Service station specialist HAM Group (HAM) has opened a new compressed natural gas (CNG) – liquefied natural gas (LNG) service station in Italy.
The station is the first of the company’s EDUX range of mobile and transportable refuelling stations to be installed in the country.
Located in Via del Camposanto, in front of the ‘Stagnoni’ access to the Port of La Spezia, the station joins a network of more than 40 filling stations offered by HAM Italia and over 140 within the wider HAM Group.
“Our customers will be able to refuel LNG (two hoses) for trucks and heavy vehicles, as well as CNG (two hoses) for cars, light vehicles and trucks,” said a company spokesperson.
Developed by HAM Criogenica, the EDUX mobile unit enables customers to store and refuel LNG to all types of trucks and heavy vehicles, keeping the liquid subcooled and adapting to the optimal temperature of different brands such as Volvo, Scania or Iveco.
According to HAM, the mobile unit is equipped with a 60,000 litre LNG capacity and works at low pressure (2-3 bar).
The station also comes fitted with a submerged pump and can supply up to 12,000 kg/hour of LNG and 300 kg/hour of CNG, with a capacity storage of 7,000 kg of CNG.
The installation marks the third EDUX station opened by HAM this year. Last month, the company expanded its services in Spain with new stations in Tarragona, Spain.
According to data from NVGA Europe, there are currently 721 LNG stations in Europe with the majority (183) installed in Germany.
Despite the growing number of stations across the continent, LNG’s use remains a contentious issue.
Research cited by National Grid shows that LNG produces 40% less carbon dioxide (CO2) than coal and 30% less than oil, making it the cleanest of the fossil fuels.
However, LNG is typically 85-95% methane, which is 80 times more potent than CO2 in the short term and 30 times worse in the long term.
When used as a marine fuel, methane leaks into the atmosphere throughout the LNG production and supply chain and slips directly from the ship’s funnels, states Transport & Environment.
In general, it may be possible for Bio-LNG to reduce GHG emissions by up to 80% compared to marine diesel, if methane leakage in the production process and on-board methane slip are minimised.
