National coverage of the Netherlands with biomethane or “groengas” fuelling stations took another step forward late last week with Joop Atsma, Secretary for Infrastructure and Environment and Deputy Sjoerd Galema (CDA) opening an OrangeGas green gas-filling point in Surhuisterveen, in the northern province of Friesland. The province is the first in the country to have a comprehensive green gas network; there are already green gas-filling stations in Dokkum, Leeuwarden (x2) and Harlingen and in the summer stations will be in operation in Burgum, Joure and Sneek.
The Surhuisterveen station is the eighteenth OrangeGas green gas-filling point in the Netherlands. OrangeGas aims to end 2011 with around fifty filling stations across the country (see image).
Green gas is currently the cheapest fuel for cars, becoming increasingly attractive says GroenGas Mobiel (GGM), the green gas industry association in the Netherlands. A kilo of gas currently costs between 81 and 89 cents (USD 1.14 – 1.25), while the equivalent price per liter for petrol and diesel has passed EUR 1.70 or 1.40 (USD 2.38 and 1.96) respectively.
GMM says that there are currently more than 2 830 natural gas vehicles operating across the country and by end 2011 there will be more than 100 biomethane fuelling stations.
Biomethane is CO2 neutral because it is extracted from sewage sludge, waste and biomass such as cow manure and vegetable, fruit and garden waste. The CO2 emissions are less than ninety percent compared with diesel-fuelled vehicles, without loss of performance.
This article primarily compiled using information from GroenGas Mobiel.
