicles will require about 100TWh of fuel in 2030, of which 40pc should be met by bio-LNG to meet EU decarbonisation targets, according to the report.</p><h2>Marine transport</h2><p class="lead">LNG accounts for just over 3pc of marine fuel consumption, with the number of LNG-fuelled vessels up by 20-40pc a year since the beginning of the decade, the study notes.</p><p>LNG-fuelled vessels account for about 13pc of the current newbuild order book, rising to 16pc if LNG-ready vessels are included. For some segments, such as the ultra-large container vessels that underpin the global trading system, more than 50pc of the order book is either LNG-fuelled or LNG-ready. There are 173 LNG-fuelled vessels in operation with around 230 on order and a further 150 LNG-ready ships in operation or on order. </p><p>BioLNG can be transported using existing LNG infrastructure, with no further adaptations or additional cost, and it can be used in existing LNG engines with little or no modification.</p><p>Europe has over 330 LNG filling stations, and this number could grow to 2,000 by 2030, while LNG bunkering is available at 53 European ports. Bio-LNG could be used as a "drop-in fuel" now and use could be scaled-up as availability grows, the study said. </p><p>Bio-LNG's higher price relative to LNG and other fuels like diesel has often been seen as a hurdle to development. That said, in Rotterdam a 10pc blend of bio-LNG and LNG is currently priced in line with 0.1pc sulphur marine gasoil, according to the study.</p><p>But incentives for further support of bio-LNG's development are needed to help offset its higher production cost, the report's authors concede. </p><p class="bylines">By Livia Gallarati</p></article>
