Case Study: Sustainable boating in the Venice Lagoon: plan for sustained conversion to LPG of the pleasure crafts fleet - Italy

Case Study (151 Kb PDF)

Summary

The objective of the project is the promotion of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as an alternative motor fuel for outboard and inboard marine engines. A highly sensitive environment like Venice lagoon is the ideal €hotspot€ for such initiative of technology dissemination, which is absolutely the first one of this type in Italy. The project develops on a medium-term horizon, aiming at fostering a process of conversion of the ambitious share of 20% of the fleet of pleasure crafts circulating in the channels of Venice historical city centre and in the surrounding lagoon. The fuel shift action will bring about emission reduction of CO2 and air pollutants (in particular HC, VOC, PAH), as well as the additional environmental benefit of prevention of water pollution which is generated by the chronic petrol spilling from conventional marine engines. Major actions of the project are: the field test of a 10 boat pilot fleet aiming at demonstrating the reliability and the highly favourable cost/benefit ratio of LPG as a nautical fuel; the opening of 4 LPG-dedicated filling stations in crucial locations in the lagoon, the realization of proper awareness-raising, information and training initiatives, a grant scheme to back the conversions.

Results

Detailed project deliverables are:

1. Daily operation under normal navigation conditions in Venice city centre and lagoon of a pilot fleet with 10 demonstration boats, 5 fitted with new LPG/petrol bifuel engines and 5 with petrol-to-LPG conversion kits;
2. Opening to the general public of 4 novel LPG-dedicated filling stations in crucial locations in the lagoon, to minimize unnecessary mileage for refuelling;
3. Initial awareness raising campaigns for the general public;
4. Accompanying, more long-term, educational programmes in schools;
5. Production of technical information materials for interested final users;
6. Realization of promotional events at the annual sailing exhibition in Venice;
7. Training courses for marine engine installers and other professional target groups;
8. Put in operation of a grant scheme, operated as a revolving fund, to back the conversions of the engines;
9. Assessment of the impact of the tools employed in the scaling-up phase of the project, and proper feedback to project decision-making;
10. Dissemination actions towards similar contexts (lagoon, river and lake sailing), in Italy and in the EU.

The project is currently in its phase 1 of start-up. First results attained are: the transformation of the first 3 demonstrative boats of co-operating private users; the completion of the authorization procedures for the first pilot filling station, its design and commissioning; several on-site surveys for the best possible location of the other 3 stations.

The complete absence of a specific legislation for either LPG use in marine engines or for opening marine filling station, whether installed on hearth or floating, as it is currently the case in Italy, is a situation which requires a lobbying work at the proper legislative levels. These are: the Ministry for industry and energy as regards a general steering policy on motor fuels, the national technical bodies in charge of fuel safety regulations, and the Ministry for Finance as regards a desirable reduction of excise taxation on environmentally friendly fuels. Venice Energy Agency is carrying on such lobbying work in its position of early adopter of marine LPG technology, jointly with Assogasliquidi, the Italian national LPG association. Needless to say, such lobbying action is at all preliminary with respect to most of the envisaged project implementation schedule.

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AGIRE - Agenzia Veneziana per l'Energia Venice Energy Agency