The European Commission and industry leaders, committed to the green energy transition, have launched the Biomethane Industrial Partnership (BIP). This new public-private partnership was announced in the REPowerEU Plan and it aims to support the achievement of the target to increase annual production and use of biomethane to 35 billion cubic meters by 2030. This will reduce Europe’s dependency on natural gas from Russia in a cost-effective way. At the same time, it will substantially contribute to an integrated net-zero energy system, diversifying farmer’s incomes and ensuring a circular approach.
Executive Vice-President Frans Timmermans and Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson joined Harmen Dekker, CEO of the European Biogas Association (EBA), and Ole Hvelplund, CEO of Nature Energy, to mark the start of the BIP by symbolically opening a renewable gas pipeline during the EU Sustainable Energy Week in Brussels. All EU countries are invited to join the BIP, together with companies, industry associations, academia and civil society organizations.
“Europe has huge potential for the production of biomethane. With biomethane, we can replace fossil gas from Russia with homegrown, sustainable and renewable gas. Biomethane also creates new economic opportunities in rural areas. The Biomethane Industrial Partnership that we launch today will be instrumental to increase the production and use of biomethane across the EU,” said Timmermans.
“Europe has great potential for producing biomethane, a green alternative for natural gas. In the current energy supply crisis, we cannot allow this potential to go to waste. The new Biomethane Industrial Partnership is open to all stakeholders to overcome barriers for growth, share best practices and foster collaboration to rapidly increase biomethane in production and use,” commented Simson.
“The biomethane sector is ready to meet the 35 bcm target, which requires €70 to 80 billion of investment. The Biomethane Industrial Partnership will be instrumental in Europe to drive joint efforts to overcome barriers for investment, production and use,” added Dekker.
In addition to EBA and Nature Energy, other members of the partnership are Scania, GRTgaz, EnviTec Biogas, Suez, GRDF, Volvo, IVECO, UECC, HAVI, Carrefour, Costa Group, Engie and Wartsila, among others.
The BIP will launch its ‘technical kick-off’ on 25th October, 2022.
Source: European Commission
