In 2016, thanks to the use of methane in motor vehicles, Italian families and businesses saved almost 2 billion euros (1.882 million to be precise) in fuel costs. Again thanks to the use of methane-powered vehicles, it was then possible to avoid CO2 emissions for almost one and a half million tons. These data emerge from a study carried out by the Promotor Study Center to be disseminated as part of the conference "Natural gas and biomethane, national excellence for sustainability", which will take place today at 16 pm in Bologna, at the Enzo Biagi Auditorium of the Salaborsa Library , organized by Econometrica in partnership with Anfia, Cib (Italian Biogas Consortium), Confagricoltura, FCA, Iveco and Snam.
The study by the Promotor Study Center determined the savings and lower CO2 emissions obtained in 2016 thanks to the use of methane for motor vehicles, assuming that if methane had not been used, diesel or petrol would have had to be used. The expenditure for the purchase of the quantities of petrol and diesel necessary to replace methane was therefore determined (assuming that purchases would be distributed proportionally to the presence of petrol and diesel vehicles in the fleet in circulation). The cost incurred for the purchase of methane for vehicles was subtracted from this expense, thus obtaining the savings achieved. We proceeded in the same way to determine the lower CO2 emissions.
The study was conducted at the national, regional and provincial levels. On the basis of the results obtained, the ranking of the regions and provinces was determined according to cost savings and emissions savings. Table 1 shows the ranking of the regions in detail, from which it emerges that Emilia Romagna is in first place, where there was a saving of 416 million euros and lower CO2 emissions by almost 324 thousand tons. In second place are the Marches, where there has been a saving of 260 million euros and lower CO2 emissions by 200 thousand tons. In third place in the ranking is Veneto, with savings of 200 million euros and lower CO2 emissions by 160 tonnes.
The study then determined what the advantage would have been in economic and environmental terms if all the Italian provinces had had a diffusion of methane vehicles equal to that of the most virtuous province, which is Ancona, with a vehicle fleet consisting of 13,9 % from natural gas vehicles. From the elaboration (the data of which are summarized in Table 2) it emerges that in this case the economic savings would have been more than 11 billion euros, while the lower CO2 emissions would have been more than 8 and a half million tons.
The study carried out by the Promotor Study Center confirms that methane for motor vehicles represents a very important element in the strategy put in place by national and Community institutions to reduce the environmental impact of mobility, a strategy which must leverage all available solutions, but which can disregard the degree of development achieved in the various countries by the various solutions considered. Keeping this approach in mind, it should be noted that Italy is in first place in Europe for the number of natural gas vehicles in circulation and for the availability of distributors. This situation, already positive in itself, can be further improved, as demonstrated by the second part of the study carried out by the Centro Studi Promotor, obtaining far better results than the current ones. To achieve these important objectives, however, a systemic approach is required that sees a common commitment by all the players in the sector with the implementation of a strategy that focuses decisively on the development of methane for automotive purposes.
