Edison relies on liquefied natural gas (LNG) as fuel for trucks and ships instead of diesel and naphtha. In view of the green transition, the group launches the first integrated LNG logistics chain existing in Italy to serve transport; the gas does not cancel carbon dioxide emissions but promotes an intermediate phase in view of their zeroing.
Today the largest infrastructure of this system comes into service, that is a terminal to receive the liquefied gas to be introduced into the network. The facility is located in Ravenna, it cost 100 million euros, has a storage capacity of 20,000 cubic meters of LNG and an annual handling capacity of 1 million cubic meters, and makes LNG available to power 12,000 trucks and 48 ferries. per year. During its operation it will avoid the emission of 6 million tons of CO2 and will eliminate those of particulate matter and sulfur oxides.
The Ravenna coastal depot is managed by Depositi Italiani Gnl, 51% owned by Pir (Petrolifera Italo Rumena), 30% by Edison and 19% by Scale Gas of the Enagás group. Edison will supply the depot via the 30,000 cubic meter capacity tanker Ravenna Knutsen, built by the Norwegian shipowner Knutsen. For the time being, the ship will refuel in Spain from the Barcelona regasification plant but plans to diversify supplies.
The capacity stored in the depot will be sold on the market for 15% by Dig, while Edison will have 85%. Two other deposits in Naples and Brindisi are in the process of applying for authorizations.
There are 3,500 LNG trucks in circulation in Italy and in the first half of 2021 registrations increased by 87%. As far as maritime transport is concerned, since 2010 the number of LNG-powered ships in Italy has grown at a rate of between + 20% and + 40% per year.