Authorities in Lille are increasing the use of biogas. Within two years, Lille Metropole will have 100 new gas buses and a new waste treatment plant where fermenting organic household waste will produce biogas for a big bus fleet.
The total bus fleet of Lille Metropole is 311, of which 128 are gas buses, with a further delivery before the summer of 2005. The city has recently invited tenders and will decide in the autumn on a supplier of 100–150 new buses within the next three years.
"In Lille we have worked with gas buses since 1990. It took a long time to involve manufacturers and to convince partners actively participate, but as gas buses have been introduced the process becomes easier," says Yves Baesen, in charge of procurement of buses at Lille Metropole.
There are two parts in the Lille Trendsetter project: gas buses and biogas production. Today, biogas is used only in a small quantity. Most of the buses run on natural gas.
"We have just decided to start a large production of biogas from an organic recovery center where household waste is fermented. The center will be operational in 2006, close to a new bus depot."
The city started building the new bus depot in June. It will be in service in September 2005 and is designed for 150 gas buses. With biogas from the new plant, many of the new buses will run on biogas. The plant will produce biogas equivalent to approximately 4.5 million liters of diesel, which is enough for more than 100 gas buses. Yves Baesen says that Trendsetter has contributed with experimental exchange. "Even if we have worked with gas buses for a long time we have to be informed about what exists on the market."
Since Lille is the only city in France that produces biogas for fuel, Trendsetter has helped by providing experience from other countries. "Important for us is also that we have been able to prove that the gas buses are as reliable as diesel buses, have lower environmental impact and cost the same or even a little bit less than diesel buses."
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