Introduce a binding target of 10% renewable gas to reduce CO55 by 2% in Europe by 2030. This is the proposal launched by the consortium Gas for Climate, which he released on Wednesday the latest edition of its annual study on the contribution that hydrogen and biomethane can make to the decarbonisation of the Old Continent.
They are part of Gas for Climate Snam, Italian Biogas Consortium (Cib) and 10 other companies and associations from eight European countries active in natural gas infrastructure and renewable gas (Enagás, Energinet, EBA – European Biogas Association, Fluxys, Gasunie, GRTgaz, ONTRAS, OGE, Swedegas and Teréga).
According to the study - commissioned from Guidehouse (formerly Navigant) - the adoption at European level of specific energy and climate policies on biomethane and hydrogen can "facilitate the achievement of the netzero on CO2 emissions by mid-century”. The same measures will in turn be able to “leverage the Green Deal launched by the Commission, positioning Europe as a driving force of the global energy transition”.
Gas for Climate also suggests adapt European legislation on gas infrastructure from a perspective of interconnection with the electricity system. Other proposals concern new incentives for the cross-border exchange of hydrogen and biomethane, demand stimuli by European industry and the strengthening of the Emissions Trading System (ETS).
“The investments for the mitigation of climate change envisaged in the framework of the European Green New Deal could play a decisive role in the restart phase once the health emergency has passed – he comments Marco Alvera, CEO of Snam – In this context, the development of renewable gases such as hydrogen and biomethane, used in existing infrastructures and in combination with renewable electricity, represents an opportunity not to be missed to more easily achieve climate neutrality objectives at 2050 and to create new employment opportunities across our continent”.
Secondo Peter Gattoni, president of Cib, "it is urgent to unlock investments in the sector and encourage the conversion to biomethane of existing biogas plants, in order to help reach the 10% share of renewable gas in the network by 2030".
