Amendment to the ENWG: Establishing biomethane as a key element in the decarbonised energy system
The Bundestag is today considering the amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) at first reading. With this, the Federal Government is transposing the EU Gas Market Package into national law and setting an important course for the future of the gas networks. The Biomethane Task Force welcomes the fact that this creates prospects for the infrastructure – but still sees a considerable need for improvement in the ramp-up of biomethane.
The amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) further develops the framework for the transformation of gas networks in Germany. The greater integration of hydrogen and the fundamental outlook for the existing infrastructure are important signals for the industry.
This now brings greater focus to how this infrastructure will be utilised in the future. Biomethane can make a key contribution here: as a renewable energy source for climate protection, security of supply and resilience. At the same time, as an energy source produced in Germany, biomethane strengthens domestic value creation and reduces import dependency. Against this backdrop, it is clear that the ramp-up of biomethane requires a reliable regulatory framework. Here, Bengt Bergt, spokesperson for the Biomethane Task Force, sees a need for further action: “The amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) takes the infrastructure a step further – but the question of how it will be used in future has not yet been adequately addressed.”
The key sticking point is the design of grid access for biomethane plants. The currently envisaged ten-year timeframes do not provide a sufficient basis for investment decisions. “Hardly any project in the energy infrastructure sector is calculated for less than 20 years. Without long-term planning certainty, the necessary ramp-up of biomethane will not take place,” Bergt continues.
In addition to grid access issues, key foundations for a functioning biomethane market are still lacking. These include, in particular, a reliable system for proving origin as well as a functioning biomethane register, which ensures transparency and tradability. Bergt: “Anyone who promotes the use of green gases at a political level must also ensure that these gases can be integrated into the infrastructure. The Energy Industry Act (EnWG) lays the groundwork for this – now it is a matter of establishing the right framework conditions for the ramp-up of biomethane.”
In the European context, too, it is clear that biomethane is becoming increasingly important. The European Commission and many Member States are focusing on expanding domestic production as a contribution to climate protection and security of supply. Germany should play an active role in shaping this development and create the necessary framework conditions. The Biomethane Task Force therefore calls for the targeted further development of the existing framework: with long-term grid access prospects, investment-friendly regulations and the necessary market-based instruments for a functioning ramp-up.
