NIPCO CNG Station (Sapele)
Nigerian Independent Petroleum Company (NIPCO) Plc, in a joint venture with Nigeria Gas Company (NGC), has embarked on building more compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling stations in and around Benin City, the capital of Edo State in southern Nigeria, reports The Moment.
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Peterbilt Model 386 LNG
Peterbilt Motors Co.s recently conducted special customer event in Texas which focused on natural gas vehicle truck models and fleet-based implementation, received double the anticipated attendance, reports FleetOwner, as fleet owners and managers investigate the commercial opportunities provided by natural gas fuel. Robert Woodall, the company’s director of sales and marketing, explained that Peterbilt is investing millions to widen its natural gas-powered truck offerings, with plans to build 2,000 trucks powered by either compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG) natural gas by year-end.
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E.ON AG, an international energy supplier based in Dusseldorf, Germany, has observed increasing interest in natural gas as a vehicle fuel across Germany in response to petrol and diesel prices reaching new highs. Already operating more than 80 of the 900+ compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations in Germany, the company has stated it will continue its drive to expand refuelling infrastructure.
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Jiaxing City's new CNG bus fleet
In northern Zhejiang province of Eastern China, the city of Jiaxing has launched its first batch of compressed natural gas (CNG) powered environmentally friendly buses for rural public transportation. These 30 natural gas buses, manufactured by Xiamen King Long United Automotive Industry Co., Ltd. and procured by Guohong Motor Transport Co., Ltd of Jiaxing, will play a positive role in reducing pollution, while improving the utilization of transport resources. The 8.5 meter buses can carry 61 passengers. The Jiaxing Daily reports that the buses meet Euro IV emission standards and, with five fully-fueled gas cylinders on board, are capable of driving approximately 250 kms.
(This article compiled using information from a Guohong Motor Transport Co., Ltd press release)
At last week’s Sustainable Development Network (SDN) Energy Forum in Washington DC, sponsored by the The World Bank, Stephe Yborra, Director of Market Analysis, Education and Communications at Clean Vehicle Education Foundation (CVEF) and Director – Market Development at NGVAmerica, presented a session on behalf of NGV Global on the worldwide NGV market and its potential to displace petroleum and improve economic opportunity in developing nations.
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La Paz, Bolivia's capital city
Bolivia’s Confederation of Drivers (Confederación de Choferes) will next week depart for China with a specific shopping list in hand – 500 compressed natural gas (CNG) powered small buses with sufficient CNG storage capacity and power to handle capital city La Paz’s very steep roads, reports el Monticulo. Commissioned representatives will call on selected manufacturers to evaluate bus models and all being well, to place an order. The desired bus will be able to carry approximately 29 passengers seated and 21 standing. The Drivers Confederation will reportedly request the Bolivian government to release taxes raised from importation of NGVs to help fund this major acquisition.
Indian energy supplier Maharashtra Natural Gas Limited (MNGL), operational in the State of Maharashtra, has seized the opportunity provided by a change of legislation in 2011 that allows private land owners to lease out land, to expand its compressed natural gas (CNG) filling stations from 16 to 21, reports Indian Express. MNGL chief manager R Yagnik expects the five outlets to be operational by end of 2012. Additionally, MNGL has reportedly targeted up to 50 stations to be operational by 2014. The company is seeking long term leases, offering lessors the option to partner with MNGL as operators once the infrastructure is established.
Methane extracted from sugarcane residue and converted into bio-CNG (biomethane or renewable natural gas) is available in India but is not recognised as a vehicle fuel by India’s Ministry for Road Transport and Highways. Now the Ministry is considering a proposal seeking permission to conduct tests on commercial vehicles running on the sugarcane-derived energy source, reports Times of India. The Spectrum Renewable and the Warna Group (sugar processing), prompted by the Ministry for New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), have reportedly submitted a proposal to conduct large-scale tests.
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Encana's LNG refuelling station
Encana Natural Gas Inc., a subsidiary of Encana Corporation, one of North America’s largest natural gas producers, has opened the first liquefied natural gas (LNG) fueling station in Louisiana. Located at The Relay Station in Frierson, the station which will serve the fueling needs of heavy duty truck fleets is open for public use (to those with proper LNG vehicle safety training) and will be accepting all major credit cards. The station is currently being utilized by Heckmann Water Resources (HWR), an Encana partner in water sustainability in the natural gas industry.
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“Methane Opportunities for Vehicular Energy” (MOVE) program
Through its Advanced Research Projects Agency—Energy (ARPA-E), the US Department of Energy will make $30 million available for a new research competition in the coming months that will engage the country’s scientists, engineers, and entrepreneurs to find ways to harness its abundant supplies of domestic natural gas for vehicles. President Obama announced the programs during a speech at the University of Miami in Miami, Florida, where he toured the school’s Industrial Assessment Center (IAC), an Energy Department program that teaches students how to become industrial energy efficiency experts as they help small- to mid-sized manufacturers cut energy costs.
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Tokyo-based Nippon Kaiji Kyokai, known as ClassNK or NK, a ship classification society, has issued engineering “Guidelines for the issuance of ship fuel gas”. The draft guidelines were compiled based on the IGF Code of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) — International Code of Safety for Ships Using Gases and or Other Low Flash-Point Fuels. The publication would appear to be in response to increasingly stringent IMO emissions controls and recognises the rapidly expanding adoption of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative maritime fuel. Currently only in Japanese, the English version is expected to be published in March.
(This article compiled using information from ClassNK)
Ningbo port container trucks queue for cargo (Image: Ningbo Port)
In the Chinese city of Ningbo, the port of which has recorded the greatest growth in container business in the world, motor vehicle exhaust emissions has become a major source of urban air pollution; the vehicle population passed 1 million at end 2010. The Ningbo Municipal Development and Reform Commission has set in motion measures to improve the environment and promote energy conservation by introducing a plan to promote conversion to natural gas fuel for urban buses, taxis and port container trucks, reports Ningbo Evening News.
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M/S Viking Grace - LNG-fuelled (Image: Viking Line)
AGA Gas AB, a member of the Linde Group, and Viking Line Abp have signed an agreement on delivery of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Viking Line’s new cruise ship, the 57,000 grt, 214 m (702 ft) M/S Viking Grace. “AGA’s and Viking Line’s investment means major environmental gains in comparison to traditional maritime fuel”, says Jan Bäckvall, Head of Europe North in Linde and responsible for AGA”. “For Baltic shipping, this can be the primary solution in the future”.
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SEER ngv, assembled in America, dedicated CNG-powered
Vision Motor Company (VMC), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Noble Automotive Group, Inc., designs, assembles and markets vehicles which run on 100% low-cost clean-burning compressed natural gas (CNG). Since 2008 the company has been working to develop a new range of natural gas vehicles for the North American automotive market, and is currently awaiting certification from the US Environmental Protection Agency for its small car product – the “SEER ngv”. The car carries the equivalent of 5.4 gasoline gallons of fuel in four cylinders, enough to drive more than 240 miles (about 390 kms).
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Burst Pressure Test (Image - 3M)
Market-ready in 4th Quarter 2012
Innovation company 3M and natural gas producer Chesapeake Energy Corporation have entered into an agreement to collaborate in designing, manufacturing and marketing a broad portfolio of compressed natural gas (CNG) tanks for use in all sectors of the United States transportation market. Currently the fuel tank (cylinder) on a CNG vehicle is its most expensive single component. The new CNG tanks developed through the 3M and Chesapeake partnership will reduce costs while increasing performance. Less expensive tanks will enable greater market adoption of CNG as an alternative automotive fuel source.
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