GRIP CEE 2017 / Main Report

5.3 Legislation

Directive 94/2014/EU on the deployment of alternative fuels infrastructure, which is the cornerstone of the Clean Power for Transportation package, will probably cause a major expansion of the CNG & LNG infrastruc- ture by 2030. Member States will have to develop National Policy Frameworks to establish networks of refuelling stations for NGVs in cities, densely populated areas, seaports, and along the Trans-European-Network for Transport (TEN-T). The Member States are to provide refuelling points for: \\ CNG in cities/densely populated areas by 2020 in order to ensure that CNG motor vehicles can circulate in those urban/suburban agglomerations and other densely populated areas as well as throughout the European Union, at least along the existing TEN-T Core Network. \\ CNG & LNG along the TEN-T core network by 2025 in order to ensure that LNG heavy-duty motor vehicles and CNG motor vehicles can circulate through- out the European Union, where there is demand, unless the costs are dispro- portionate to the benefits, including the environmental benefits. \\ LNG in sufficient TEN-T seaports by 2025 to enable LNG seagoing ships to circulate throughout the TEN-T Core Network. If necessary, member States shall cooperate with neighbouring states in order to ensure there is a sufficient network in TEN-T Core. \\ LNG in sufficient TEN-T inland ports by 2030 to enable LNG inland waterway vessels to circulate throughout the TEN-T Core Network. Utilisation of LNG in maritime transport could be promoted by regulations of the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) stated in the “International Convention on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships”, also known as MARPOL 73/78. This regulation has set a 0.1% cap on sulphur content in marine fuel oil, which is combusted by ships in sulphur emission control areas (the Baltic and North Seas in the CEE GRIP region). As NG in the CEE region contains almost no sulphur, it is an ideal substitute for marine fuel oil. Moreover, the IMO has set the year 2020 as the year of implementation of a new amended protocol regulating SO x emissions from maritime ships globally. It sets a 0.5% cap on sulphur content in marine fuel oil combusted outside of sulphur emissions control areas. The current limit is set at a huge 3.5% sulphur limit. This policy is expected to accelerate the use of LNG as a marine fuel, in the Baltic Sea as well as on the inland waterways of the CEE region like the Danube, Vistula, and Elbe Rivers. Other important acts of legislation in favour of NGVs are Directive 2008/50/EC on ambient air quality and cleaner air for Europe and Regulation 715/2007/EC on type approval of motor vehicles with respect to emissions (Euro 5 and 6). While the first directive forces authorities to ban vehicles with harmful emissions from certain re- gions, the second imposes very challenging restrictions for the emissions of NO x and PM of new passenger and commercial vehicles. However, NGVs have satisfied these restrictions for more than 10 years now.

Central Eastern Europe GRIP 2017 |

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