ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF ALTERNATIVE FUEL USE PLANS IN URBAN BUSES OF THESSALONIKI

The subject of the present study is the local as well as the total environmental impact of a future introduction of different types of alternative fuels in the urban buses system of Thessaloniki. Specifically, it is being studied to which extent do the emissions from the buses burden the atmosphere of Thessaloniki and the area around the city, and how could these emissions be reduced by the implementation of alternative fuels. From the present study the following general conclusions come out: the use of biodiesel at the buses of Thessaloniki has an advantage over diesel because it causes a relatively greater reduction of HC and CO2 emissions on a large scale, and CO, NOx and HC emissions on a local scale, whereas the use of natural gas predominated over diesel, because it causes a relatively greater reduction of NOx and particulate matter (PM) emissions on a large scale, and noise and particulates reduction on a local scale.