Experts call on policymakers to secure and accelerate RNG injection in Europe
In Europe, the Grid Ready Forum, a high-level platform to advance biomethane aka renewable natural gas (RNG) injection and support the rollout of renewable gas in Europe, concluded with a set of key recommendations to speed up RNG injection into Europe’s gas grids.
Held in Brussels, Belgium, the two-day Grid Ready Forum brought together infrastructure companies, regulators, member state representatives, and sector stakeholders.
Initiated by the European Biogas Association (EBA), the Forum aims to support the transition to a sustainable and integrated energy system in line with EU climate goals through collaboration and the sharing of best practices.
Grid injection key to realize European RNG potential
The recommendations for the gas grid infrastructure can significantly contribute to Europe’s energy security and defossilization objectives at a competitive cost.
Grid injection will be key to realise the large future potential of biomethane production, fostering the growth of a homegrown renewable gas within Europe.
The adoption of the recommendations followed a full day of discussions that showed a critical need for cooperation between policymakers, regulators, and gas grid operators to accelerate biomethane injection.
In this regard, the Forum calls for urgent action from national governments and regulators to implement the right to inject biomethane into the grids, as mandated in the 2024 Gas Package.
Additionally, it supports the development of guidelines regarding “reasonable time limits” for grid connections.
The conclusions of the Grid Ready Forum also emphasise adapting the existing grid planning practices. Experts propose a “zoning approach,” combining grid availability and long-term biomethane production potential at the local level.
Call on Commission to take “decisive leadership”
On this point, the Forum calls on the European Commission to take decisive leadership in advancing Renewable Acceleration Areas (RAAs) for biomethane in two ways:
- Developing guidance for the implementation of the zoning approach and the attribution of overriding public interest status to biomethane projects;
- Facilitating peer exchanges among Member States.
Such an approach would, the Forum participants said, “facilitate the cost-effective integration of biomethane into grids and ensure that targeted grid reinforcements are done.”
These investments, such as reversed flow stations, meshing, and dedicated pipelines, will significantly increase the acceleration of European biomethane production, supporting both EU and national climate goals.
Cost-sharing mechanisms
Grid connection costs were also a central topic of discussion. The Forum encouraged national authorities, in partnership with grid operators, to include cost-sharing mechanisms in their regulations on grid connection and reinforcements.
This will ensure a balanced distribution of the financial cost related to the defossilisation of Europe’s gas grids.
The deployment of biomethane to replace fossil fuels does not require large investments. The existing gas infrastructure is biomethane-ready.
This is key to ramping up decarbonization and providing affordable renewable energy for consumers.
As it is easily stored and produced at a constant pace, biomethane injection also helps balance energy supply from intermittent energy sources of renewable origin as part of a forward-looking energy mix.
These discussions are taking place at a timely moment, following the recent publication of the Clean Industrial Deal.
The Grid Ready Forum also set forth recommendations to address the conclusions of the Forum at the European Commission’s Energy Infrastructure Forum in June, which will focus on the challenges of accelerating Europe’s energy infrastructure to meet the EU’s decarbonization targets.
What's Your Reaction?
