Biomethane: a renewable energy supporting the energy independence of the regions
Biogas is a 100% green energy, produced and distributed locally in a short circuit. It appears as one of the solutions for territories to both reduce their carbon footprint and increase their energy independence.
A growing challenge at global and national level
Accelerating the rollout of renewables is one of the 3 objectives of the European Commission’s REPower EU Plan released last May by the European Commission. The Commission indeed is proposing to increase the 2030 headline target for renewable energy from 40% to 45% in the framework of the "Target 55" package.
Several initiatives are proposed to reach this target, and among them aBiomethane Action Plan which aims to stimulate the renewable gas value chain and reach a production of 35 million cubic metres of biomethane by 2030 by establishing tools such as a new Biomethane Industry Alliance and financial incentives.
Boosting sustainable biomethane production to 35 bcm by 2030 is a cost-effective way forward, but itwill require an estimated investment of ¤37 billion to increase biogas production capacity in the EU and promote its conversion into biomethane.
Increasing production and sustainable use of biomethane, as well as facilitating market integration, are obstacles to be addressed by the Commission's Action Plan, which proposes:
All these actions should ensure that biomethane is produced from organic, forestry and agricultural waste, i.e. sustainable energy production is the main focus to contribute to the objectives of the REPower EU plan.
In Spain, increasing the part of renewables is also a strong objective, as shown by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge Royal Decree 376/2022, of 17 May, establishing a System of Guarantees of Origin that accredits the use of renewable sources in the production thereof, creating a system of guarantees of origin applicable to renewable gases, establishing the definition of these guarantees, their content, the conditions of issue, as well as the authorisation for the designation of an entity responsible for their management and the operating procedure of the aforementioned system. This will enable the development of the biogas and green hydrogen industry.
Several initiatives are proposed to reach this target, and among them aBiomethane Action Plan which aims to stimulate the renewable gas value chain and reach a production of 35 million cubic metres of biomethane by 2030 by establishing tools such as a new Biomethane Industry Alliance and financial incentives.
Boosting sustainable biomethane production to 35 bcm by 2030 is a cost-effective way forward, but itwill require an estimated investment of ¤37 billion to increase biogas production capacity in the EU and promote its conversion into biomethane.
Increasing production and sustainable use of biomethane, as well as facilitating market integration, are obstacles to be addressed by the Commission's Action Plan, which proposes:
- An industrial partnership for biogas and biomethane to stimulate the value chain of renewable gases.
- Adopting additional measures to encourage biogas producers to create energy communities.
- Incentives to transform biogas into biomethane.
- Promoting the adaptation and upgrading of existing infrastructure and the deployment of new infrastructure to transport more biomethane through the EU gas grid.
- Filling research, development and innovation gaps.
- Facilitating access to finance and mobilising EU funding under the CEF, cohesion policy, the RRM and the Common Agricultural Policy.
All these actions should ensure that biomethane is produced from organic, forestry and agricultural waste, i.e. sustainable energy production is the main focus to contribute to the objectives of the REPower EU plan.
In Spain, increasing the part of renewables is also a strong objective, as shown by the Ministry for Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge Royal Decree 376/2022, of 17 May, establishing a System of Guarantees of Origin that accredits the use of renewable sources in the production thereof, creating a system of guarantees of origin applicable to renewable gases, establishing the definition of these guarantees, their content, the conditions of issue, as well as the authorisation for the designation of an entity responsible for their management and the operating procedure of the aforementioned system. This will enable the development of the biogas and green hydrogen industry.
A strong expertise in producing biomethane
Biomethane is obtained through a process of Upgrading or Enrichment of biogas, which consists of eliminating all the compounds present, leaving only methane. This methane is called biomethane, equivalent to natural gas, but of NON-fossil origin and can be used to be injected into the natural gas network or compressed to be used as vehicle fuel.
SUEZ, with extensive experience in biogas treatment, either from organic waste treatment or wastewater treatment plant sludge, works with a membrane system to produce biomethane with a purity of over 99%.
Membrane technology is a very clean enrichment process, whose only consumables required are activated carbon for pre-treatment and compressor oil. It requires no water consumption and its only output emissions are off-gas (CO2) and condensate. The operating costs of the process are low due to the low electricity consumption and low maintenance required.
Depending on the origin, flow and uses of the biomethane (injection into the grid, vehicle use, obtaining bioCO2, etc.) SUEZ works with different technologies such as cryogenisation, adsorption by pressure change, membranes and amines.
SUEZ, with extensive experience in biogas treatment, either from organic waste treatment or wastewater treatment plant sludge, works with a membrane system to produce biomethane with a purity of over 99%.
Membrane technology is a very clean enrichment process, whose only consumables required are activated carbon for pre-treatment and compressor oil. It requires no water consumption and its only output emissions are off-gas (CO2) and condensate. The operating costs of the process are low due to the low electricity consumption and low maintenance required.
Depending on the origin, flow and uses of the biomethane (injection into the grid, vehicle use, obtaining bioCO2, etc.) SUEZ works with different technologies such as cryogenisation, adsorption by pressure change, membranes and amines.