Spain, Barcelona

Super computer tackles 7 scenarios
Concludes 10% of cars or 50% of delivery vans most effective measures
      
The Gas Natural Foundation has presented a study on how natural vehicular gas could help reduce atmospheric pollution in Madrid and Barcelona. Air quality in Madrid and Barcelona would improve considerably if just 10% of their cars were replaced by vehicles fuelled by natural gas. This is the finding of the study “Improving air quality by converting to the use of natural gas in automation. Applicable to Madrid and Barcelona.”

In the Barcelona area the most effective scenario amongst those envisaged in the study would be to introduce natural gas in 50% of delivery vans. Conversely, the different composition of Madrid traffic means that the best measure there would be to ensure that 10% of family cars use natural gas.

Study results predict that natural gas would be an alternative and readily available fuel suitable for reducing polluting emissions from wheeled traffic. Natural gas combustion does not emit particles and cuts back on nitrogen oxide and carbon monoxide emissions. Another plus is that natural gas does not contain lead or heavy metals, nor is sulphur dioxide emitted during its combustion.

The study was published by the Gas Natural Foundation and produced by the Barcelona Supercomputing Centre directed by José María Baldasano, a Professor at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.

Data produced by the Mare Nostrum supercomputer

The study's methodology consisted of simulating and analysing air quality results based on seven hypothetical degrees of replacement of the fuel currently used in Madrid and Barcelona vehicles by natural gas.

The study's authors were helped in their task by MareNostrum, the most powerful supercomputer in Europe and the ninth-biggest in the world. In June 2007 it spent a day and a half on simulation operations that in a conventional computer would have taken more than three years.

Introducing natural gas instead of petrol derivatives is just one of the measures proposed by the European Union, whose aim for 2020 is to make natural gas account for 10% of total energy consumed by the transport sector.

Pooling proposals

The study was presented during a seminar held last month in the auditorium of GAS NATURAL Headquarters in Barcelona promoted by the Gas Natural Foundation, on the advantages of introducing natural vehicular gas to improve the air quality of Spanish cities. The seminar was inaugurated by the Minister for the Environment and Housing of the Catalan Government, Francesc Baltasar, and the General Manager of the Gas Natural Foundation, Pere-A. Fàbregas.

Xavier Querol, member of the Spanish National Research Council (CISC), analysed the problem of air quality facing most Spanish and other European cities, among them Madrid and Barcelona and their metropolitan areas. According to Querol, interventions related to transport are key actions for improving air quality which in southern Europe is adversely affected by climate and so requires special measures.

Next Josep Codorniu, General Manager of Gas Natural Soluciones, gave a presentation on the use of natural gas as a vehicle fuel, an alternative that reduces nitrous oxide and solid particle emissions.

Félix Rodríguez, manager of Carrefour Service Stations in Spain, then explained how the company was opting for natural gas in France through its service station network, an experience that it was now planning to bring to Spain.

Finally, María Comellas, the Catalan government's General Manager for Environmental Quality, and Mercè Rius, Badalona's Councillor for the Environment, gave their views on possible responses by the public administrations for the control of nitrogen dioxides and solid particles in suspension.

This environmental management seminar organised by the Gas Natural Foundation contributes to one of its main objectives: helping to raise awareness of and educate on environmental protection in all the communities and countries where GAS NATURAL is present.