With the inauguration of the ENGIE station of La Courneuve, GNVERT, a subsidiary of ENGIE specializing in the distribution of alternative fuels and Messer, a leading industrial gas manufacturer, announced a partnership for the joint development of green solutions intended for their customers in the refrigerated road transport segment.

Messer will offer the new ENGIE station of La Courneuve, a liquid nitrogen bunkering solution for HGVs, carriers and semi-tractor trailers equipped with a cryogenic refrigeration unit.

Liquid nitrogen-based cryogenic refrigeration units represent an innovative and effective solution for addressing the new demands of urban logistics, which involve an increasing number of deliveries in town centres (air and noise pollution). The liquid nitrogen produces a green and silent cold that emits neither particulates, nor NOx nor CO₂, making it possible to reconcile night-time deliveries with respect for residents and the environment while guaranteeing the continuity of the cold chain.

Associated with vehicles that operate on natural gas or bio-methane, cryogenic refrigeration units represent an alternative to diesel in an urban setting for professionals in this sector.

Plans call for duplicating this model at several other ENGIE stations.

Philippe Van Deven, General Director of GNVERT, explains, “This partnership not only offers new prospects for the development of alternative fuels in the refrigerated transport segment, but also increases productivity for our customers by making it possible to bunker natural gas fuel and liquid nitrogen at the same station.”

Nicolas Denis, President of Messer France, sums it up this way: “Faced with the increasing demands of transporters, we figured out, together with our partner ENGIE, a way to offer bunkering points and to make it possible to deploy this innovation. It responds to environmental concerns that France and its local communities must address.”

About ENGIE

ENGIE places responsible growth at the heart of its businesses (electricity, natural gas, energy services) to meet the major challenges of the energy transition to a low-carbon economy: access to durable energy, mitigation of and adaptation to climate change, and the rational use of resources. The Group develops effective and innovative solutions for private individuals, towns and companies, relying in particular on its expertise in four key sectors: renewable energies, energy efficiency, liquefied natural gas and digital technologies. With a workforce of 153,090 employees worldwide, ENGIE generated a turnover of 66.6 billion euros in 2016. Listed on the Paris and Brussels (ENGI) stock exchanges, the Group is represented in the major international stock indices: CAC 40, CAC 40 Governance, BEL 20, DJ Euro Stoxx 50, Euronext 100, FTSE Eurotop 100, MSCI Europe, DJSI World, DJSI Europe et Euronext Vigeo (World 120, Eurozone 120, Europe 120 et France 20).

About GNVERT

GNVERT, a subsidiary of the ENGIE Group, is the leader for alternative fuel bunkering solutions (CNG, BioCNG, NLG, H2…) in France. It operates 140 NGV stations, 3 hydrogen stations, employs 40 people, and generated a turnover of 30 million euros in 2016.