ENGIE’s four key trends in sustainable mobility

1. ENGIE decarbonises ALL mobility solutions

At ENGIE, our aim is to step up decarbonisation by offering the right energy for each use. For example, electricity for urban and suburban journeys in light vehicles; hydrogen for captive urban heavy vehicle fleets such as buses and refuse collection vehicles, or for trains running on non-electric lines; and bio-LNG/CNG for long-distance freight trucks. There isn’t one right solution, rather a number of solutions suitable for each different use, making up an efficient and sustainable energy mix.

2- ENGIE innovates to decarbonise maritime transport and inland shipping 

To decarbonise maritime transport, our subsidiary Elengy is running the largest French liquified biomethane (bioLNG) production project, to offer an alternative, low-carbon fuel. BioLNG is made from Aix-Marseille-Provence metropole’s household waste, providing fuel for CMA CGM Group’s fleet of ships and, in so doing, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by at least 67%.

When it comes to inland shipping, ENGIE is partnering ZES (Zero Emission Services B.V.), a new renewable energy system for the inland shipping sector created in June 2020 with ING, Wärtsilä, and the Port of Rotterdam. To recharge the vessel’s battery containers (ZESpacks) with renewable energy, ENGIE developed, delivered and commissioned its first charging station. ZES aims to scale up to 30 zero-emission inland shipping routes by 2030. 

3 - ENGIE supports vehicle manufacturers for carbon-neutral road transport

ENGIE is helping hauliers realise their energy transition by enabling them to switch to bio-LNG/CNG and eliminate almost all their CO2. For example, ENGIE Solutions has joined forces with IVECO to help haulage companies switch to bio-LNG/CNG. The two partners have offered to finance the additional cost of bio-LNG/CNG for the equivalent of 600,000 km. A great opportunity for haulage companies to decarbonise their transport at no additional cost!

Through our partnership with Daimler, freight transport operators will also benefit from an integrated electrification service for their fleet of heavy vehicles in seven European countries. The German manufacturer will supply the electric trucks and the software for smart control of the charging process, while ENGIE will study, design and supply the electrical equipment and charging infrastructure, as well as ensure their maintenance. The contract also provides for the delivery of a smart and scalable high-power charging solution tailored to each customer. 

4 - ENGIE takes action for long-distance hydrogen-powered mobility

Each type of energy has its own use or place in the energy mix. Hydrogen is the key to genuine autonomy in modes of transport, with the added bonus of fast charging times. In the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region of France, a network of 20 refuelling stations for light vehicles is currently being built as part of the Zero Emission Valley project, which could also benefit coaches and, ultimately, trains. In the Netherlands, ENGIE already supplies and operates the renewable hydrogen mobile refuelling station for Coradia iLint, the world’s first renewable hydrogen passenger train. Finally, the Group has signed a partnership agreement with ArianeGroup to develop the use of liquid hydrogen in the maritime and aerospace sectors. Industrial development of this renewable energy source hints at a real revolution to come between now and 2030.