The conversion of a straddle carrier from diesel to natural gas at the Port of Barcelona will help reduce emissions

Barcelona, Spain (PortSEurope) November 14, 2021 - The Port of Barcelona, APM Terminals Barcelona, Applus IDIADA, HAM and Naturgy have concluded a pilot project to test the feasibility of using natural gas as a fuel in port machinery. The project, which consisted of transforming a straddle carrier (container transport machine) of APM Terminals Barcelona for use with natural gas, concluded with good results in terms of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, specifically CO and CO2, certifying a reduction in these emissions compared to diesel-powered machines. The reduction in fuel consumption was 11%, which can be an economic stimulus for the conversion or purchase of new machines running on natural gas. Total hydrocarbon emissions are also reduced with the use of natural gas as fuel, according to tests carried out with APM Terminals Barcelona's straddle carrier. The project began in January 2016 and has a budget of €1.22 million, is part of the CORE LNGas hive project, coordinated by Enagás, in which 42 other partners are participating and which includes 25 activities, 14 of which are studies and 11 pilot projects. The CORE LNGas hive project has an overall budget of €33.3 million and is 50% co-financed by the European Union's CEF programme. As part of the activities of the straddle carrier transformation project, Applus IDIADA, a leading Catalan multinational in the engineering and homologation sector for the automotive industry, was responsible for modifying the diesel engine for use with natural gas. During the tests, carried out on the IDIADA test bench and at the APM Terminals Barcelona facilities, it was verified that the engine converted to 100% natural gas provides the necessary performance for the operation of the machine and reduces polluting emissions. IDIADA carried out emission measurement tests with PEMS (Portable Emissions Measurement System) portable equipment. Grupo HAM, headquartered in Abrera (Barcelona), a leading company in the integral service of liquefied natural gas and compressed natural gas, both in industry and in mobile-vehicular environments or in the maritime sector, installed the 600-litre LNG tank, as well as the entire piping system to feed the converted engine. It also took care of the LNG refuelling using a new mobile refuelling station, developed to operate in different locations with all safety measures. The system is 100% compatible with the use of renewable gases, so that LNG could be replaced by BioLNG, which is practically CO2 neutral. The energy company Naturgy, leader in the Spanish gas sector and in innovation in new uses and applications of gas, carried out the study of LNG supply logistics, both technically and economically. Studying the different supply alternatives for the terminal machinery is a critical point of the project, given that supplying a machine of these characteristics, which cannot use urban roads to travel to an external gas station, is not a simple task. Finally, the most viable option was the use of the mobile station developed by HAM. APM Terminals Barcelona, part of the A.P.Moller-Maersk group, a logistics leader with container terminals in the world's main ports, has been in charge of the assembly and commissioning of the transformed straddle carrier, without affecting the terminal's operations or increasing the risks for port workers, and has therefore carried out various risk studies to determine the feasibility of using natural gas, applying the corresponding safety measures, such as maintaining a distance of 25 metres during LNG refuelling. The machine could operate as part of the terminal's normal operations, with a range similar to that of diesel. The Port of Barcelona has coordinated the project, both technically and economically, and has given The Port of Barcelona coordinated the project, both technically and financially, and carried out the safety studies. The reduction of polluting emissions and greenhouse gases is one of the Port of Barcelona's priorities, in line with the objectives of the European Union and the International Maritime Organisation. The Port of Barcelona is committed to the introduction of new clean fuels, such as hydrogen, biomethane and ammonia, both for ships and for terminal machinery and land transport, and is participating in various European R&D&I projects. Copyright (C) PortSEurope. All Rights Reserved. 2021.

The conversion of a straddle carrier from diesel to natural gas at the Port of Barcelona will help reduce emissions

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The conversion of a straddle carrier from diesel to natural gas at the Port of Barcelona will help reduce emissions

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