The BioGaC project has supported the development of biomethane as a fuel throughout Europe. We have improved the infrastructure and increased the number of filling stations for CNG in northern Sweden. This helps increase the market for CNG-powered vehicles and CNG.
COLLABORATION & FUNDING
The project “Biomethane and LNG in the North for growth and competitiveness in the EU”, BioGaC, has been run by Skellefteå Municipality along with seven partners. The project has been funded by Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T), Region Västerbotten and the Västernorrland County Administrative Board.
The challenge
The expansion of CNG and LNG in northern Sweden is limited by several important factors. There is no natural gas network for easy distribution, and in 2014 there were only five filling stations for CNG. These are difficult challenges that the BioGaC project has chosen to tackle.
To be able to disseminate and exploit our experiences to the rest of Europe, the project planned for an innovative decision tool — the BioGaC Guide — for franchise holders and other stakeholders wanting to build CNG filling stations, even under difficult conditions.
We all benefit from it
Biogas produces a number of social benefits that outweigh the additional cost of introduction. Besides reducing climate emissions and improving air quality in cities, regionally produced biogas provides new jobs, regional growth and access to domestic fuel, helping to ensure more stable fuel prices. But it is difficult to agree on the form that support systems should take so that franchise holders do not have to pay the entire cost of the added value on their own. This is why that within the BioGaC project we decided to collaborate to improve the infrastructure and the market for biomethane.