Enagas Wins EU Clean Transport Funding

Spanish gas grid operator Enagas said November 15 that an initiative it coordinates has been chosen to receive EU funds.

‘LNGHIVE2’ will receive almost €3mn ($3.4mn)  in EU ‘Connecting Europe Facility’ grants, out of its total investment cost of €14mn. The project has six other partners, including Renfe Mercancias, the goods division of Spain’s national railways. It is due to run until 2022 and includes adapting the regasification terminals in Huelva and Sagunto to offer LNG as a fuel to ships and rail locomotives, and the creation of a ‘maritime-rail green corridor’ between Port of Huelva and the ADIF rail terminal in Majarabique, the dry port of Seville. 

Enagas recently flagged up an innovative project to recycle cold energy from its Huelva terminal.

Meanwhile the first rail loco to be tested with LNG as a fuel in Europe was supplied earlier this year in northwest Spain, as was the first LNG-fuelled ferry to be bunkered in Spain (see banner photo, courtesy of Balearia). Spanish operator Balearia said three weeks ago it will build the world's largest gas-powered ferry catamaran; it has several LNG-fuelled ferries (newbuild and conversions of existing ships) on order.