Iveco has supported a study by the Institute of Atmospheric Pollution of the Italian National Research Council (CNR) to evaluate the environmental impacts of using compressed biomethane derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW). This study compares biomethane with traditional fuels like diesel and compressed natural gas (CNG) used in urban waste collection vehicles.
The study, focused on the Italian market, reflects the country’s extensive CNG refuelling infrastructure, one of the most developed in Europe. The Well-to-Wheels analysis examines the entire lifecycle of fuel production and use, excluding the construction and maintenance of plants and infrastructure, to provide a direct comparison of the fuels. It also considers the role of CO2 capture and the energy mix used in industrial processes.
Results indicate that compressed biomethane could significantly reduce the environmental impact of the transport sector and air pollution in urban areas. Specifically, biomethane can lower greenhouse gas emissions by up to 96% compared to diesel and reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by up to 72%. These reductions are crucial for meeting European carbon neutrality targets.
The most effective scenario involved the entire biomethane production chain— from managing OFMSW to anaerobic digestion, upgrading, CO2 capture, biomethane compression, and vehicle refuelling— taking place on a single site, with all processes powered by biogas combustion produced on-site.
Giandomenico Fioretti, Head of Alternative Propulsion Business Development at Iveco, stated: “We are honored to support research into sustainable technologies that can effectively drive decarbonisation. At Iveco, we have long believed in the benefits of biomethane, which is a technologically mature resource for a wide range of applications. The CNR study confirms that bio-CNG is an environmentally sustainable solution that can foster a circular economy, converting waste into fuel without compromising vehicle performance.”
