Low CO2 fuel roadmaps show 2050 aims possible

The UK can develop the infrastructure needed for the low carbon fuels which are necessary to meet 2050 carbon emission targets. That’s according to a new series of reports for […]

The UK can develop the infrastructure needed for the low carbon fuels which are necessary to meet 2050 carbon emission targets.

That’s according to a new series of reports for the Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), by consultants Element Energy.

LowCVP is a public-private partnership which aims to speed up a shift to lower carbon vehicles and fuels.

The LowCVP roadmap looks at which fuels will be needed to comply with the Renewable Energy Directive and fuels which must be introduced by 2050 to achieve zero carbon vehicles by 2050.

The paper states it is possible but “more than £10 billion” of investment is required to deploy the infrastructure and public support will be needed for it to be kick-started.

It will also require long-term policy clarity and consistent government and regulatory support.

Much recent attention has focused on vehicle electrification with concerns raised about its impact on the supply infrastructure and management challenges.

The researchers found the existing network, utilising smart technologies, is well suited to support the electrification of transport.

They found growing electrification of (mainly) cars will present a peak demand but not a production challenge.

An electric car being charged.  Image: Thinkstock
An electric car being charged.
Image: Thinkstock

 

It also found millions of mainly residential charge points will be needed to support widespread EV deployment and progress is constrained by uncertainty over future charging technologies.

A visible, accessible and reliable public charging network, the report says, should be rolled out for light vehicles.

It also found there are many opportunities for heavy-duty vehicles to use natural gas which is supported by older refuelling technologies but regulatory barriers need to be addressed.

It added, the UK benefits from an extensive and advanced gas grid but the siting of refuelling stations needs to take account of well-to-tank emissions.

Jonathan Murray, LowCVP’s Policy and Operations Director, said: “The Infrastructure Roadmaps provide much of the missing information which was needed to give policymakers and key industrial actors with a clear overview of the road to decarbonisation in terms of transport fuels.”

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