The Role of Renewable Gases in European Energy System Decarbonization

Biomethane can be a key contributor to meeting Europe's ambitious net-zero targets and ensuring European energy independence from Russian natural gas - while simultaneously reducing energy costs for household and businesses alike. Because of the significant potential impact of biomethane, the European Commission set a target of 35 billion cubic meters (bcm) of annual biomethane production by 2030 in its recent REPowerEU¹ plan. Gas for Climate², a consortium of leading European gas transport companies and renewable gas industry associations working to assess and create awareness about the role of renewable and low carbon gas in the future energy system, published several studies to understand and address the potential of renewable gases in achieving REPowerEU targets.

The "Biomethane Production Potentials in the EU"³ report reviews the feasibility of REPowerEU 2030 targets, discusses the production potentials in the member states and provides an outlook to 2050 targets. The report identifies both the short- and long-term potential of biomethane production in each EU Member State, as well as Norway, Switzerland and the UK.

In the "Manual for National Biomethane Strategies,"⁴ Gas for Climate compiled a step-by-step guide to support member states in developing and implementing their national biomethane strategies, from developing a national vision on biomethane and setting initial targets to having a fully implemented national biomethane strategy.

The third report, "Facilitating Hydrogen Imports from non-EU Countries,"⁵ reviews the existing challenges or imports and how they can be overcome, focusing on key infrastructure requirements, regulations, and policy instruments to facilitate hydrogen imports from non-EU countries, as energy resilience and security can benefit from diversifying hydrogen imports.

Guidehouse supports the Gas for Climate consortium on furthering the role of renewable gas in 2050 energy system.

1. European Commission. 2022. “REPowerEU: Affordable, Secure and Sustainable Energy for Europe.” Commission.europa.eu. 2022. https://commission.europa.eu/strategy-and-policy/priorities-2019-2024/european-green-deal/repowereu-affordable-secure-and-sustainable-energy-europe_en.

2. “Gas for Climate - Gas for Climate 2050.” n.d. https://gasforclimate2050.eu/.

3. “A Gas for Climate Report Feasibility of REPowerEU 2030 Targets, Production Potentials in the Member States and Outlook to 2050 Biomethane Production Potentials in the EU.” 2022. https://gasforclimate2050.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Guidehouse_GfC_report_design_final_v3.pdf.

4. “Manual for National Biomethane Strategies.” n.d. Accessed August 4, 2023. https://gasforclimate2050.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/2022-Manual-for-National-Biomethane-Strategies_Gas-for-Climate.pdf.

5. “Facilitating Hydrogen Imports from Non-EU Countries Photo by Adobe Stock.” 2022. https://gasforclimate2050.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/2022_Facilitating_hydrogen_imports_from_non-EU_countries.pdf.

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