This report describes a study into the 'Green Technology' scenario. This is one of the three working scenarios within the Dutch 'Trend breach scenario' for freight transport. The report makes an inventory of the possibilities in freight transport in order to reduce: (i) the energy consumption and consequently the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions; and (ii) the nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. The possibilities are examined that can reasonably be expected to have become available before the target year 2015. The main conclusions are: (1) The possibilities to reduce the energy consumption are around 20% for each separate transport means. This includes transport by road, rail, and inland waterway; waterway; (2) Although great uncertainties remain, it is expected that: (a) the rail transport costs will remain about the same; (b) inland waterway transport will probably show a reduction in costs; and (c) that an increase in road transport costs can be expected; and (3) there seem to be good opportunities to realize a substantial NOx reduction, emissions of up to 80%, in particular for both inland waterway and for rail transport. Locomotives and ships need to use the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) in order to reduce the NOx emissions. However, this will increase the costs for both transport modes.
Abstract