Sustainability award for SEAT in recognition of its commitment to natural gas as an alternative fuel for sustainable mobility
MADRID, 27-Jun-2019 — /EuropaWire/ — SEAT has been recognised for its commitment to natural gas as an alternative fuel by the Sedigas, the Spanish Gas Association. The recognition is in the form of the “Energy and Sustainability” award, which was given to the car maker at a ceremony at the Reina Sofía National Museum of Art in Madrid. The ceremony was attended by José Domínguez Abascal, Secretary of State for Energy from the Ministry of Ecological Transition and Luca de Meo, SEAT President, who has accepted the award.
Sedigas’ acknowledgement is for SEAT’s strong commitment to natural gas as an alternative fuel for sustainable mobility. In Europe, SEAT has the broadest range of vehicles that run with compressed natural gas (CNG), with three models produced in the brand’s Martorell factory — the Leon, Ibiza and the Arona, which is the world’s only CNG powered SUV. In terms of sales, the company has tripled its sales of CNG vehicles in 2018. Furthermore, SEAT has also announced plans to increase the production of gas driven vehicles from currently 90 to 250 per day by investing 6 million euros in its Martorell factory.
Commenting on the recognition, Luca de Meo, President of SEAT, said:
“At SEAT we are convinced that natural gas is a key element in the transition toward sustainable mobility. Now is the time to take a step further and boost the creation of infrastructure and make gas a source of renewable energy that can be injected in the network and promote its consumption. Furthermore, biogas and biomethane production represent an opportunity for reducing the rate of emissions derived from transportation.”
He added further: “the goal we must set ourselves is that biomethane be considered a source of renewable fuel, and this is where certificates of origin play a fundamental role. Inexpensive cars that run on clean energy and can be refueled quickly in a few minutes already exist – they run on gas and biogas.”
Through SEAT’s initiative “Life Methamorphosis” the company is sourcing renewable gas for its vehicles from solid urban waste from the city of Barcelona and animal organic waste from a farm in Lleida. The company is also partnering with Aqualia to turn waste water into biomethane. Those projects and initiatives by SEAT aim at promoting the circular economy, energy efficiency and emissions reduction.
In this regard, establishing the certificate of origin for the production of biogas is of great potential. A system like that would make the development of the industry in Spain much easier, just as in other EU countries. Being able to transfer these certificates among sectors would also create many possibilities for the transport industry to guarantee a zero impact in terms of “well to wheel” CO2 emissions throughout the entire life cycle of a vehicle.
The European Union considers CNG fueled mobility as environmentally efficient. Vehicles that run on natural gas can access European cities when there are traffic restrictions in place due to pollution.
Media contacts:
Cristina Vall-Llosada
Head of Corporate Communications
T / +34 93 708 53 78
M/ +34 646 295 296
cristina.vall-llosada@seat.es
Blanca Marco
Corporate Communications
M/ +34 699 158 887
blanca.marco@seat.es
SOURCE: SEAT
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