On 2nd October 2020 the UPEBI organized a workshop in Warsaw, which brought together a wide range of experts to consider how green gas sector could be developed in Poland in near future. In the workshop green gas was proposed to be used as a general term including biogas, biomethane, synthetic methane from biomass and green hydrogen, however further discussion was mainly connected directly with biomethane. The workshop was organized as part of the REGATRACE project. Due to pandemia time workshop was held in hybrid form: most of participants (23 persons) were present physically at BOSS Hotel but some (10 persons) joint workshop on-line (participants of our biomethane working group from PGNiG, LOTOS and PSG companies as well as foreign guests from REGATRACE consortium).
Workshop was moderated by Sylwia Koch-Kopyszko, UPEBI president.
General presentation of REGATRACE project and presentation of methodology for the entire process of workshops was given by Magdalena Rogulska.
The European Biomethane Market was presented by Attila Kovacs from ERGaR.
The presentation “Biomethane. The already existing green element in the gas business!” prepared by Stefanie Königsberger and Andreas Wolf from AGCS was presented by Stefanie Königsberger. It included information about Biomethane Registry in Austria as well as description of process of a domestic renewable gas registry establishment and REGATRACE support to UPEBI & Poland.
The last presentation given by Magdalena Rogulska about business models in biomethane sector existing in Europe based on REGATRACE reports was also an invitation to starting the discussion which models are interesting and adequate for Poland.
After coffee break started round table session moderated by Sylwia Koch-Kopyszko. She has given the introduction to interactive session addressing objectives & targets of the vision as well as factors of a SWOT analysis.
The workshop identified several factors that either speed up or slow down biogas/ biomethane supply and demand. Opportunities for the biogas sector are created by carbon neutrality targets, interests in advancing national self-sufficiency of energy and nutrients and the vitality of the regions, as well as emission reduction targets for transport and agriculture. Political decisions have a main impact on the startup of the biomethane sector.
The participants started discussion about problems connected with biomethane sector development in Poland. The first a huge thing is to have a good, clear legislation with support for biomethane and clear strategy for coming years for transport, heat, local gas distribution and very important, connection to the grid. The connection is a big problem as only 55% of Poland has got connection to the gas. The remaining part of Poland is going to have gas connection in the future as well but there is a strong pressure that it should be done with biomethane and biohydrogen. The participants identified also the big problems with the financing of the projects, the lack of EU grants for the projects, the lack of the grid connections (only 1 agreement there is signed, and 11 grid connections given to the PSG grid). There was a strong feeling on the workshop there is no other way for renewable energy in the gas for not than biomethane and we should be focused on the education and development of the projects in Poland to get the gas as soon as possible. PGNIG has told that they are planning to build-up the first biomethane plant next year in Poland what was a very positive sign for everybody. There was also shown strong need of the guaranties of origin for biomethane and people are waiting for this year amendment of RES Act including the introduction of such system.
More information: Sylwia Koch-Kopyszko, UPEBI president, Magdalena Rogulska REGATRACE project manager at UPEBI