Roadmap touts benefits of natural gas

TORONTO: Increased competitiveness and reduced environmental impact are two main advantages to expanding the use of natural gas as a trucking fuel, according to a report from Natural Resources Canada.

The report, called Natural Gas Use in Transportation Deployment Roadmap, investigates how to best use natural gas in the transportation sector.

The document brings together the views of natural gas producers, transporters, distributors, vehicle makers, equipment manufacturers and end-users, environmental NGOs and academia.

According to the report, natural gas offers several potential benefits. These include the ability to:

•    diversify energy use and meet increasing energy demand;
•    lower carbon emissions and provide an option for compliance option with carbon-related regulations; and
•    introduce a cost-effective fuel that has traded at a discount to crude oil-based fuels.

Some organizations have praised the report, including the Canadian Natural Gas Vehicle Alliance (CNGVA).

“This is an excellent example of federal leadership and industry collaboration,” said Jonathan Burke, the alliance’s chair and vice-president of Vancouver-based Westport Innovations. “Natural gas can provide clean, cost effective transportation solutions which will benefit all Canadians.”

The Canadian Gas Association (CGA) also welcomed the report. The association’s president, Timothy Egan, noted the document was the first comprehensive look at the role of natural gas in Canada’s transportation sector.

“This report is invaluable in that it articulates a number of important factors that will determine the success of natural gas as a smart transportation fuel source,” he said. “Natural gas as a transportation fuel—particularly for medium and heavy duty fleets—provides a cost-effective and low-emitting alternative for the transportation sector.”

The Canadian Trucking Association (CTA) called the report a “good assessment” of the potential benefits and the obstacles to liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a trucking fuel. But without significant incentives, the association said, it will be difficult for carriers to justify the increased costs for equipment needed to use the resource. The association also noted the need to develop the nascent natural gas distribution network.

“LNG has the potential to serve as an important niche in the trucking marketplace,” said alliance CEO, David Bradley. “It will be of most interest to carriers with dedicated return-to-destination routes. But as part of a broad, comprehensive strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from trucking, it definitely has a role to play.”

Tax incentives and price guarantees would also encourage carriers to make the shift to natural gas, Bradley noted.