TEN-T Funding Will Boost European Uptake of Natural Gas for Transportation

The Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T) Programme the European Commission selected a total of 106 projects from the 2013 Call that will benefit from over €320 million in EU support for improving transport infrastructure across Europe. Included are 19 projects involving natural gas – 13 Annual Call (short-term) and 6 Multi-Annual (long-term) projects, up from the total 7 natural gas projects approved out of the 2012 Call.

The projects will use the EU’s financial support to bring forward the completion of the TEN-T network as well as studying innovative ways of reducing the transport sector’s carbon footprint. Most of the projects are funded to 50% of eligible costs.

European Commission Vice-President Siim Kallas, responsible for transport, noted: “I am very happy to see that over one hundred new projects will take off thanks to EU financial support under the 2013 TEN-T Calls. These key projects with European added value will contribute to delivering a complete transport network supporting seamless mobility of goods and people throughout the European Union.“

All natural gas projects are listed below (Headings include Project Name, Applicant, Countries Involved, Funding Allocation.

ANNUAL CALL 2013 : PRIORITY 2 – DECARBONISATION/OIL SUBSTITUTION OR ENVIRONMENTAL COST OF REDUCTION

Greening road transport – LNG refuelling infrastructure network deployment; Fluxys SA (Belgium) – EUR 520,000

Description: the development and testing of LNG refuelling infrastructure for trucks. A publicly accessible pilot refuelling station will be developed in Veurne (Belgium), on a corridor linking The Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, UK, Luxembourg and France. Since future LNG infrastructure also needs to meet high safety and security standards, the station will also serve as reference for the further development of national standards and safety legislation. Its results will be shared with all stakeholders (authorities, transport companies, fuel station and fuel card operators, fire brigades).

Based on the lessons learned, the objective is to build two other fuelling stations in Belgium and France. The TEN-T funding will accelerate this deployment, allowing the creation of an LNG corridor and helping to solve the “chicken and egg” stand-off in the deployment of small-scale LNG infrastructure.

Innovative LNG-powered hopper barge deployed under real-life conditions in the ports of Bremen and Bremerhaven; Municipality of Bremen (Germany) – EUR 1,653,750

Description: construction of an LNG-powered hopper barge in Bremerhaven and Bremen, which will be tested in a market-oriented approach. Activities include planning and engineering, classification and approvals, LNG equipment and related components, operation, testing and analysis and project management.

Realizing, real-life demonstration and market introduction of a scalable, multi-modal LNG-terminal in the seaport of Bremen for the reliable supply of LNG as alternative fuel to all transport modes; HGM Energy GmbH (Germany) – EUR 2,475,000

Description: a study for the implementation, testing and market introduction of a flexible, multi-modal LNG terminal in the seaport of Bremen to provide a reliable supply of LNG. It covers planning, design and engineering, as well as the practical investigation of a facility whose productive size can be adjusted to market demand.

Pilot development of an LNG propulsion system for combined passenger and freight traffic for the year-round supply of the peripheral region of Helgoland; EMS AG (Germany) – EUR 4,175,000

Description: the construction of a combined passenger and freight ferry using an innovative LNG-propulsion system. Activities include project management, the innovative concept and design, implementation and installation of the LNG-propulsion system and its required components, as well as the compilation of the pilot study.

Pilot Project to promote the use of LNG fuel: Installation of 200 tons LNG tank and filling facility at the port of Hirtshals, Denmark for fuelling of passenger/cargo vessels with a view to later establishment of a larger tank at the port; Fjord Line Danmark A/S (Denmark) – EUR 1,409,400

Description: a pilot project for installation of a 200 tonne/500 m3 LNG storage tank and bunkering facility. If successful, a larger (3000-5000 m3) LNG tank and bunker facility will be established at the Port of Hirtshals in order to make LNG fuel readily available for ships within and outside the EU, as well as regional consumers including road transport.

The pilot project will be the first of its kind in Denmark and one of the first in the EU. As such it will serve as a model for other prospective LNG consumers. LNG bunkering facilities would be an attractive asset for ports in northern Europe which function as feeder ports. The establishment of LNG bunkering facilities will be the first step towards creating an LNG supply infrastructure and will be an incentive to consumers considering making the switch from HFO/MDO to LNG.

LNG Feeders, a Solution for Archipelagos far from LNG Storage Plants; Port Authority of Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Spain) – EUR 693,520

Description: main objective is to study the possibilities of introducing LNG in the Canary Islands as a way of breaking the current dependence on oil, contributing to a reduction in energy costs and improvement in air quality.

In particular, the Action will implement the following main activities:

• Identification of market demand for LNG and CNG in the Canary Islands for the short and medium-term
• Feasibility study regarding the actual cost of delivering LNG to the Canary Islands
• Storage and supply analysis
• Feasibility study regarding the adaptation of the chosen solution to other remote European regions

LNG uptake in the UK: a real-life trial with the first small scale bunkering infrastructure in Teesport and innovative LNG vessels; SABIC Petrochemicals UK Limited (United Kingdom and Netherlands) – EUR 4,302,012

Description: open the market for LNG short sea bunkering in the UK through the implementation of the
following activities:

• Design and construction of the UK’s first small scale LNG bunkering facility in Teesport, a core TEN-T network seaport
• Installation of an innovative LNG propulsion system on two ships, which will be used in the real-life trial
• A real-life trial of the operation of the LNG bunkering facility and the LNG fuelled vessels
• Scaling up studies which relate to the market potential of LNG in other ports as well as how to roll-out LNG technology in the UK

Smart energy efficient and adaptive port terminals (Sea Terminals); Fundación Valenciaport (Spain, Estonia, Italy, The Netherlands) – EUR 3,136,948

Description: pilot nine real-life trials of various types of low carbon, pollutant emission reducing and energy efficient last generation port container machinery and equipment in the Ports of Valencia and Livorno.

This will be done through the implementation of a smart energy management system which aims to optimise the energy used by the port facilities, the adaptation of equipment for use of LNG as alternative fuel and through the deployment of a fully electric terminal tractor. The results of the trials will then be evaluated and disseminated and a business plan for the scaling up of results will be elaborated.

Sustainable Maritime Transport with LNG between Greek mainland and islands in the Archipelagos (ARCHIPELAGO-LNG); South Aegean Region (Greece) – EUR 575,912

Description: aims to promote the use of LNG as a marine vehicle fuel in order to reduce supply costs and the environmental impact stemming from the use of heavy oil derivatives up to now. The study will bring together for the first time a number of key Greek stakeholders representing a cross-section of the LNG as marine fuel value chain, in order to:

• Provide recommendations for the adoption by the Greek government on international standards and practices concerning the technical, safety and training aspects of LNG and its use as a marine fuel
• Identify the key technical and economic framework of LNG as marine fuel value chain in South Aegean, such as main supply chain options, required retrofits and infrastructure in ports/ships/shipyards and business plans for each operator.

SAFE SECA – Study for Alternative Fuels and Experiment in the SEine and Channel Area; Grand Port Maritime du Havre (France) – EUR 3,825,000

Description: a study with regional pilot deployment focusing on the development of the necessary infrastructure and facilities that will support the use of alternative fuels — in particular LNG and LNG bunkering vessels in the French Seine and Channel areas.

All aspects necessary for the deployment of alternative fuel facilities will be studied, including regulation, safety and installation scenarios. In order to ensure an extensive transfer of knowledge, a training programme will also be developed and implemented, educating 100 stakeholders on various issues regarding alternative fuels in ports throughout the lifetime of the Action. A real life pilot will complete the study, proposing a solution for existing facilities: the retrofit of a bunkering vessel into a “versatile bunkering vessel” able to deliver both marine diesel oil and LNG.

Study including pilot deployment to determine the viability of LNG as an alternative fuel for medium and long distance road transport (LNG4Haul); Rolande LNG B.V. (The Netherlands) – EUR 5,000,000

Description: main objective is the completion of a study with pilot deployment which brings forward market-oriented information supporting the European deployment of LNG/LBG as a fuel for medium and long haul road transport, while at the same time building up LNG/LBG fuelling infrastructure along the main international transport routes in the Netherlands. As a result, the Action aims to contribute to breaking the current deadlock in the market development of LNG/LBG.

Five LNG/LBG refuelling stations will be established along the main European transport corridors in The Netherlands, leading to Germany and Belgium. In addition, 75 LNG/LBG powered HGVs will be equipped with data collection equipment to ensure the collection of operational data, providing input for commercial business cases for fleet owners and refuelling station operators. The results will then be analysed and disseminated for further use at European level.

LNG_PT – Fast tracking the deployment of a European low carbon transport system: the Portuguese roadmap for LNG in TEN-T corridors; ADENE – Agência para a Energia (Portugal) – EUR 153,044

Description: a study, part of a Global Project which aims at developing an integrated energy action plan that includes the establishment of all required policy measures to ensure an effective fuel diversification strategy.

The study aims to set out a national policy framework for LNG in road transport to accelerate the uptake of LNG as an alternative fuel for freight transport in Portugal in the context of the TEN-T network corridors.

Biomethane and LNG in the north for growth and competitiveness in EU (BioGaC); Skellefteå kommun (Sweden) – EUR 2,221,219

Description: a pilot deployment of CNG filling stations on the TEN-T road network in Northern Sweden, aiming to use existing alternative fuel infrastructure in a more cost-efficient way.

The expected result will support the decision for equipping other sites planned to become CNG filling stations. The experiences of the trials will be evaluated and used for developing best practice for new actors within the CNG market. The project will also provide solutions on how to accelerate the market development of CNG/LNG infrastructure along the TEN-T network in specific regions with long distances between urban centres and lacking gas distribution grids.

MULTI-ANNUAL CALL 2013: MoS – MOTORWAYS OF THE SEA

Into the future – Baltic So2lution; Wärtsilä Finland Oy (Denmark, Finland, Sweden) – EUR 3,629,540

Description: a pilot, aims to minimise the emissions of transport routes along the Motorway of the Baltic Sea by introducing an innovative and environmentally friendly transport mode. It consists of the following activities:

• Feasibility study of the Low Emission Technology Package, including generic installation procedures for both new-built and retrofitted vessels and a market introduction plan
• Supply chain case study to analyse the Action’s effect on product sustainability for the end customer. It also includes an overview and update of the current developments of LNG infrastructure in the 21 ports involved in the project to prepare for future LNG bunkering strategies for the transport supply chain.
• Technology package procurement, including ship engine, LNG tanks and other necessary equipment
• Test bed installation study and installation of the low emission technology package on board vessel
• Activities to ensure the optimal dissemination of the milestones and results.

Channel LNG; BAI Bretagne Angleterre Irlande – Brittany Ferries (Belgium, France, United Kingdom) – EUR 12,677,879

Description: promotes the deployment of LNG as an alternative to heavy fuel oil and addresses the environmental challenge faced by short sea shipping operators in the view of the Marpol VI requirements. The following activities will be implemented:

• Completion of the first LNG retrofit of an existing vessel in the Brittany Ferries fleet to start LNG use by January 2015.
• Development of the infrastructure and the equipment of the Zeebrugge LNG terminal so that supply vessels can reload LNG for bunkering vessels in distant ports such as Portsmouth (UK). The new equipment will be operational from July 2015.
• Modification of some mooring equipment of the ferry berth in the two ports of the Portsmouth-Caen/Ouistreham Motorway of the Sea. The new equipment will be operational from December 2015.

The innovative technology used for the retrofit of the Mont Saint Michel tank will demonstrate the deployment feasibility of LNG for two other RoPax vessels in the Brittany Ferries fleet that will be retrofitted in the short term.

LNG in Baltic Sea Ports II; Helsingborg Hamn AB (Germany, Lithuania) – EUR 832,323

Description: extends the on-going TEN-T project “LNG in the Baltic Sea Ports” (2011-EU-21005-S). It not only serves as an expansion of the ports network with the addition of four new ports, but it will also further develop the knowhow (harmonisation among ports when developing LNG facilities in the ports, training schemes, etc.) to be later shared within the Baltic region ports and across the EU.

This approach will help to avoid particular seaports developing new technology individually and help to initiate a forum for sharing knowledge of best-practice and ‘know-how’.

Study in the form of a Pilot Action for a small scale LNG bunkering network for the European Emission Control Area (PASCAL = Pilot Action Small sCale Lng); Bomin Linde LNG GmbH & Co. KG (The Netherlands, Germany) – EUR 12,349,278

Description: First steps towards the development of a European small-scale LNG bunkering network for maritime shipping. German project coordinator Bomin Linde GmbH & Co. KG will work with its beneficiaries in The Netherlands (Abura Beheer B.V. and the Port of Rotterdam) and Germany (Port of Hamburg), as well as a large number of stakeholders (port authorities, industry associations, customers). BLLNG will be responsible for the piloting of the small scale LNG bunker stations and execution of studies, while the port authorities will execute the necessary waterside works and study/dissemination activities. These dissemination activities fit seamlessly with the LNG/alternative fuel strategies of both ports.

The Action will focus on three key elements:

1. Execution of evaluation and validation studies resulting in bunkering concepts and procedures, information on the costs and environmental benefits of LNG, as well as market information and financial solutions for the expansion of LNG small-scale infrastructure in the North and Baltic Seas.
2. Realization of three small-scale modular terminals in the ports of Rotterdam, Bremerhaven and Hamburg, including a real life trial on the operation of the bunker stations with multiple customers.
3. Dissemination focused on sharing experiences from the pilot operation with European ports and shipping operators considering future investment in LNG.

Pilot implementation of a LNG-propulsion system on a MoS test track in the environmental model region ‘Wadden Sea’; EMS AG (The Netherlands, Germany) – EUR 3,070,000

Description: a pilot project involving four different applicants from Germany and The Netherlands, MoS port authorities (Groningen Seaports & N-Ports), an operating shipping company (AG-Ems) and a public-private foundation (Energy Valley) that is currently the driving force for the LNG development in the Dutch-German-Danish Wadden Sea. Together, this bi-national consortium will foster the pilot implementation of the first LNG fuelled vessel retrofitted in a modular implementation process of a LNG stern section, built while the vessel is still in operation. After successfully assembly and testing, the vessel will be taken out of operations and converted in only 6 weeks — saving a tremendous amount of opportunity cost from/to long shipyard times.

The Action will aim to overcome technical and operational obstacles when introducing LNG propulsion systems implemented through innovative and economically feasible retrofitting concepts. It will prepare the future deployment of LNG retrofittings and therefore address the wider benefits of using sustainable and environmental friendly fuels such as LNG and Bio-LNG. It will present a fullscale demonstrator necessary to overcome present barriers, showcase its feasibility and gather critical mass. Therefore, the Action contributes to addressing the environmental challenges faced by the short sea shipping sector — in particular in view of the forthcoming requirements with respect to the implementation of the requirements of Annex VI of the IMO MARPOL Convention.

Costa II East – Poseidon Med; QE Energy Europe Ltd. (Greece, Cyprus, Italy) – EUR 2,563,125

Description: a follow-up to the COSTA Global Project, which ended in April 2014 and concluded that a series of detailed regional studies should be undertaken to analyse the use of LNG as a regional marine fuel.

It is a study in the form of a pilot action, which aims to detail the infrastructure development requirements to widely adopt LNG as marine fuel for shipping operations. It will design an LNG transport, distribution, supply (including bunkering) network and infrastructure for its use as marine fuel in the eastern Mediterranean (Greece, Cyprus, Italy), and define the framework for a well-functioning and sustainable relative market (vessels) for its demand. The project targets the establishment of a comprehensive LNG network in the east Mediterranean, development of a sustainable market for LNG as marine fuel, revival of the shipping industry, as well as an increase in fleet competitiveness, efficiency and sustainability.

The projects will be monitored by the Innovation and Networks Executive Agency (INEA), working together with the project beneficiaries across the Member States and under the auspices of the Directorate-General for Mobility and Transport of the European Commission.

The 2014 Calls for Proposals was issued under the transport part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) in September 2014. CEF Transport is the successor of the TEN-T Programme and intends to complete the TEN-T Core Network and its Corridors by 2030.

(Source: European Commission)