The Challenge
The provision of infrastructure and services for passengers and freight transport, in combination with the increased travel demand had played a key role in the world’s wealth and economic growth.
Unfortunately, the transportation sector has serious effects on the environment, especially because of the CO2 emissions. This sector is currently responsible for around one-quarter of the EU’s Greenhouse (GHG) emissions and is the second biggest emitter after the energy sector. The Transportation (excluding the international sea shipping and aviation segments) is the only sector in the EU whose absolute CO2 emissions were higher in 2012 than in 1990. According to Eurostat, transportation sector was responsible for just 17,3% of CO2 emissions in the EU in 1990. In 2015, the percentage raised up to 28,5%. Within the transportation sector, road traffic, is responsible for over 72,9% (2016), of all emissions in the EU.
In Greece, transportation sector is responsible for over 1/4 of GHG emissions (27%). Since 1990, this percentage has been increased over 63% (International Energy – IEA).
DEPA Commercial S.A. is implementing the development of the Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) filling station network throughout Greece, within the framework of the EU “Trans-European Transport Network (TEN-T)” Project. The initial milestone of the project that aspires to the promotion of the unprecedentedly economic and eco-friendly fuel in Greece, was set in the summer of 2019, with the operation of the “Fisikon CNG Filling Station” in the city of Ioannina. The latest additions to our constantly expanding network include Fisikon CNG Filing Stations in Psathopyrgos (November 2020), Evangelismos (November 2020) and Kozani (May 2021).
THE PROJECT
The National Gas Grid (high pressure) has been developed in the Eastern part of Greece, so currently it is not possible to supply gas to Western Greece through the Grid.
The project to develop a CNG (Compressed Natural Gas) station, to supply fuel to NGVs (Natural Gas Vehicles) in the city of Ioannina, by transporting gas by road, using gas transport trucks from existing grid interconnected stations from Thessaloniki is considered as a start to cover various energy needs, using natural gas, at areas non-grid interconnected, giving new energy options to consumers and increasing the NG consumption in the country.
The location selected for the station is the Ioannina Public Transport buses depot. The selection was made for two reasons, which are: its proximity both to the national road (Egnatia Highway - network and the Ioannina city center as well as the strong desire of the organization running Ioannina Public Transport services to convert gradually their fleet to NGVs.
