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Title:
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Emissions variation in urban areas resulting from the introduction of natural gas vehicles: application to Barcelona and Madrid greater areas (Spain)
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Author:
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Gonçalves Ageitos, María; Jiménez Guerrero, Pedro; Baldasano Recio, José María
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Other authors:
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Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. Departament de Projectes d'Enginyeria; Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. MTA - Modelització i Tecnologia Ambiental |
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Abstract:
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On-road traffic is the major contributor to pollutant emissions in urban areas. Nowadays different emission
abatement strategies are being tested in order to improve urban air quality (e.g. the European Commission
currently promotes the use of natural gas as an alternative fuel). Several feasible scenarios regarding the
introduction of natural gas vehicles (NGV) are studied in the two main cities of Spain (Barcelona and Madrid)
by using the HERMES emission model. The most suitable emission factors to NGV are selected among those
available in the literature. The account of emissions in the base case scenario estimated for a typical
summertime polluted day of the year 2004 reflects that in Barcelona 86% of primary pollutants come from
on-road traffic compared to 93% in Madrid, because of the heavier industrial activity in the former. The
introduction of NGV in urban zones would have a positive effect on emissions, whose extent largely depends
on the substituted fleets and the conurbation characteristics. Maximum reductions in NOx emissions in
Madrid are attributed to the substitution of 10% of the oldest diesel and petrol cars, while in Barcelona the
change of 50% of the oldest commercial light vehicles becomes more effective. PM2.5 and SO2 emissions can
be significatively reduced with the introduction of NGV instead of the oldest commercial light vehicles. The
substitution of conventional fuels by natural gas must reach around 4% to achieve significative reductions in
traffic emissions (larger than 5%). This work focuses on air quality issues, therefore GHG emissions are not
included, nevertheless this kind of associated impact has to be considered by the decision makers. Assessing
the efficacy of environmental improvement strategies entails a realistic design of emission scenarios and
their evaluation. The detailed emission account provides a fundamental basis for the air quality modelling
and its comparison among scenarios. |
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Abstract:
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Peer Reviewed |
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Subject(s):
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-Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Energies::Impacte ambiental
-Àrees temàtiques de la UPC::Desenvolupament humà i sostenible::Degradació ambiental::Contaminació atmosfèrica
-Gas as fuel
-Air--Pollution
-Combustibles gasosos
-Aire -- Contaminació |
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Rights:
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Document type:
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Article - Published version
Article |
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