Compressed Natural Gas

Natural Gas is being tipped to transform the way we think of alternative energy and it is forecast to have a particularly significant impact on the global transportation industry. Governments need to impose tighter controls on carbon emissions from industry and the transport sector; large industrial users seek cheaper fuel sources to reduce operating costs, and consumers are resisting petrol and diesel increases.

Amid growing concern about the quality of air we breathe, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has declared that air pollution is a carcinogen. Global CO₂ emissions have increased by 58% since 1990. IARC had previously deemed some of the components in air pollution such as diesel fumes to be carcinogens, but this is the first time it has classified air pollution in its entirety as cancer causing. This may well prompt governments to adopt even stricter controls on vehicle emissions.

International experience shows that Compressed Natural Gas is a viable, safe alternative that offers numerous benefits. It has found a natural home in many countries, particularly those where the population relies extensively on public transport.

Navigant Research forecasts that the number of Natural Gas Vehicles (NGVs) on roads worldwide will reach 34.9 million by 2020. NGVs are fuelled by Natural Gas that has been either compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG). CNG can be used for all vehicle weight classes, while LNG vehicles are limited to heavy-duty trucks because of the size and cost of the storage equipment.

Iran, Pakistan and Argentina are the world's top Natural Gas Vehicle (NGV) users.

Pakistan has seen the fastest growth in Natural Gas Vehicles: from fewer than 100 000 vehicles in 2000 to over 3.5 million vehicles in 2013. This comprises an 80% market penetration. Pakistan is also the country with the highest number of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) refuelling stations in the world, with latest figures reporting a total of 3 395.

In less than a decade the number of dual-fuel cars on Iran’s roads has seen a stratospheric increase: from 1 500 in 2006 to just under 3 million in 2013, while the number of Compressed Natural Gas filling stations in the country has mushroomed from 60 to about 2 000.

Argentina has been using CNG as vehicle fuel for almost 30 years and close on 20% of all passenger cars are running on CNG. Although it is no longer the largest CNG vehicle market globally, over 2.1 million cars/vans run on CNG. This represents 16% of the whole vehicle population and they are refuelled at about 1 900 stations, of which more than 90% are integrated in conventional petrol and diesel stations.

Within a decade, China has built up its refuelling infrastructure from almost zero to 2 500 CNG refuelling stations. This is more than the number of CNG refuelling stations in Argentina, Brazil or India, and is only surpassed by Pakistan. Over 1 million CNG vehicles are currently on the roads of China, with 100 000 new CNG vehicles being added each year. With the release of the Air Pollution Protection Activity Plan in September 2013, a policy promoting new-energy commercial vehicles, the 10% annual growth in CNG vehicles is set to increase dramatically.

In Europe, Italy has been using NGVs since 1930. It has more than 730 000 NGVs on the road and around 900 refuelling stations. Over 11% of new passenger cars were equipped for Natural Gas in 2012.

In Czechoslovakia, CNG-fuelled vehicles have increased 60% in one year alone. Moreover, Compressed Natural Gas consumption in 2013 was almost 22 million m³, which reflects a 44% growth compared to 2012.

Since 2010, Madrid has not bought any diesel buses. Its main driver for introducing CNG in public transport is to reduce local pollution significantly and efficiently.

Thailand has over 300 000 Natural Gas vehicles. These include taxis, passenger vans, private cars, tuktuks, buses, pick-up trucks, boats and heavy-duty vehicles (mostly for commercial trucking), which consume slightly less than 5% of total Natural Gas consumption. The following manufacturers produce CNG vehicles in Thailand: Chevrolet, Hino, Hyundai, Isuzu, Kia Motors, Mercedes Benz, Mitsubishi, Proton, Tata Motors, and Toyota.

Extensive local research in 2008 showed that a huge opportunity existed within the South African CNG sector and that South Africa was severely behind international trends. The push by international governments and corporations for alternate and renewable energy sources was significant, leading to the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (Nersa) and other governmental bodies creating a platform to open up competition.