The Biomethane Injection into the Natural Gas Networks: The EU’s Gas Synergy Path

Abstract

Biomethane is one of the most promising renewable gases (hereafter – RG) – a flexible and easily storable fuel, and, when used along with the natural gas in any mixing proportion, no adjustments on equipment designed to use natural gas are required. In regions where natural gas grids already exist, there is a system suitable for distribution of the biomethane as well. Moreover, improving energy efficiency and sustainability of the gas infrastructure, it can be used as total substitute for natural gas. Since it has the same chemical properties as natural gas, with methane content level greater than 96 %, biomethane is suitable both for heat and electricity generation, and the use in transport.Biomethane is injected into the natural gas networks of many Member States of the European Union (hereafter – the EU) on a regular basis for more than a decade, with the Netherlands, Germany, Austria, Sweden and France being among pioneers in this field. In most early cases, permission to inject biomethane into the natural gas grids came as part of a policy to decarbonize the road transport sector and was granted on a case-by-case basis. The intention to legally frame and standardise the EU’s biomethane injection into the natural gas networks came much later and was fulfilled in the second half of the present decade.This paper addresses the biomethane injection into the natural gas grids in some EU countries, highlights a few crucial aspects in this process, including but not limited to trends in standardisation and legal framework, injection conditions and pressure levels, as well as centralised biogas feedstock collection points and the biomethane injection facilities. In a wider context, the paper deals with the role of biomethane in the EU energy transition and further use of the existing natural gas networks.

Liquefied Natural Gas Infrastructure and Prospects for the Use of LNG in the Baltic States and Finland

“…Despite an increase in registrations in recent years, alternatively powered passenger cars in the EU make up only about 4 % of the total car fleet [39], [40]. In addition, the European consumption of natural gas in the transport sector is also quite low, amounting to less than 1 % of its total natural gas demand and to a bit more than 2 % of all vehicles on the road today [41], [39], [42]. At the same time, natural gas and other gases, both in the compressed and liquified states, are considered one of the most important elements of the European road transport decarbonisation path.…”

The Natural Gas Supply of the Latvian Municipality during the Local Energy Crisis

“…In all, the security of the natural gas supply currently plays one of the crucial roles in the EU energy sector, and is one of the pillars of its stability and sustainability [8]. In addition, it is regarded as one of the bridging fuels that will ensure and support smooth energy transition in the EU Member States, with predictable reaching of continental-scale carbon neutrality by the mid-21 st century [9]- [11].…”

The Development of the Smart Gas Distribution: General Trends and the Latvian Context

“…It can be used as a direct substitute for natural gas and as fuel in heating, transport and electricity generation since it has the same properties as natural gas -achieving methane content levels greater than 96 % [42]. However, this methane content level benchmark is not legally or technically binding to all the EU Member States, as they can make their own decisions on how pure biomethane must be in terms of methane content to be injected into the grid [16].…”

“…Paragraphs 6 and 7 of Regulation of the Cabinet of Ministers No.650 "Requirements for the Injection and Transport of Biomethane and Gaseous Liquefied Natural Gas in the Natural Gas Transmission and Distribution System" states that if biomethane is injected into the natural gas transmission system, where a minimum pressure at the moment is 25 bar, but most likely will be risen to 50 bar in the nearest future, its pressure must not exceed the actual pressure of the system by more than 5 bar. On the other hand, if biomethane is injected into the natural gas distribution system, its operating pressure must exceed the pressure of the system by not more than 10 % of the actual pressure at the connection point [44], [16].…”

“…Moreover, incorporation of RG production units into the natural gas grids almost exclusively relates to biomethane production and injection into the natural gas grids at the distribution level. The RG supply diversification inputs of hydrogen are rare and sporadic [16].…”