FOR THE MEDIA
• November 23, 2022
PSG: Legislative changes will accelerate the development of the biomethane market
On November 22, the Conference of the Parties to Sectoral Agreements, organized by the Ministry of Climate and Environment, was held in Warsaw. The discussion panel, "Biomethane in gas distribution networks - opportunities, threats and challenges," was attended by Jakub Kowalski, a member of the PSG Management Board for Operations.
The debate included discussions on activities and solutions that will contribute to developing the biomethane market and issues related to the adaptation of gas networks to its transport.
"The energy transformation we are talking about involves a change in the directions of gas fuel supply - from large sources, such as gas mines, towards local and dispersed sources. The distribution system we operate has its limits as to the amount of biomethane that can be taken. This results from the parameters adopted in the design of the networks, their diameter and pressure and the number of customers taking gaseous fuels from our network. Most biogas plants interested in connecting to our networks are located in the country's regions where the gas network is not sufficiently developed to accept the total amount of biomethane declared by biomethane plants interested in being connected. Recognizing these problems, Polska Spółka Gazownictwa has prepared an investment plan, whose implementation will allow for the elimination of barriers to the acceptance of biomethane in these areas," said the member of the PSG Management Board for Operations.
The analyses by Polska Spółka Gazownictwa show that the most significant potential of substrates that could be used for biogas production is located in Wielkopolska, as well as in Silesia and the Lublin regions.
"For the biogas market to develop, it is necessary to adopt a long-term development plan for this sector. From the standpoint of a distribution system operator, it would seem reasonable to revise the applicable regulations. According to them, there must be gas with an appropriate calorific value in the grid. As a result, we cannot lower the quality of the fuel by introducing biomethane with parameters lower than those allowed, as specified in the regulations and our Distribution Grid Operation and Maintenance Manual," concluded Jakub Kowalski.
"The energy transformation we are talking about involves a change in the directions of gas fuel supply - from large sources, such as gas mines, towards local and dispersed sources. The distribution system we operate has its limits as to the amount of biomethane that can be taken. This results from the parameters adopted in the design of the networks, their diameter and pressure and the number of customers taking gaseous fuels from our network. Most biogas plants interested in connecting to our networks are located in the country's regions where the gas network is not sufficiently developed to accept the total amount of biomethane declared by biomethane plants interested in being connected. Recognizing these problems, Polska Spółka Gazownictwa has prepared an investment plan, whose implementation will allow for the elimination of barriers to the acceptance of biomethane in these areas," said the member of the PSG Management Board for Operations.
The analyses by Polska Spółka Gazownictwa show that the most significant potential of substrates that could be used for biogas production is located in Wielkopolska, as well as in Silesia and the Lublin regions.
"For the biogas market to develop, it is necessary to adopt a long-term development plan for this sector. From the standpoint of a distribution system operator, it would seem reasonable to revise the applicable regulations. According to them, there must be gas with an appropriate calorific value in the grid. As a result, we cannot lower the quality of the fuel by introducing biomethane with parameters lower than those allowed, as specified in the regulations and our Distribution Grid Operation and Maintenance Manual," concluded Jakub Kowalski.
