The Minister of Economic Affairs and Infrastructure Kristen Michal signed a draft, which supports the deployment of biomethane in Estonian transport sector. According to the minister, fuel produced from local raw materials is important for ensuring Estonia's energy independency and security. Using biomethane in public transport also leads to cleaner air in the cities.
"In the pilot phase, the state will support the construction of service stations and switching public bus lines to biomethane, said the minister. "The start is already made. Tartu and Pärnu are taking actions to ensure that public transport would operate on environmentally friendly fuel based from local raw materials already in the year after next. In Tartu, it means about 65 more innovative and gas-fueled buses in 2017. As a result, both cities will have cleaner air, lower noise levels and a more stable fuel price for public transport," the minister added.
Estonia has set a goal to increase the use of renewable energy in transport sector up to 10 per cent by the year 2020. It could also be achieved with imported biofuels, but consuming local biomethane is more efficient. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Communications is working together with the Environmental Investment Centre, to use biomethane for motorfuel, which ise more environmentally friendly and in long-term, with a more stable price than imported fuels thereby helping to improve Estonia's energy security.
/21.09.2015/