Biogas is a “pillar of European energy security” needed to reduce dependence on natural gas and achieve renewable targets.
This was the message from a recent Dutch conference of the Belgium-based European Biogas Association held between 30 September and 2 October.
The conference took place against a backdrop of energy-sector tensions in Europe. An ongoing crisis between Russia and Ukraine has seen natural gas cut-offs, prompting Europe to turn towards renewable energy resources to reduce dependence on Russia which is the continent's major natural gas supplier.
Europe's renewable target is to produce 20 percent of its energy from renewable sources and achieve decarbonization.
According to a statement from the EBA, anaerobic digestion and gasification could replace natural gas imports in Europe. Biomethane is regarded as a mature technology to achieve this.
An EBA projection for 2020 suggests that biogas has the potential to produce at least 1.5 percent of the EU’s primary energy mix and 5 percent of the bloc’s natural gas consumption.
Both biogas and natural gas technologies produce biomethane, share the same regulatory framework and the same technical infrastructure. Conference speakers said that cooperation between the industries will be crucial in the future.
The conference also saw the launch of a Dutch institute to promote biomass gasification technology. The ‘Institute for Valorisation and Expertise in Thermochemics Alkmaar (InVesta)’ will be located in Alkmaar’s Energy Innovation Park.
By Nuran Erkul
Anadolu Agency