BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 26. In an open letter addressed to representatives of EU Member States, a coalition comprising biomethane industry stakeholders, gas infrastructure operators, and major end-use sectors including steelmaking, heating, food and beverage, and transport, has called for the adoption of a binding biomethane target within the EU Gas Regulation.
The proposed target of 35 billion cubic meters (bcm) by 2030 aligns with the REPowerEU Plan and aims to enhance energy independence and contribute to climate objectives.
As negotiations commence on the Gas Decarbonisation Package, the cosignatories emphasize the significance of an ambitious and enforceable EU-level biomethane target. They advocate for Member States to support the target while retaining the freedom to tailor its implementation based on their unique structural characteristics, resource potential, and energy transition strategies.
The proposed biomethane target, combined with the facilitation of favorable conditions across the entire value chain, is deemed essential in achieving decarbonization objectives for various sectors, advancing the Union's energy and climate goals, and bolstering energy security. The following key benefits are highlighted by the signatories:
Security of Supply: Replacing 20% of pre-war imported natural gas volumes from Russia, the production and utilization of biomethane can contribute significantly to securing the EU's energy needs. Biomethane offers dispatchable and versatile energy that can be directly integrated into existing gas infrastructure, appliances, and equipment across multiple sectors, without creating dependencies on critical raw materials.
GHG Emission Reduction: The adoption of a 35 bcm/year biomethane target by 2030 presents an effective solution for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in buildings, industrial energy usage, and fuel supplies. It complements renewable electricity and hydrogen and enables reliable procurement through regulated market-based instruments like Guarantees of Origin and Proofs of Sustainability.
Support for Energy-Intensive Industries: The biomethane target could enhance the competitiveness of energy-intensive industries that face high electricity and natural gas prices, facilitating their transition toward more sustainable energy sources.
Accelerated Decarbonization: The widespread adoption of biomethane would promptly reduce the carbon intensity of maritime and road transport, space heating, and agri-food systems, enabling faster and more affordable decarbonization in these areas.
Waste Management: Encouraging the production capacity necessary
for processing bio-waste, the 35 bcm/year biomethane target would
incentivize separate collection of bio-waste by January 1, 2024, as
mandated by the 2018 Waste Framework Directive.
Sustainable Production Potential: The proposed target aligns with
assessments of available sustainable feedstock and acknowledges the
European Commission's inclusion of this target in the REPowerEU
Plan published in May 2022.
Investor Confidence: The establishment of a binding 35 bcm biomethane target by 2030 would provide predictability and investor confidence, allowing the biomethane value chain to unlock its full potential and achieve significant economies of scale.
To achieve these objectives, the cosignatories propose the introduction of a new article that enforces an EU binding biomethane target of 35 bcm/year. This approach offers Member States the flexibility to define national strategies for attaining the target while collectively working towards a sustainable and resilient energy future.