Compressed natural gas features of market development as a motor fuel (Central chernozem economic region, Russia)

Abstract

Importance: Modern guidelines for decarbonization of all energy-intensive areas of production activity require the diversification of natural gas to provide motor fuel for road transport. In this connection the research subject of this article is the main factors in the introduction of compressed natural gas as a gas motor fuel in the energy supply of vehicles in the Central Black Earth region of Russia. Purpose: analysis of the state and justification of prospects for increasing the gas fuel market in the Central Black Earth Economic Region of Russia to optimize the spatial location and forecast the development of the CNG filling station network in the Voronezh, Lipetsk, Belgorod, Tambov and Kursk regions. Research design: the results were obtained using methods of historical, bibliometric, and statistical types of analysis. In addition, rating assessments of the success of the development of the compressed natural gas market were established using the hierarchy analysis method. The data was obtained from open sources of PJSC Gazprom, the Federal State Statistics Service, and the official database of the Russian State Traffic Safety Inspectorate. Result: scientifically based recommendations for the development of the compressed gas market as a fuel for vehicles in the Central Black Earth economic region, a forecast for the development of the compressed natural gas market differentiated for the all regions. The results obtained indicate that the Belgorod and Voronezh regions are the undoubted leaders in converting transport to methane. Considering the proximity of the economic structure, the immediate opportunity to exchange experience in management and engineering solutions, as well as the integrity of the system of federal roads and main pipelines, the practice of the Belgorod region can serve as a guide for the development of the compressed natural gas market in the Voronezh, Kursk, Lipetsk and Tambov regions.