Abstract:

When compared to fossil-based fuels like gasoline and diesel, switching to biogas as a vehicle fuel can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 60 to 80 percent in the transportation sector. This technology brief summarises the technologies for biogas production and biogas-powered vehicle fleets that are now available, both established and emergent. It assesses pricing, performance, and long-term viability, as well as best practises from throughout the world for accelerating the use of this important renewable transportation fuel. When properly purified, it can be used to power natural gas vehicles (NGVs) or dual-fuel vehicles instead of fossil-based gas. Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the US were the largest producers of biogas as vehicle fuel in 2016. Worldwide, around 500 plants worldwide produce about 50 petajoules (PJ) per year of such upgraded biogas, often called biomethane. Countries have promoted biogas-driven cars, trucks and buses through a combination of tax exemptions, investment subsidies, and incentives for biogas injection into the natural-gas grid. China, France, the UK and Scandinavian countries, in particular, have strongly supported the transition to biogas in the transport sector. Transport accounts for about 30% of global energy use, making renewable transport crucial for a sustainable energy future. Cost reduction remains the critical challenge. Increasing synergies with other power and transportation technologies, on the other hand, might lower biogas production costs even more.