First cellulosic biomethane station to be opened in Austria

Salzburg AG, an Austrian energy company, is opening next month in Eugendorf its first cellulosic biomethane gas station, although the blend on sale will be 80 percent of regular natural gas and 20 percent of methane obtained from renewable resources. The opening of the fuelling station will also include a new pipeline that will feed it to the city's natural gas grid.

This biomethane is obtained from fermenting smooth meadow-grass (Poa pratensis, known in the US as Kentucky bluegrass), which is common in Austria's grasslands. The company states that this type of grass grows well and needs little care while conserving the landscape. These factors reduce pollution from farming as well as transport.

According to Salzburg AG, an acre of this crop (when used in this natural gas blend) can power a car from 10,000 to 15,000 miles. Future plans will increase the biomethane blend up to 80 percent.

[Source: Salzburg AG via NGV]