Renewable gases in Europe: do we need an evolution or revolution?

Evolution or revolution in European renewable gas? Last week in Brussels, energy experts from across Europe joined Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy, and MEP Ville Niinist? from the Greens/EFA group at the European Parliament.

With the spotlight firmly on renewable gases such as #biomethane and #hydrogen , the feeling was one of “paradigm shift” and “revolution” if the European Union is to meet climate objectives, energy security objectives, and maintain leadership in renewable technologies whilst keeping competitive industries.

For Commissioner Simson, “renewable gas is a strategic investment for our planet and our future and is key to unlocking energy security.”

“Today we are on the right track,” added the Commissioner, “but now is the moment to double down [on renewable gases].”

With EU targets already set at 35bcm of production per annum by 2030 under the #REPowerEU Plan, Commissioner Simson stressed that the domestic production of biomethane in Europe will bring significant “benefits for local communities”.

“But to achieve a target of 35bcm by 2030, we need two things: an important regulatory framework and value chain approach.”

She added: “On the regulatory side, incentivising biomethane is part of the EU Gas Package. [At the Commission] we’re open to seeing with the [European] Council and Parliament how we can better connect the REPowerEU targets with them.”

“And we need to work together to remove barriers to speed up investment – that’s why we set up the Biomethane Industry Partnership. This partnership also develops international co-operation with neighbouring states such as Ukraine. We need to make the biomethane agenda a truly European agenda.”

On hydrogen, Commissioner Simson stressed that “Europe should lead the renewable hydrogen revolution,” outlining an array of initiatives at #EU level that “provide incentives for hydrogen producers, send clear message to investors [and] give business certainty.”

“Under the Gas and Hydrogen Package, there will be rules for a hydrogen market in the EU,” she added, “and we will have a first clear picture of hydrogen corridors in the EU by November.”

“All this is about spurring industry and creating jobs and growth, and ensuring Europe’s leadership.”

MEP Ville Niinist? also added his perspective that conversations with investors reveal an absolute priority to decarbonise across sectors with urgency.

“If we think about the challenge of climate change globally, I meet a lot of investors and company leaders. And I think the overwhelming pressure to make society and energy green is coming from investors,” he said.

“By 2050, the whole of Europe needs to be carbon neutral. So if we address the question evolution or revolution, it needs to be a revolution. Not just the gas sector, but all of the economy. The scaling up of all sectors needs to be huge.”

Mr Niinist? added: “Renewable electrification is important. Industries in low- and medium-heat sectors will start to use electrification. So… electrify heat, electrify energy, and where this is not possible, use renewable hydrogen to do so.”

“The Net Zero Industry Act (#NZIA ) should make EU a leader in #electrolyser technology. And of course biogas and biomethane will play an important role. It’s important to use the resources that are already there – for waste into biomethane, and so forth.”

“Europe needs a lot of investments by 2030,” said Mr Niinist?, “but in the long term it will be more sustainable, will be more resilient in terms of geopolitics, and will create a lot of #jobs in the #EuropeUnion .”

Eurogas president Didier Holleaux added that renewable gases "have the highest potential to deliver for the European Union", but that in Europe we must act quickly to keep our leadership in this domain.

"We fully support the inclusion of biomethane and hydrogen technologies, such as electrolysers, in the Net Zero Industry Act," said Mr Holleaux. "We urge the European Commission to keep them in the NZIA regulation as we believe they will be important."

"Setting targets," stressed Mr Holleaux, "is giving the right signal to industry, and creating the conditions for these targets to be met and over-achieved – specifically the target on biomethane."

"Biomethane and green hydrogen are good for #energy in the EU, but also communities. Biomethane can allow farmers to extract revenue from their waste. It's also good for communities, allowing them to be energy positive and to foster mobility – an important domain in life in the countryside in Europe. Hydrogen? Hydrogen will provide highly skilled jobs and support competitiveness in industries, such as steel."

Commissioner Simson, MEP Niinist? and Mr Holleaux were also joined on stage by Zoltan Elek of conference sponors Landw?rme GmbH . In a special intervention on the positive energy and climate impacts of biomethane, Mr Elek said: "Through the REPowerEU target of 35bcm, we have the possibility to change the way we do bio-energy. In short, combining the available technologies and innovations we have now, will lead to better energy output and more #climate impact."

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