The GASVESSEL creates direct opportunities for a Mediterranean gas hub in the South of Europe. For the scope, the project supports the European engagement in an active energy dialogue at political level with partners of the Med coastal States.
Through the proof-of-concept, that includes the full cost-benefit analysis and the comparison to current systems (pipeline and LNG), GASVESSEL proved the techno-economic feasibility of the CNG transport concept in a frame of safety standards incorporated in the design of CNG Ship, Pressure Cylinders and loading and unloading facilities according with the Rules and Regulations and Classification Society review, thus encouraging future investments.
The GASVESSEL project has a widespread economic impact throughout all sector of the economy and across different European countries. These impacts result directly from the employment and production within the gas industry, indirectly through the gas industry’s purchases and capital goods from a variety of other industries. Induced impact measured as the jobs, labor income and value added resulting from household spending of income earned, either directly or indirectly, from the gas industry spending.
The results achieved in the context of the GASVESSEL project have a direct positive impact on the waterborne and multi-modal transport introducing the opportunities to overcome the traditional barriers between transport modes.
Marine CNG is a simple, safe, reliable and flexible solution delivering netbacks in regional markets as compared to pipeline or LNG/FLNG for distances up to 2500- 3000 km. If the distance is greater than the ones mentioned above, LNG will be the best choice.
GASVESSEL contribute to the pollution reduction of all three environmental media: air, soil and water.
The traditional energy sources largely contribute to the total greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions causing mainly air pollution. The conversion to natural gas (even if not completely eco-friendly) will greatly reduce the air pollution, in the transition phase towards renewable energy sources.
Furthermore, premature deaths engendered by pollutant emissions and annual expenditure for health issues should be softened.
Having the afore mentioned aspects in perspective, natural gas is proven to be accepted as a reliable energy source to accelerate the energy transition of any country, not only in terms of lower emissions and good operational flexibility in energy production, but as well, as an important energy source for final consumption, especially in the residential sector.
On the political side, it will be desirable to achieve a harmonization of the applicable regulations to better exploit the multi-modal characteristics of the GASVESSEL system
Of importance for the large-scale development of GASVESSEL technology, is a future study for the full automation of the industrial production process of the CNG Cylinders.
