Naturgy Expands CNG Stations

Spanish marketer Naturgy (formerly Gas Natural) has put some numbers on its natural gas refuelling stations for road vehicles.

In its 1H 2018 results on July 26, it said it continues to invest in the development of a network of vehicular natural gas filling stations open to any user. In 1H2018 it had a total of 49 such stations, offering both compressed (CNG) and liquefied (LNG) natural gas: 30 stations open to the public; 19 for private access. Additionally, it manages four special projects developed to promote the use of vehicular natural gas.

Naturgy did not explicitly say where its filling stations are located, but most or all are in Spain where it is the main gas supplier. The company does however have a 14% share of the Portuguese gas market.

Spanish manufacturer Calvera said earlier this week it delivered Europe's first mobile CNG refuelling station in Europe to Naturgy, which is to be used to refuel the gas-powered city buses of Jerez de la Frontera in southwest Spain.  It said the mobile refuelling unit can transport up to 4 metric tons of CNG (or biogas) at 250 bar pressure to directly supply vehicles - with each unit potentially capable of supplying up to 40 buses or trucks, giving each a range of up to 400km - or could be used to refuel existing gas refuelling stations or to discharge them. Calvera said it is focused on the Spanish and UK markets.

In addition, Naturgy is also active in marketing and promoting LNG as a marine bunker fuel; it has been involved in the supply and/or bunkering of ships in the Spanish ports of Barcelona and Cartagena.

Here the Calvera mobile unit appears to be refuelling an existing stationary CNG filling station (Photo credit: Calvera)