GreenGasGrids for Europe.

dena has developed the GreenGasGrids project in cooperation with 12 international project partners and with the support of the EU Commission. It is the aim of the project to boost the market development of biogas feed-in and to contribute towards an increase in biomethane production throughout the EU. GreenGasGrids is addressing both private market players and the public sector in EU countries with biomethane activities.

The project was launched in June 2011 and will run for a period of three years. As a driving force in the definition of framework conditions for the feeding of biogas into the natural gas grid, the project addresses unresolved issues in the biomethane field: project work focuses on sustainability, technical standards, political aims and trade. Due to its industry-oriented approach, GreenGasGrids supplements the aspirations of the EU Commission and the German Federal Government to boost biogas market development.

In contrast to other renewable energy sources, biomethane can be produced and utilised as required. Due to its flexible use ranging from power generation to heat generation and utilisation as fuel, biomethane makes an important contribution towards the stabilisation of our energy system. Hence, the development of the biomethane markets plays a major role in future energy supply.

Contents and structure

Regulatory framework: Boosting the use of bioenergy is high up on the political agenda of the EU member states. In the context of ambitious targets calling for a 20 percent share of renewable energy and a 10 percent share of bio fuels by 2020, biomass strategies were developed that increasingly involve the promotion of biogas feed-in. Biogas and biomethane will make a substantial contribution towards achieving these targets. Owing to its efficient and flexible utilisation for power and heat generation as well as for transport purposes, biomethane is gaining importance throughout the EU both at the business and the political level.In the context of the national renewable energy action plans, the EU Commission has obliged all member states to disclose the measures they are taking to promote the feed-in of biogas.

Key project aims: Some EU member states, such as Germany, the Netherlands, Sweden and Austria, have been utilising treated biogas for years. Suitable support mechanisms have already been established. Other EU countries are following suit and are implementing their own measures. However, despite widespread economic and political will to increase biomethane production, the market development is falling short of its potential.This is predominantly due to a lack of national legislation and technical standards, low-level cooperation among the players involved and cross-border trade barriers. It is the aim of the GreenGasGrids project to address these market impediments and make a significant contribution towards increasing biomethane production throughout the EU.

project website

www.greengasgrids.eu