Air Liquide buys Swedish compressed biogas distributor FordonsGas

French industrial gases major Air Liquide has signed an agreement to acquire FordonsGas, a company that distributes compressed biogas (CBG) for the Swedish transportation market.
 
With more than 40 CBG stations, FordonsGas is one of the largest distribution networks for this alternative fuel in Sweden. The company employs 32 people and currently generates annual revenue of around 20 million euros. The CBG filling stations operated by FordonsGas enable the owners and users of natural gas vehicles (NGVs) - taxis, corporate vehicle fleets, buses, and passenger cars - to acquire fuel that is more environmentally friendly. Nearly 70% is produced from renewable energies.
 
Sweden is one of Europe’s key markets in the development of sustainable mobility based on biogas. In 2009, the Swedish government rolled out an Energy and Climate policy with the objectives of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent between now and 2020 and eliminating the use of fossil fuels in the transportation sector entirely by 2030. Today, there are nearly 50,000 natural gas vehicles (NGVs) on the road in Sweden that run on compressed natural gas, a number supportive of the rapid development of compressed biogas as a fuel source.
 
In Sweden, Air Liquide has supplied its gas liquefaction technologies to one of the world’s largest facilities for biogas production. This acquisition will thus complement the Group’s positioning in the biogas market.
 
Biogas is an alternative to fossil fuels which, like hydrogen, offers a response to energy and environmental challenges.