IVECO supports inauguration of biomethane production plant and biomethane filling station in France
Pot au Pin Energie, Air Liquide and Carrefour inaugurated on June 25 a new biomethane production plant and biomethane filling station in Cestas, in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region in France. In this project, the three companies are working together on a circular approach to the energy transition, bringing together for the first time in France the entire bio-gas value chain in a single site.
IVECO, a pioneer of natural gas-powered vehicles and promoter of this technology as the mature sustainable alternative to diesel, supported the event with a display showcasing the wide range of IVECO and IVECO BUS Natural Power vehicles designed to run on biomethane. It also provided transportation for the event’s participants on its natural gas-powered IVECO BUS coaches. In addition, Clement Chandon, EMEA IVECO Gas Business Development Manager presented IVECO’s vision on sustainable transport and the key role of natural gas and biomethane in the transport sector’s energy transition.
“At IVECO we believe that a circular economy based on biomethane can provide an effective answer to the demand for immediate action against Climate Change and for air quality in our cities – and our full line of Natural Power vehicles, running on biomethane, can play a key role in this virtuous cycle. Projects like the one inaugurated today make this circular economy a reality and prove that it is a viable and effective solution to the biggest environmental challenges we face. The biomethane solution can generate jobs and cuts CO2, and it is capable of ensuring the sustainable transition of road transport while increasing the energy independence of France and Europe,” Pierre Lahutte, IVECO Brand President, stated.
The project’s virtuous cycle begins in the fields of Pot au Pin Energie, a company created by leading carrot and leeks producer Planète Végétal for the production of biomethane in Cestas, which feeds its biodigester with intermediary crops grown on fields available between the autumn and the beginning of spring. Once purified, the biomethane is fed into the GRDF gas distribution network, which takes it to CNG filling stations across the country, including the new one on the Cestas site. Natural gas-powered vehicles, including supermarket chain Carrefour’s delivery trucks, fill up with biomethane and use it for transporting goods, completing the circular economy.
Natural gas-powered vehicles are a key element in this virtuous cycle, and IVECO is at the forefront of the industry with over 20 years’ experience in developing, producing and supporting this type of vehicles. Today it is the only manufacturer with a complete offering, from commercial light vehicles with its Daily Blue Power Hi-Matic Natural Power, to heavy goods transport with its Eurocargo NP and Stralis NP ranges, and passenger transport with its Daily Minibus NP, Urbanway and Crealis buses, and the recently launched Crossway LE NP coach.
IVECO’s commitment to sustainable solutions is shared by New Holland Agriculture and FPT Industrial, also brands of CNH Industrial, who were represented in the event’s display: New Holland’s methane powered concept tractor, also an element in the sustainable circular economy, and FPT Industrial’s latest generation Cursor 13 natural gas engine.
