Endesa, an electricity and natural gas utility company in Spain has inaugurated the first compressed natural gas (CNG) refuelling station in the Balearic islands to service 12 new buses belonging to Palma’s municipal transport company. The refuelling station is the first of its kind in Mallorca and coincides with the recent arrival of natural gas to the islands.
Endesa says this project could be extended to other vehicles (such as taxis, courier or delivery vehicles} which see CNG as an alternative to gasoil thanks to its potential to reduce costs, pollution and noise, among other characteristics.
Present at the inauguration were Francesc Antich, President of the Balearic autonomous government; Ramón Socias, the central government’s representative for that region; Aina Calvo, Mayor of Palma; Francesca Vives, Regional Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy; and Gabriel Vicens, Regional Minister of the Environment and Mobility. Representing Endesa were Javier Uriarte, General Manager of Endesa Energía, Feliciano Fuster, Chairman of the Endesa Advisory Board in the Balearics and Andreu Rotger, regional General Manager of Endesa.
Endesa points out the advantages of using compressed natural gas. CNG is a very clean fuel: it does not emit ash or solid particles into the atmosphere, it reduces nitrous oxide (NOx), carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and levels of reactive hydrocarbons. It also generates very little sulphur dioxide (SO2) and helps combat the greenhouse effect and acid rain. Natural gas is lighter than air and disperses quickly when released instead of forming low-level concentrations. It is non-corrosive and non-toxic and helps reduce levels of noise pollution. Likewise, it has the lowest carbon emissions of all fossil fuels.
Additionally, it has a higher H/C (hydrogen/carbon) ratio which generates lower CO2 emissions per energy unit; a higher energy content per unit of mass; and a higher octane number affording it a higher compression ratio
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