European Parliament endorses 35 bcm binding target for biomethane in EU Gas Package
Brussels 09/02/23 – Today, the European Parliament adopted its position on the Gas Decarbonisation Package. The European Biogas Association (EBA) welcomes the inclusion of 2030 mandatory biomethane target in the regulation.
“If EU institutions give green light to this proposal, the 35 bcm biomethane target would finally anchor in binding legislation the REPowerEU Plan’s ambition. Based on reasonable and solid estimation of sustainable feedstock availability, achieving 35 bcm of biomethane in the EU by 2030 would significantly contribute to security of supply by replacing 20% imported natural gas volumes from Russia before the Ukraine war.” Explains Giulia Cancian, Secretary General of the EBA.
The Package voted today takes stock of the Biomethane Action Plan and includes the requirement for Member States to set-up national biomethane strategies and to ensure regional mapping of highest production potential areas. This mapping exercise should inform the national strategies and the network planning carried out by the grid operators. National biomethane strategies shall provide a long-term perspective for the biomethane sector and guidance for investors.
The EBA also welcomes the adoption of EU-wide rules facilitating an accelerated, steep growth of biomethane integration in the gas network after 2025. Although essential for biomethane cost-effective delivery to consumers, access to the gas network currently represents a challenge for project developers. The European Parliament’s report improves the Commission’s proposal on the right to inject, by setting, among other provisions, time limits for delivering the network connection requested by project developers.
The EBA regrets, though, that an agreement was not found on provisions addressing the costs of network access for project developers. A cost-sharing principle with gas network operators would decrease the investment cost for biomethane producers. Regulatory authorities can be empowered to tailor this principle to national circumstances while monitoring its effectiveness and its limited impact on tariffs.
Contact
Angela Sainz – EBA Communications Manager, +32 483071046 sainz@europeanbiogas.eu
Anthony Lorin – EBA Policy Officer lorin@europeanbiogas.eu
