On the 22 June 2022, the REGATRACE project organised the 5th Target Workshop for the set-up of registries and integration into the European network. Approximately 30 participants from the Polish and private sector involved in biomethane and biogas production attended the workshop. The workshop took place in a hybrid modality: some of the participants were physically present, while some others joined through a video call.
The REGATRACE project
Stefano Proietti (ISINNOVA) presented the REGATRACE project, with ojectives, activities and different pillars.
For further information, see presentation “REGATRACE_ISINNOVA”
Anthony Lorin (EBA) presented the REPowerEU Plan published on 18 May 2022.
Then, he provided a specific focus on the Biomethane Action Plan, with details on:
– Promote production, use of and injection
– Provide incentives for biogas upgrading into biomethane
– Promote adaptation of existing gas networks
– Address R&D&I gaps
– Access to finance
Next steps will be:
– European Parliament and Council:
o Agreeing quickly on the RED III including the targeted new measures proposed by the Commission in May
o Fast-tracking the negotiation on the Gas Package under negotiation (planning, long-term assessment)
– European Commission and the biomethane value chain
o Defining the Governance of the Biomethane Industrial Partnership
o Setting up the Secretariat
o Launch in October 2022 would be preferred
– Each Member State
o Defining National Biomethane Strategies
o Establishing bottom-up infrastructure planning based on regional assessment of biomethane production potential.
For further information, see presentation “Biomethane Action Plan_EBA”
Katrien Verwimp (AIB) presented its concept regarding the application of the EECS (European Energy Certificate System) rules to renewable gases, highlighting the importance of using standards and showing a comparison with the AIB Hub used for transferring renewable electricity certificates. Special importance was put on the avoidance of multiple counting risks, in order for consumers to trust the book & claim system for energy certificates. She also informed about the agreement between ICS operator and AIB.
For further information, see presentation “REGATRACE_EECS and its application to renewable gases_AIB”
Matthias Edel (ERGaR) presented its CoO Scheme and ERGaR RED MB Scheme for cross-border of renewable gases. He explained concepts of CoO, PoS, Biomass codes and Mass Balancing. The importance of harmonization of transfer requirements across Europe for avoiding multiple counting was underlined, while simultaneously securing the sustainability of the biomethane volumes being transferred. The registries that are currently System Participants of the ERGaR CoO Scheme were also mentioned (AGCS, dena Biogasregister, REAL-GGCS and Vertogas), together with the ones in the process of joining (Energinet and GRDF).
For further information, see presentation “ERGaR schemes_ERGaR”
Stefanie Königsberger (AGCS) presented challenges for a European certificate system for renewable gas, with an in-depth zoom on Austria, in terms of:
– Integration into European Energy Market
– Legal Framework
– Certification and Sustainability
– Competences and Responsibility
The type of certificate corresponds to different application purposed and end uses (according to target compliance, disclosure, subsidy scheme, market initiatives, and future markets). In this way answering different value (physical, renewable and sustainable).
There are several challenges for a legislative framework on renewable gas:
– Biomethane/Renewable Gas is currently not addressed with a holistic system
– Different application purposes pose different quality criteria
– Different application purposes require different modes of transfer
– Different application purposes pose different time horizons for recognition of certificates
– Different application purposes might be documented by different competent bodies
There is high complexity to face in the interaction among different competent bodies at national level. And something similar happens also at European level, thus a European certificate system for renewable gas could represent a holistic solution.
For further information, see presentation “Challenges for european certificate system in Austria_AGCS”
Klaus Völler (DENA) presented an overview of the EU-ETS – European Emissions trading scheme.
– ETS tracks emissions of CO2, NO2 and Perfluorcarbone (PFC)
– CO2 from heat and electricity production and energy intense industries most important source
– Emitter needs to provide allowance (around 80 – 90€/t or 1.6 €cent/kWh gas)
There are different approaches in different countries:
· Biomethane GOs not recognized in all countries
· Until now, only Germany allows foreign biomethane
· GO and (from 2023 on) PoS necessary, mass balanced biomethane only.
EU-ETS 2 is in preparation for 2026 (with scope on mobility and buildings).
Concerning Emission Reduction for Emission reporting:
· Different methologies with different scopes
· Biomethane from the grid often not covered
· If so, there is no unique approach for use of biomethane.
For further information, see presentation “REGATRACE_Biomethane in ETS and non-ETS-DENA”
Sylwia Koch-Kopyszko (UPEBI) provided an overview of energy policy in Poland.
The potential for biogas and biomethane production in Poland using domestic raw materials is very high. Almost 13-15 billion m3 of biogas can be produced from waste per annum, which corresponds to annual production of approx. 8 billion m3 of biomethane from more than 150 million tons of biomass and biowastes annually.
The current installed capacity of biogas installations is over 256 MW (130,727 MW agricultural biogas plants on 20th May 2022).
There are several obstacles in biomethane development (economic, technical, social, administrative, EU grants, lack of regulations, lack of registry of origin).
There are different actions for the development of the biomethane market:
· Inclusion of biomethane in the national RES strategy, with an indication of the level of assumed installation development, and a distinction between gas for heating only, bio-CNG and for co-generation (CHP);
· Verification of the auction system for biomethane and for biogas in local gas networks;
· Regulation of support for biomethane used in transport;
· Obligations for a minimum share of high-methane waste in biomethane production and other wastes;
· Certification scheme through recognized certification bodies authorized on the basis of accreditation by the President of the Energy Regulatory Office (ERO);
· Financing of the scheme with fees paid by generators;
· Provisions to facilitate European trade in biomethane;
· Adjustment of the RES Act to the requirements of the RED2 directive;
· Enabling the injection of biomethane into gas networks, including transmission networks;
· Determination of quality parameters for biomethane
· Development of local distribution networks based on agricultural, waste, and sewage biogas plants.
For further information, see presentation “Renewable gases developments in Poland_UPEBI”
Izabela Samson-Bręk (IOŚ) provided an overview of Biomethane in RED2 / RED3 Directive.
Then, she presented the contribution of biomethane in the context of the Act of August 25, 2006 on biocomponents and liquid biofuels, with National indicator target in Poland. And the draft revision of the Act (minimum share of biomethane in the NIT realization is 1.75%).
By 2030 biomethane may be used for transport purposes, is estimated at 600/700.000 Nm3 as a substitute for natural gas. Taking into account the potential of biomethane production in Poland, additional use of approx. 150-300 thousand Nm3 / year of biomethane as bioCNG / bioLNG fuel. The production of approx. 1 billion Nm3 of biomethane for transport purposes involves the operation of nearly 500 biomethane plants with an average production capacity of approx. 2 million Nm3 per year.
In parallel, there is an important development of CNG/LNG fleet: at the end of 2020, 8,485 LNG and CNG-powered vehicles were registered in Poland. Compared to 2019, this is an increase of approx. 16%. Currently, 934 public transport buses powered by LNG or CNG are on the roads, i.e., more than in 2019 by approx. 22%. In 2021, as many as 1,346 new vehicles above 3.5 tons powered by this fuel were registered, and 61 used vehicles, compared to 626 and 24, respectively, in 2020.
Main barriers of the biomethane in transport market development in Poland are:
• Costs of biogas to biomethane purification technology,
• The quality of biogas at the entrance to the upgrading installation,
• Comprehensive and modularity of the upgrading installation,
• Lack of national support mechanisms and incentives,
• Lack of regulations specifying the quality of bioCNG and bioLNG used in transport (currently under preparation).
For further information, see presentation “Biomethane in transport in Poland_IOS”