Harnessing the full potential of biomethane aka renewable natural gas (RNG) requires the creation of holistic policy frameworks, a new publication from the World Bioenergy Association (WBA) suggests. WBA's "Biomethane Vision Document" presents a concrete five-point plan to scale up biomethane production globally.
According to WBA, promising biomethane aka renewable natural gas (RNG) markets are emerging in many European countries and the latest data estimates more than 1 000 plants operating in the region.
Globally, several bright spots for market deployment of biomethane are emerging including Brazil, India, and the United States (US) thanks to significant feedstock potential and new policy incentives.
At the same time, the potential is severely underutilized. The current output of biomethane is about 5 billion cubic metres (bcm) which accounts for about 1 percent and 0.1 percent of the annual EU and global natural gas consumption respectively.
Harnessing the full potential of biomethane requires the creation of holistic policy frameworks.
No one policy will be sufficient to fully realize available feedstock potential and scale up biomethane markets to the extent needed in a low-carbon energy system.
Key recommendations
The ´Biomethane Vision Document´ outlines five key recommendations that should form part of national or regional biomethane strategies:
- Establish best-practice waste management frameworks that ensure the segregation and valorization of sustainable waste and residue feedstocks for biomethane;
- Comprehensive action to reduce methane leakage to the greatest extent possible, comprising a). measurement, reporting, and verification practices, and b). best available technology (BAT);
- The introduction of Guarantees of Origin (GO) certificate systems as a prerequisite for tracking and balancing biomethane injected into gas networks and subsequently consumed, as well as enabling trade;
- Inclusion of a biomethane supply support mechanism balanced with demand-pull policy levers within a wider policy framework aimed at stimulating biomethane market development;
- Coordinated actions to reduce the time needed to obtain the necessary permitting approvals for biomethane plants within pre-defined timescales.
The document highlights considerations including increasing access to sustainable feedstock, driving ongoing technology optimization, injection of biomethane in gas networks, establishing a supportive policy landscape for supply and demand, and regulatory considerations such as streamlined permitting, digestate use, and sustainability criteria.
