NGV & ALTERNATIVE FUEL MARKETING, TECHNOLOGY AND POLITICS
Here is a sample of some of the hundreds of articles by Jeffrey Seisler.
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Biomethane: Opportunities and Challenges On the Transitional Pathway
to a Zero Carbon Future
Journal of Biosensors & Renewable Sources (Lupine Publishers)
January 2023
Fossil fuels are being targeted for extinction due to their impacts on global warming. But the multiple transitional pathways to completely replace fossil fuels with renewable energy sources is a long journey that is not likely to be fully realized until at least the end of the 21st century. Adapting the existing fossil energy businesses and infrastructures while developing the renewable, alternative energy infrastructures (and adapting existing ones) will be key to the timing and success of the transition. Despite the aspirations and visions of many technologists and policy makers who see the‘ long-term’ future at 2050, the trajectory of the transition will be lengthy, disruptive and uncertain. There are, however, some fuels and technologies contributing to the so-called circular economy that should not be side-lined or overlooked completely.
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LNG for All Transportation: Ready, Willing and Able
International Gas Union Magazine
April 2019
Commercial trading of LNG began in 1964 and, for the next three decades, different visionary engineers created some innovative LNG proof-of-concept vehicles for on-and-off-road applications. But it wasn’t until the dawn of the new century that LNG took hold as a legitimate fuel. NGV and LNG stakeholders became enthusiastic that LNG had a role to play as a cleaner, economical and viable fuel substitute for diesel.
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Click here for full edition of the magazine (story on p.88)
Methane for Mobility Highlighted at the World Gas Conference 2018
International Gas Union Magazine
Concerns about global climate change are changing the paradigm for petroleum-based transportation technologies. The rise of municipalities choosing to penalize or deny diesel-powered vehicles access into congested city-centers, coupled with increasingly stringent emissions regulations for all forms of transport and the slow rise of viable, affordable alternatives means that natural gas is one of the best- positioned, cross-platform fuel alternatives to fill the void. Despite the fossil fuel detractors who advocate that natural gas applications should be limited due to its impact on global warming, international energy analysts and the natural gas industry remain convinced that responsible usage of all forms of natural gas – fossil and renewable -- will continue to make a valuable contribution to the long term global energy mix.
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Pebbles on the Scale for NGVs
9 December 2015
Gas Vehicles Report
Another NGV ‘pebble on the scale’ was achieved at the United Nations in Geneva on 11-12 November 2015 when the Working Party 15, Transport of Dangerous Goods, passed an amendment allowing the use of gaseous fuels on ADR-certified (dangerous goods) trucks. NGV Global, working collaboratively with the AEGPL (European LPG Association) for more than a year, successfully advocated adding CNG and LPG to the list of approved fuels for ADR trucks. This follows a successful effort by NGV Global in 2014 to include LNG as a fuel for ADR-certified trucks.
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Gassing Up for NGVs
Gas Vehicles Report
October 2015
For the first 50 years of its relatively young history Israel has been dependent on imported energy; natural gas from Egypt, oil from Russia and Azerbaijan, and coal from various places as far away as South Africa and Australia. But with the discovery of 1 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) (28.3 billion cubic meters- Bcm) of the Mediterranean-based Mari-B natural gas field in 2000 off the coast of Gaza, Israeli policy makers began strategizing about a revolutionary shift in the country’s energy balance.
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CNG & LNG Safety: Perception & Reality
Gas Vehicles Report
June 2014
One of the strong selling points of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) is safety; of the vehicles and the fuel. Since the advent of the Type 2, aluminum, fiberglass-hoop-wrapped CNG cylinder (1983) NGV advocates have been showing video and still pictures of the CNG Cylinder Corporation ‘Severe Abuse Test’ demonstrating that gun shots, bonfires, dynamite strapped to the cylinder and cars with CNG cylinders dropped from heights up to 90 feet (~30 meters) can’t necessarily cause a fatal CNG failure. Methane doesn’t pool on the ground like liquid fuels, has a narrow flammability range (5-15% gas to air ratio) and is as-safe-or-safer than any of the other vehicle fuels currently in the market. As NGV champion Boone Pickens once said, “I’d rather have natural gas pipes in my car than have gasoline pipes running through my house.”
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Biogas in Brussels: Finally on the Policy Agenda as a Vehicle Fuel
NGV Global
5 October 2010
Biogas, particularly as a vehicle fuel has had a challenging time getting on the European alternative fuel policy agenda but it appears that renewable methane for vehicles is finally “on the list.” That’s according to the European Commission (EC) project directors who spoke at the final workshop of the EC-funded project Biogasmax in Brussels on 14th September 2010.
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Political Drivers of the European Biomethane Market
Asian-NGV Communications
September 2010
The growth of biogas and biomethane (upgraded to pipeline quality gas) presents a new opportunity for the natural gas industry, demonstrating that natural gas is a diverse, renewable resource and not only a traditional fossil fuel. But getting the biomethane into the natural gas grid is posing new challenges for Europe energy suppliers and distributors.
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CommentVisions (on line)
27 July 2010
Jeffrey Seisler answer the question: By how much should we expect renewables to replace fossil fuel over the next twenty years?
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Energy Presidents Speak Out
Fleets and Fuels
12 July 2010
A high-powered group of presidents and CEOs of some of the world’s largest energy companies participated in a panel, Energy for Europe: Fueling Growth at the European Business Summit in Brussels on July 1. Jeffrey Seisler posed two questions to them: What are your views on biogas and what are your views on natural gas in the transportation sector.
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As well as seeking alternative fuels, should we be changing our entire transportation culture?
Euronews
March 2010
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A Visionary New Path
Research Review
March 2010
The European Commission needs to take into consideration three guiding principles when funding it’s alternative fuel R&D
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Asia-Europe LNG Progress
NGV Global
19 October 2009
World LNG demand is forecast to rise from 226 billion cubic metres (bcm) during 2007 to 640 bcm by 2020 and close to 790 bcm by 2030. In Europe, continued increases in LNG demand from Spain and France, and large-scale usage from the UK will significantly increase imports into Europe. In the Asia Pacific region Japan and South Korea will remain the region’s largestLNG consumers. LNG demand growth in China and India will significantly increase.
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What's the Alternative?
Parliament Magazine,
9 September 2009
There are a range of alternatives to traditional fuels and the European Union must strive to strike the right balance, but there will be no magic cure. The key question is: Can the EU develop a balanced, sustainable, zand effective fuels policy (with measureable results) that fulfills the objectives of energy security and commitment to environmental protection. This article accompanied a two day conference, Green Streets, sponsored by DODs, the publisher of Parliament Magazine and the Committee of the Regions, in Brussels.
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Garbage on the European Agenda
Fleets and Fuels
10 August 2009
The European Council, the third branch of the European body politic issued a "conclusion" about the management of bio-waste in the EU on the 25th June 2009 that supports a European Green Paper from December 2008 that both could provide greater impetus to the use of biogas upgraded to biomethane for vehicle applications.
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CNG & LPG Fuelling Station Road Signage One Step from Becoming International Law
Czas Na Gaz
May-June 2009
The effort that began in 2004 to create road signage for CNG fuelling stations is one final step closer to becoming a permanent part of the 1968 International Convention (Treaty) on Road Signs and Signals. The story plus language from the amendment is included.
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Clean and Efficient Vehicle Directive: An Important Stimulant for European Alternative Fuel Markets.
NGV Global
26 February 2009
The Directive Promoting Clean and Energy Efficient Road Transport Vehicles will require energy consumption, CO2 and pollutant emissions to be considered as mandatory award criteria for public procurement of vehicles. As a result, not only the price of a vehicle, but also the impact it creates during its lifetime on the environment must be reflected in the purchase decision.
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European Union Energy & Climate: A Mixed Bag of Six Clean Fuel Vehicle Directives. It's Disjointed, But Moving in the Right Direction
Fleets and Fuels
12 January 2009
The EU Energy and Climate 'Package' that passed in December 2008 sets the stage for energy, climate and fuels for years to come. For some alternative fuels the 'package' provides a large benefit; for others, such as the gaseous fuels, the results are less enthusiastic.
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European Energy & Environmental Policy Activity Leading Up to the 2009 Elections
NGV Global
16 October 2008:
The European energy and environmental strategy is moving forward in Parliament and will set the stage for the next several years for cars and CO2, renewable resources, hydrogen and related environmental policies.
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How to Create a Future for Biofuels
European Voice
15 May 2008
Liquid biofuels --ethanol and biodiesel -- have captured the worldwide and European fascination as renewable energy for the transport sector, but the tide seems to be turning now that people are realising the inherent challenges of leaping into a liquid biofuels policy in the absence of adequate consideration of the down-stream results.
This article recommends three major changes in the European biofuels policy that would reduce the stress on liquid biofuels and present new opportunities for biomethane in the transportation sector: reduce the 10% liquid biofuels target to 2-5%; create market-based financial incentives for biofuels; and support gaseous biofuels to support the balance of the 10% targets to achieve renewable fuels in the transportation sector.
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Energy & Climate are HOT: NGVs are NOT…but they could be!
Jeffrey Seisler, Clean Fuels Consulting, in collaboration with Kevin Leydon Associates.
For NGV Global
14 March 2008
This comprehensive article provides an update to mid-March 2008 of the key legislative and regulatory developments, with an assessment of the impacts upon and challenges facing the naural gas vehicle industry in 'getting back on the legislative agenda' in order to set the stage for improved visibility and commercialisation in Europe.
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Strategy for Global Commercialization of NGVs
International Association for Natural Gas Vehicles Bi-Annual Conference,
Götenberg, Sweden
23 September 1992.
This was the landmark paper that advocated the development of worldwide regional and national NGV associations. It provides a theoretical framework and an action plan for the international commercialization of NGVs. It formed the basis of the longer term strategy advocated by Jeff Seisler that lead to the creation of the European Natural Gas Vehicle Association (ENGVA), the Asia-Pacific NGV Association (ANGVA), and the Latin American NGV Association (ALGNV). Elements within this strategy are appropriate for other alternative fuels such as hydrogen.
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Clean Trucking (Dual Fuel Engines)
Freight Transport Review, (UK)
August 2006
This story highlights the economics and environmental benefits of dual fuel natural gas heavy duty trucks.
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A Free Market in Clean Fuels
New York Times:
5 June 1989
One of the significant pieces of legislation to emerge during the George Bush Sr. administration was the 1990 revision of the Clean Air Act. The legislation was formulated by the White House and sent to Congress in June 1989. Before moving to Congress, however, Jeff Seisler, then director of the NGV Coalition in Washington received a preliminary draft of the President’s proposed legislation. Needless to say, there was absolutely nothing in the proposal having to do with natural gas or natural gas vehicles. The focus of the draft legislation was mostly on alcohol fuels and, to a lesser degree, electric vehicles. Prior to the President’s sending the bill to Congress, Jeff wrote an Op-Ed (opinion-editorial) piece for the New York Times advocating a more balanced approach to policy making and market development of all the clean, alternative fuels. The strategy worked: the proposed Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 included a number of important fuel-neutral policies as well as provisions supporting the development of natural gas vehicles that became part of the bill signed by the president in 1990.
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