A renewable gas
Renewable gases represent a key point in the European Union's decarbonisation plan. In fact, according to the 2022 policy scenarios underlying Net Zero by 2050, biogas and biomethane, hydrogen and synthetic fuels will contribute to a gradual reduction in demand for gases of fossil origin and will account for a growing share of the EU's energy mix.
Among these, biomethane is one of the best vectors for getting the energy transition rolling and helping decarbonise the gas grid, as biomethane and fossil methane are chemically identical. This green gas could have a considerable impact in the transportation sector, on industry, and as a substitute for natural gas in residential heating where it is not technically possible to replace fossil fuels with electricity.
The importance of biomethane and a focus on policies that incentivise its use have increased greatly in the wake of the energy crisis that hit Europe during 2022. The sharp rise in prices, the need to ensure security of supply and the desire to reduce dependency on Russian energy resources have prompted the EU to raise its production target for this gas to 35 Bcm/year by 2030.
Biomethane production
The Italian government has published a number of targets for biomethane production in its PNIEC, or National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan. To achieve these targets, the ministry has issued incentives encouraging production of this ecological gas and economically supporting operators in the supply chain, on whom the responsibility for developing this emerging sector will fall.
Biomethane is an effective part of Edison's strategy focusing on sustainability and the development of innovative solutions for the energy system, as it offers an alternative to natural gas permitting improvement of the services offered to customers and long-term impact on the land. In this sense, the company is engaged in a major plan for the development and construction of new biogas/biomethane production plants, with the goal of completing at least 10 plants by 2030 and acquiring a significant position in the sector.
Edison is working on several fronts to develop biomethane, in both liquid (LNG) and gaseous form, for instance by building and operating plants for the generation of biomethane from the Organic Fraction of Municipal Solid Waste (OFMSW).
In addition, the company is also active in sales, through delivery of biomethane to about 180 CNG automobile service stations all over Italy, as well as in heavy-duty transport, with pick-up and delivery of bio-LNG.
Biomethane is a constantly evolving part of the energy sector to which Edison pays special attention and which it intends to develop further, gradually integrating it into its system of offerings and services.