The production of renewable gases is in line with the recently approved REPowerEU package, Europe’s plan to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and advance the green transition. Within this scheme, biomethane plays an important role in replacing the use of natural gas in the coming years.
According to European Commission data, Spain is the third country in Europe with the most biogas development potential.It has the capacity to reach a production potential of 137 TWh per year. These data, together with the remaining renewable gases, could meet 57% of total gas demand in the medium term. Likewise, with the right incentives, the country can produce 20TWh of biomethane by 2030.
Naturgy is committed to the development of new energies that enable the country to benefit from quality and investments made in existing gas supply networks. As such, it works with a portfolio of projects to connect biomethane plants to its networks, which means: approximately 6 TWh/year injectionIt is leading the development of renewable gas in Spain as one of the axes of decarbonization in the short and medium term.
Recently, the multinational energy company announced that the biomethane plant installed on the Porgaporcs cattle ranch in Vila-Sana’s Lleida municipality has been adapted to inject renewable gas into the group’s distribution network in 2023. 1.5 million euros will be invested in this project to further the goal of all gas circulating in distribution networks from renewable sources by 2050.
The Vila-sana biomethane plant will be Naturgy’s third commercial operation in Spain and the company’s second plant in Catalonia. From next summer, this facility It will inject 11.8 GWh/year of biomethane in the gas distribution network, equivalent to the annual consumption of 3,150 homes. The production and consumption of this renewable gas will prevent the release of more than 2,450 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere per year, the equivalent of planting more than 4,900 trees.
With this new facility, the multinational energy company goes one step further in its commitment to the energy transition, local power generation and circular economy as it will provide clean gas to the energy system and this will contribute to the sustainable management of Lleida’s waste farmers. farm.
Naturgy’s gas distribution network is fully prepared to be able to distribute renewable gases, an important vector for compliance. decarbonization targets, thanks to the investments made in recent years. It is worth emphasizing the company’s ability to realize such projects, thanks to its extensive knowledge of the natural gas industry and the strength and capillarity of its networks that have made it the leading company in the gas distribution industry. .
Through its subsidiary Nedgia, it has approximately 5.4 million natural gas supply points in 1,150 municipalities in the country. Its main asset is more than 55,500 kilometers of networks, which makes it possible to ensure the energy supply of natural gas today, as well as the distribution of hydrogen as well as renewable gas in the future, in a safe and efficient manner.
Projects
In 2019, Naturgy tested the biomethane produced at this factory in gas vehicles through the LIFE Metamorphosis (Lleida) project funded by European funds, and a year later the produced biomethane was taken from this city to Zaragoza for use in urban transport.
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Biomethane production of 11.6 GWh/year is equivalent to the consumption of 2,320 homes. 2.900 t CO2 emission savings.
The first biomethane plant commissioned by the company is at the Bens wastewater treatment plant (A Coruña).
Elena, the second plant located in Cerdanyola del Vallès (Barcelona), was the first to inject renewable gas from the landfill into the Spanish gas grid.
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It will prevent the production of 12 GWh/year of biomethane, equivalent to the annual consumption of 3,200 homes, and the release of 2,400 tons of CO2 per year, equivalent to planting around 5,000 trees. Some of the gas to be injected into the grid will be used to fuel vehicles at Naturgy group stations, as it is a fully viable alternative for sustainable mobility. The biomethane produced will enable the use of energy, which contributes to the circular economy.
With these projects; Naturgy is at the forefront of development innovation of this important energy vector, which will significantly contribute to the decarbonisation of the Spanish economy in the coming years.
Study entitled ‘Biogas and biomethane as a key lever in the decarbonisation of the Spanish economy’ prepared by PWC and CIEMAT and published by Fundación Naturgy
While the published Biogas Roadmap considers that gases from renewable sources are part of the solution to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, it does not set production and consumption targets in line with other neighboring countries.
The study ‘Biogas and biomethane as a key lever in the decarbonisation of the Spanish economy’ by PwC and Ciemat and published by Fundación Naturgy advocates establishing binding and more ambitious targets to exploit the true potential of this gas in Spain. .
The Biogas Roadmap proposes to increase its production 3.8-fold by 2030, exceeding 10.4 TWh, and that at least 1% of gas consumed from the natural gas grid will be biomethane in the same year, “the estimated tax rate for biomethane in leading countries”. foresees. PwC Energy Industry leading partner Oscar Barrero said that European countries account for approximately 10% of final gas consumption for 2030, and even 20% in the case of Germany.
However, the potential for biomethane in Spain is much greater. IDAE calculates this as 34 TWh/year, 3 times the production target of PNIEC 2021-2030, and other recent reports that include the calculation of energy crops bring this potential to 137 TWh/year, which is more than 10 times the production target of PNIEC.
“Given the maximum possible biogas production potential, up to 32% of national natural gas demand in 2021 could be replaced by a 20-56% reduction in the carbon footprint associated with the gas sector,” said Mercedes Ballesteros Perdices. Director of the CIEMAT Department of Energy, co-author of the study.
The experts who prepared the study presented today say that “institutional support is essential to facilitate and support the advancement of this technology and take advantage of what has been observed in other European countries that are leaders in biogas and biomethane production.” energy and the environment. In addition, “its use can be expanded by relying on existing infrastructure, which can also support fast and competitive deployment.”
Experts conclude that, in addition to setting binding and much more ambitious targets, another key to the development of these renewable gases in our country is the definitive development of a system of guarantees of origin for renewable gases, the digitization of networks. gas to reduce the need upgrade simplification of administrative procedures for the construction of biogas and plants.
Likewise, the study concludes that support mechanisms and a regulatory and financial framework should be established to regulate non-electrical applications of biogas, focusing on financing injection costs, reimbursing the value of export rights, and securing sales. at a price resulting from a competitive auction”.
With all these measures, “in addition to reducing the European Union’s foreign dependence on energy, it will be possible to make the use of biogas an indispensable solution in the management and use of wastes, as well as in reducing emissions”.