James Earl, Chief Executive at Future Energy Networks – a new UK organisation within the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers, focused on the energy industry’s transition to Net Zero and clean power – outlines the goals of the newly launched Green Gas Taskforce (GGT) and biomethane’s key role in the decarbonisation journey.
My organisation, Future Energy Networks (FEN), is a proud founding partner of GGT, alongside 10 of Britain’s largest biomethane generators, shippers and traders, all five British gas networks and other important green gas industry groups.
At this inaugural event, the Taskforce shared some illuminating topline findings from new research on green gas due to be published in full soon.
Produced by the bioeconomy consultancy Alder Bioinsights, this research shows there is the potential to increase biomethane production capacity in this country by at least tenfold by 2050.
This is a game-changer, producing gas volumes that are equal to the heating demands of over 10 million homes – or every home in the country if combined with electricity through a hybrid heat pump.
Results indicate there will be sufficient sustainable feedstock available in this country to generate 50TWh of biomethane by 2030 and up to 120TWh by 2050.
To put this into context, 50TWh of biomethane represents 14% of the UK’s current gas demand while 120TWh equates to up to 90% of overall demand in 2050 (based on a scenario of significantly lower gas demand by then).
It is a significant contribution to Net Zero, with a range of additional benefits which are hard to ignore.
To understand why this is so significant, we need to understand biomethane in more detail.
It is a low carbon – or even carbon negative – gaseous fuel produced from the anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic material such as food waste, sewage, manure and crops.
In essence, AD replicates the behaviour of a cow’s stomach in large domes called digestors, breaking down material in an oxygen-free environment.
The primary benefit of biomethane is that it advances decarbonisation and energy security in one fell swoop. What’s more, it’s a gas that is typically produced from domestic waste, meaning that it has an important role to play in reducing the UK’s reliance on energy sources from abroad and tackles this country’s serious waste agenda.
This green gas is molecularly identical to fossil gas, meaning that it can be supplied through existing pipelines and is entirely compatible with existing gas systems used by households, commercial businesses and industrial sites. It is an entirely hassle-free option for customers – and you can’t say that about much these days.
In fact, there is already enough biomethane flowing through our gas network with capacity to heat up to one million homes thanks to the 130 biomethane sites already connected to the grid. There will be some households close to production sites being heated entirely by biomethane without even realising it.
This gives us a good platform to build from, and we want to do more. The UK gas networks, have submitted ambitious plans for the next regulatory period between 2026 and 2031 to connect well over 30TWh of new production capacity and make capacity in our network for green gas through innovations such as smart pressure control and reverse compression. It is a model we have seen have a positive impact in Europe, so we know it works.
With generation primarily happening in rural areas, biomethane has serious potential to boost rural economies, driving investment into the countryside and supporting up to 60,000 skilled jobs by 2030 supporting a fair and just transition for communities.
The production process also gives farmers the opportunity to decarbonise and diversify, boosting their environmental sustainability. Organisations like the National Farmers’ Union want this to happen – and now.
Delivering on the enormous potential of biomethane will require a step-change in thinking.
Our analysis shows the government has significantly underestimated the potential biomethane production offers.
We need policymakers to embrace this new research, set ambitious and achievable targets, and provide industry support which recognises the value biomethane makes to the delivery of Net Zero and a more sustainable and circular approach to agriculture.
