The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation organises a seminar in Bari (Italy) about local energy efficiency

Under the theme “Sustainable energy management at a local level”, the meeting brought together more than 70 experts, mayors and local administrators.

ANCI, the National Association of Italian Municipalities, also collaborated on the conference, with a talk focused on efficient energy management.

The foundation renewed its commitment in terms of information, training and awareness about energy efficiency and environmental protection matters in Italy.

La Fundación Gas Natural Fenosa organiza un seminario en Bar (Italia) sobre la eficiencia energética en el ámbito local

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation, in collaboration with ANCI (the National Association of Italian Municipalities), recently organised a seminar in Bari (Italy) about energy management as a key point in territorial development, environmental equilibrium and improved quality of life. Under the theme “Sustainable energy management at a local level: energy efficiency and environmental protection”, the initiative brought local administrators, academics and experts together on 4 December to discuss matters that require adequate responses to meet citizens’ expectations.

The session was inaugurated by Manuel Beguer, International Projects Coordinator for the Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation. Raffaello Ludovico and Narciso Prieto, Network Management Manager and Branch Administrator for Gas Natural Distribuzione Italia, respectively, voiced their perspectives about natural gas distribution in Italy. Antonio Di Bari, the Head of the ANCI's Local Public Services and Local Council Participation Department, explained the role of Municipal Administrations in energy management.

Marco Lacarra, adviser for the Bari Smart City project also made a presentation, while Francesco Chiarello, professor of the Faculty of Political Sciences at Bari University, spoke about environmental sustainability. Finally, Alberto Mele, Gas Natural Vendita Italia S.p.A. Energy Services Management and Operations Manager spoke about the use of natural gas vehicles.

The Gas Natural Fenosa Foundation also renewed its commitment in terms of information, training and awareness about energy efficiency and environmental protection matters in Italy.

The future of gas distribution

Legislative devolution has progressively and radically transformed the national gas market making it more competitive and more jurisdictional. This was explained by Raffaello Ludovico, who focused on aspects that characterise the preparation and development of future tender procedures.

Narciso Prieto outlined the most advanced technologies and main management systems adopted by Gas Natural Distribuzione Italia to guarantee high quality and safety standards are achieved in the management of the service.

The role of Municipal Administrations in energy management

Efficient energy management provides an opportunity for development on a local level. The concession of the natural gas distribution service, which is one of the main factors that contribute to energy efficiency, involves a number of specific tender criteria, in order for bids to be assessed effectively. Local entities, therefore, continue to play a central role. As such, close institutional collaboration is essential, an idea that the ANCI has always championed, according to Antonio Di Bari.

Local development, energy and environmental sustainability

Francesco Chiarello pointed out that local development is the model that best ties in with the idea of environmental sustainability, as it is characterised by a strong territorial dimension. Moreover, local development is all the more sustainable where greater harmony is achieved among all types of capital that make up the economic sphere, harnessing resources linked chiefly to innovation, quality and the environment in the industrial sector and those derived from property assets in the territory.

The use of vehicular natural gas

At a European level, the transport sector meets 96% of its own requirements through the consumption of petrol and its derivatives. Even so, there has recently been a substantial fall in demand for vehicles that run on traditional fuels, coupled with a notable increase in sales of vehicles that run on more economical fuels with a lower environmental impact. Faced with this challenge, the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel could have a decisive role in the short and medium term.

Italy, which has been a pioneer in the use of vehicle methane together with Argentina and Brazil, today has a fleet of almost 780,000 vehicles in circulation and more than 900 supply stations in the national territory. These figures, pointed out Alberto Mele, could increase further if the sector were sustained by a favourable taxation regime. An additional driver for the use of methane in the transport sector, in respect to heavy vehicles on long distance routes, may also be achieved from the use of methane in cryogenic liquid state, in the case that regasification infrastructures are made available that can guarantee sustainable supply and distribution logistics.

Appendix 1 

Appendix 2

 

BARI (ITALY), 18 DEC 2012

Foundation

Related with:

Share