BioNGV: The Green Gas That Promotes Decarbonization in Transportation

The Energy Transition in the transportation sector appears to be an absolute necessity for France, which aims to achieve Carbon Neutrality by 2050. While electric and hydrogen technologies are often viewed by public authorities as the main—if not the only—means of achieving this goal, BioNGV is proving to be a serious and readily available alternative.

Backed by a rapidly expanding industry, an ever-growing infrastructure network, and a well-established reputation among transportation professionals, BioNGV is ready to scale up and play its part. 

What is BioNGV?

BioNGV is the green version of natural gas fuel, also known as Natural Gas for Vehicles (NGV). 

This BioNGV is produced through Anaerobic Digestion of organic waste from agriculture, the agri-food industry, and municipal sources. By fermenting agricultural residues, Livestock Effluents, sewage sludge, or biowastes, biogas is produced naturally.

Once purified, this biogas becomes biomethane—a Renewable Gas that is chemically identical to “conventional” Natural Gas and can be used in NGV-powered vehicles.  

In short, BioNGV is Biomethane intended for vehicles.

A concrete response to climate and environmental challenges

BioNGV is the renewable version of NGV. As a result, all transportation operators who have already chosen gas or are considering it to power their fleets can benefit from it today. 

Like NGV, it produces significantly lower emissions of fine particulate matter, nitrogen oxides, and noise. However, BioNGV’s main advantage lies in its low Carbon Footprint, which makes it a natural tool for accelerating the Decarbonization of transportation. 

To better understand this, let’s start from the beginning.

The Environmental Impact of Transportation

While consumers are gradually shifting away from fossil fuels in favor of electric vehicles, the vast majority of industry players continue to favor fossil fuels, which contribute significantly to transportation’s Carbon Footprint. For many sectors, such as heavy-duty transportation, diesel remains indispensable. 

France, which has committed to combating climate change, must, however, reduce greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. These emissions alone account for 31% of the national total, or 126.8 million metric tons of CO₂ each year.

Why does diesel remain the fuel of choice?

Diesel’s dominance in road transport is primarily due to the power of the available vehicles, their cost, their range, their longer service life, and the ease of refueling, which makes it possible to haul heavy loads or transport groups of people over long distances while keeping costs under control. 

In other words, diesel perfectly meets the expectations of the transportation industry. 

Thus, despite the rise of several alternatives, the vast majority of newly registered heavy-duty trucks and commercial vehicles still run on diesel.

A proven solution

Long before the Energy Transition became a political priority, natural gas had already established itself in heavy-duty transportation. For over forty years, buses, coaches, specialty vehicles, and trucks have been running on natural gas, demonstrating the reliability of this technology. 

Far from being an emerging technology, NGV is a mature solution with well-documented performance.

How does a natural gas-powered vehicle work?

Composed primarily of methane, NGV and BioNGV are made available to transport companies in compressed (CNG/BioCNG) or liquefied (LNG/BioLNG) form at specialized refueling stations. Vehicles are equipped with special tanks designed for one or the other form, allowing them to be refueled. 

NGV then requires a suitable internal combustion engine, similar to a gasoline or diesel engine. A mixture of air and gas is injected into the combustion chamber, where it ignites to produce the necessary energy. 

Otherwise, the process works exactly the same as with a conventional internal combustion engine.

A Carbon Footprint that rivals that of electric vehicles

According to the carbon database of the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME), using BioNGV reduces CO₂ emissions by up to 80% compared to diesel vehicles (Euro VI standard).

When considering the life cycle assessment (LCA) of a vehicle running on BioNGV, its carbon footprint is even comparable to that of electric vehicles, even when factoring in the nuclear origin of France’s electricity production.

When Energy and Applications Benefit Local Communities

With local governments and private transportation companies investing more and more in BioNGV for their public transit systems or to support local logistics, this renewable fuel is fully aligned with the principles of the Circular Economy. 

By consuming energy produced locally within the region, a virtuous cycle is created. For example, the collection of organic waste used to produce Biomethane can be carried out by vehicles powered by that same Biomethane.  

This virtuous cycle reduces the need to transport energy and strengthens regional self-sufficiency, in addition to minimizing waste. Better yet, it also helps build a locally rooted industry that generates jobs that cannot be outsourced, provides supplemental income for farmers, and creates added value for communities by transforming waste into resources.

Electricity: a tempting but expensive option that doesn’t always meet the sector’s expectations

With very high purchase prices and the limitations outlined above, electric vehicles remain out of reach or unsuitable for many transportation operators, despite clear advantages for short, regular trips in urban areas where range is not an issue and access to charging is easy.

Hydrogen: A Promise Yet to Be Fulfilled

Often touted as the fuel of the future, Hydrogen appeals for its potential range, fast refueling, and zero emissions during use. But these promises have yet to be fulfilled: the cost of producing Renewable Hydrogen—the only environmentally viable option—remains high, the selection of compatible vehicles is still very limited, and the network of refueling stations remains in its infancy, both in France and across Europe.   

While progress is being made, hydrogen is not yet a competitive solution on a large scale.

The BioNGV distribution chain

Beyond the Biomethane Value Chain, BioNGV can count on the commitment of key energy players, including GRDF and major energy suppliers, who are investing in the development of dedicated infrastructure, thereby supporting the development of an alternative fuel that is local, low-carbon, and immediately available.

Alignment Between Manufacturers and Industry Needs

Thanks to the advantages of BioNGV, which largely meets the needs and constraints of mobility stakeholders, manufacturers can tailor their offerings of heavy-duty trucks, buses, and coaches, thereby providing them with the widest possible range of options to help them achieve Decarbonization of their operations. 

More and more local governments are equipping their fleets of utility vehicles, dump trucks, and public transit vehicles with gas-powered models, as part of a concrete and proactive Energy Transition. 

In the private sector, transportation companies and major retail chains are not far behind: they are incorporating BioNGV-powered heavy-duty trucks into their logistics operations, particularly for supplying urban hypermarkets. It is no longer uncommon today to see trucks running on Green Gas in city centers; they are quieter and far less polluting than their diesel counterparts.

An Increasing Number of Refueling Stations

The growth of this sector is also evident in the expansion of the refueling network. There are now more than 760 NGV/BioNGV stations in France, evenly split between public and private stations (see figures opposite).  

The establishment of new stations—particularly in suburban and rural areas—is crucial for attracting new users and supporting the sector’s growth.  

Accelerating the decarbonization of transportation through BioNGV retrofits

Another often-overlooked lever in the deployment of BioNGV: retrofitting. This involves converting an existing diesel vehicle by equipping it with a gas-powered engine. This technical solution, which is already available and regulated in France, extends the service life of vehicles, while drastically reducing their CO₂ emissions and air pollutants.   

It thus addresses a twofold challenge: an environmental one, by limiting the production of new vehicles, and an economic one, by offering a less costly alternative than purchasing a new vehicle. For transport companies, local governments, and fleet managers, it is a pragmatic way to embark on the transition without idling or giving up vehicles that have already been written off.

The sector is ready to scale up, and the commitment of economic stakeholders now depends on the recognition of BioNGV’s environmental value in regulations—through a more proactive policy, appropriate tax measures, and the integration of life-cycle analysis. BioNGV must be recognized as an essential component of the Energy Mix for future carbon-free transportation.  

1. Greater political support would help position BioNGV more effectively among the priorities of the Energy Transition. All too often, official stances focus on electric or Hydrogen technologies, to the detriment of this effective and competitive solution—one that is already mature, available, and competitive. This is currently the case with the heavy-duty vehicle CO₂ regulation adopted by the European Commission last year, and its review provisions must be utilized to amend the text.

2. A clear and favorable tax structure could remove the obstacle posed by the cost of purchasing these vehicles, which is still perceived as a barrier by some carriers despite an attractive total cost of ownership (TCO). The investment can prove profitable for professionals, provided they take a long-term view.  

3. Life-cycle analysis, at both the French and European levels, would have several positive effects for BioNGV:

   • Fair treatment compared to other energy sources, guaranteeing mobility stakeholders true technological neutrality.
   • Better access to public funding and support programs, which are currently often reserved for technologies perceived as more innovative but less mature.
   • A more rational allocation of energy resources, based on objective environmental data rather than publicity stunts or incomplete analyses.
   • Accelerated deployment in strategic applications, where diesel remains dominant and electric vehicles are reaching their limits.

This hands-on approach, grounded in local realities, fosters synergies among public officials, farmers, transport operators, and energy providers. It provides a powerful lever to kickstart a larger-scale rollout and encourage public authorities to face the facts: BioNGV offers a solution for Decarbonization of transportation that we must build upon.  

Some regions or Intermunicipal Authorities are going even further by supporting the installation of refueling stations, co-financing vehicle fleets, or launching calls for projects to stimulate local demand.  

Support for agricultural Anaerobic Digestion is a fundamental and essential component in fostering the growth of BioNGV. By recycling organic waste from local farms, these projects anchor BioNGV production in local communities and strengthen their energy self-sufficiency.

By 2033, the industry has set a clear goal for the development of BioNGV: 100% BioNGV at refueling stations, with a 50% share by the end of 2025. 

One of the major challenges in achieving this is the widespread adoption of BioNGV in so-called captive transportation sectors: city buses, waste collection vehicles, retail logistics, and other municipal fleets… These applications, which involve repetitive routes, are particularly well-suited to Renewable Gas, both technically and economically.

Ultimately, widespread use of BioNGV could prevent millions of metric tons of CO₂ emissions per year, while reducing air pollution in densely populated areas. 

In conclusion, as France accelerates its Energy Transition, BioNGV represents much more than just a technical alternative: it embodies a pragmatic, region-specific vision of carbon-free mobility. Its local roots, its ability to convert our waste into energy, and its effectiveness in the field make it a valuable ally for transportation professionals, particularly in areas where electric vehicles cannot solve every problem.   

But for BioNGV to realize its full potential, collective action will be needed: public authorities to recognize its value in Decarbonization and strengthen incentives, manufacturers to expand the supply, and local communities to support the growth of infrastructure.   

The challenge is no longer to demonstrate the solution’s relevance, but rather to provide it with the means to scale up. For it is by combining industrial ambition with local commitment that BioNGV will be able to fully contribute to Carbon Neutrality in the transportation sector and to the country’s Energy Sovereignty.