The Antwerp Port Authority and ENGIE have signed a 30-year concession agreement for the development of an Alternative Energy Hub at Quays 526 and 528 in the Port of Antwerp. The Alternative Energy Hub will consist of a bunker and filling station with liquefied natural gas (LNG) for inland navigation and road transport. The site will also feature a compressed natural gas (CNG) filling station and rapid chargers for electric vehicles.

With the development of the Alternative Energy Hub, the Port of Antwerp and ENGIE are taking a major step forward in the energy transition and promoting sustainable energy consumption in the transport sector. The concession takes effect on 1 October 2016 and the first phase of the hub will be operational by the end of 2017. 

See more at: http://www.portofantwerp.com/en/news/first-alternative-energy-hub-lng-inland-navigation-and-road-transport-belgium#sthash.WT2OAwKn.dpuf

25 February 2016

Bunkerspot recently released its February/March edition dedicated to market volatility and changing dynamics within the global bunker industry. With the support of industry experts, Bunkerspot’s editorial team focuses its publications on the technical, operational, legal, commercial and financial aspects of bunkering.

This edition dedicated a four-page article to the positive outcomes of the LNG Masterplan, which came to an end in December 2015. The article can be read here.

10 February 2016

In January 2016, the European Commission has released the studies to support the Member States in the implementation of the Directive on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure. Studies are available here.

Directive 2014/94/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, adopted by the European Parliament and the Council on 22 October 2014, defines alternative fuels as fuels or power sources which serve, at least partly, as a substitute for fossil oil sources in the energy supply to transport and which have the potential to contribute to its decarbonisation and enhance the environmental performance of the transport sector. The Directive promotes the use of private investments rather than public resources for the development of the alternative fuel infrastructure. More details available here.

"The European Union is very proud to have facilitated this project between 2013 and 2015. The project cost a total of 34 million euros, 17 million of which were provided by the European Union from the TEN-T Programme. We can say “Well done” to all parties involved. It looks like we are going to benefit tremendously from this project for the implementation of LNG in the inland water transport sector. We are actually getting things done now." honoured Dimitrios Theologitis, head of the European DG MOVE Unit Ports and Inland Waterways, the substantial results of the LNG Masterplan for Rhine/Meuse-Danube at the final event of the LNG Masterplan project in Rotterdam.

Between 14 and 16 December 2015, almost three hundred of LNG stakeholders gathered in Rotterdam to discuss the latest developments in safety, emergency response, design of ships, bunkering, fuelling as well as technical and market developments. The guests explored the port, visiting the GATE terminal, the Falck Rick training facility for emergency response on LNG. The STC-Group opened its doors to show the brand new e-learning and training facility for the employees of shipping and trucking industry, who work with LNG.

And at the venue of the event, two LNG vessels could be visited: the LNG retrofitted container vessel Eiger-Nordwand of Danser Group moored next to the 100% LNG-fuelled type C tanker EcoLiner of Damen. On the quay, Scania and Iveco displayed their latest trucks. And TNO showed the LNG tank that recently has been used in a 2 hour fire-test -and withstood the test. In the Seinehaven, the first European LNG-fuelled vessel Argonon of Deen Shipping was displayed.

The LNG Masterplan Final Event concluded with an overview of all results of the 3-year project. And the story continues: new LNG Projects were announced, like the new ReaLNG project by Shell, Port of Lübeck, STC-Group and Port of Rotterdam.

The Port of Rotterdam was host to the LNG Masterplan Final Event. It has made a significant investment in LNG over the last few years to become LNG

ready and a true European LNG hub, thus an example to other European ports.

For more information regarding the LNG Masterplan for Rhine/Meuse-Main-Danube project:
Ms. Lucia Karpatyova, Senior Project Manager
Pro Danube Management GmbH, Vienna
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
M: + 43 (0)680 22 60 575

For more information regarding the Port of Rotterdam:
Mr. Tie Schellekens, press officer Port of Rotterdam Authority
E: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
M: + 31 (0)6 5332 5334

LNG MP Final Event Press Release   ||  Presentations   ||  Pictures    

21 December 2015

The London-based company Visiongain recently published a small scale LNG market forecast presenting an ideal balance of qualitative analysis combined with extensive quantitative data including global, national and regional markets forecasts for 2015-2025. The report helps you understand how this market is developing and identify investment opportunities by answering questions such as: What are the future trends in the small scale LNG market over the next ten years? Which national markets will prosper over the next ten years? Who are the main companies in the small scale LNG market in 2015? Which are the main technology providers in the small scale LNG market? Visiongain’s comprehensive analysis contains highly quantitative content delivering solid conclusions benefiting your analysis and illustrates new opportunities and potential revenue streams helping you to remain competitive. This definitive report will benefit your decision making and help to direct your future business strategy. More information you may find here.

23 November 2015

 
“These studies provide a very detailed and clear insight into the numerous standards and practices already available to make LNG as fuel possible, while also giving us a concrete overview of the topics that we still need to work on in the near future,” says Manfred Seitz, Project Coordinator of the LNG Masterplan project from Pro Danube Management GmbH.


Cees Boon, Program Manager at the Port of Rotterdam, adds: “We are confident that these reports will be the key reference for the years to come in developing LNG as a fuel. As a port with a leading position in the field of LNG as fuel we fully recognize the need to have a harmonized approach to create a level playing field and to ensure efficient and practical LNG bunker operations.”

Matthé Bakker, DNV GL’s Head of Risk Management Advisory Netherlands, says: “These studies show that in general there are no operational or safety showstoppers that prevent LNG as fuel from happening. The challenge is more to align the way authorities and operators deal with LNG as fuel across regions and countries. At the same time these reports can eliminate a lot of the ongoing discussions that surround the development of LNG as fuel, as they describe the rationale behind certain practices and suggest a common way forward.”

Press release (EN)
Press release (DE)

The 2015 CEF Transport Calls for Proposals, published on 5 November 2015, make €7.6 billion of funding available for projects of common interest in the transport sector.

The Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) supports Trans-European Transport Networks and Infrastructure which will fill the missing links in Europe's energy, transport and telecommunications sectors. It is a key EU instrument to promote growth, jobs and competitivenes through targeted investment at European level. A total indicative budget of €22.4 billion is available in the form of grants to co-fund TEN-T projects in the EU Member States for the 2014-2020 period. From this budget, €11.3 billion is reserved for projects in Member States eligibile for Cohesion Fund.

More information available here.

19 October 2015

On 13 October 2015, the European Commission adopted the Horizon 2020 Work Programme for 2016 and 2017. The programme foresees up to 938 million € in EU funding for transport research and innovation, including calls on "Mobility for Growth" and "Automated Road Transport". The aim is to drive progress towards a European transport system that is competitive, climate- and environmentally-friendly, safe and seamless for the benefits of the passengers, businesses and society as a whole. 

The programme will support a range of cross-cutting initiatives: the modernisation of Europe's manufacturing industry (€1 billion); technologies and standards for automatic driving (over €100 million); the Internet of Things (€139 million) to address digitalisation of EU industries; Industry 2020 in the Circular Economy (€670 million) to develop strong and sustainable economies; and Smart and Sustainable Cities (€232 million) to better integrate environmental, transport, energy and digital networks in EU's urban environments.

About Horizon 2020
European Union's research and innovation funding programme Horizon 2020 was launched on 1 January 2014. Over seven years €77 billion is being invested in research and innovation projects to support Europe’s economic competitiveness and extend the frontiers of human knowledge. The EU research budget is focused mainly on improving everyday life in areas like health, the environment, transport, food and energy. Research partnerships with the pharmaceutical, aerospace, car and electronics industries also encourage private-sector investment in support of future growth and high-skilled job creation.

This news was based on the European Commission press release which can be accessed here.

More informartion on Horizon 2020 can be found here.