The use of LNG as transport fuel firmly reduces NOx and particulate emissions by waterway transport. But there is more. Waterway transport will also become an enabler to bring LNG cost-effectively from the seaports to the customers in major industrial areas along the inland waterways.
Inland waterway transport can facilitate a wide-scale development of LNG as fuel and as energy source. The LNG Masterplan prepares inland ports on the Rhine-Main-Danube axis to become key distribution centres for LNG. Inland terminals will function as satellites to the hinterland, enabling LNG to reach other pioneer markets like the public (transport) sector and the heavy duty transport industry (buses, garbage collection trucks, city logistics) and the energy industry.
Natural gas is a major source of energy. Liquefied natural gas or LNG is natural gas that has been converted to a liquid form for the ease of storage or transport by cooling natural gas to approximately −162 °C. It is odourless, colourless, non-toxic and non-corrosive. Because it is easy to transport, LNG can serve to make economical the natural gas deposits for which the construction of pipelines is uneconomical.
The LNG Masterplan aims to:
- Identify and quantify pioneer markets and customers in the inland ports hinterland
- Analyse costs and savings/benefits of LNG use
- Transfer know-how from maritime into inland navigation sector and raise awareness
- Facilitate the creation of a harmonised European regulatory framework considering LNG as fuel and as cargo for inland navigation
- Deliver technical concepts for new and retrofitted vessels
- Elaborate supply chains to reach end-consumer
- Execute pilot deployments of vessels and terminals
- Develop a comprehensive strategy with a detailed roadmap for the implementation of LNG in line with the EU policies in transport, energy and environment
- Prepare wide-scale deployment with the help of the EU Connecting Europe Facility & other EU programmes