Industry wants more subsidies
Green biogas could replace Russian
03/07/2022, 7:50 p.m
The green electricity industry advocates a faster expansion of biogas plants. In terms of energy transition and independence, this is actually a long-term project. According to a trade association, more subsidies could immediately replace five percent of Russian gas imports.
According to estimates by the green electricity industry, Europe’s dependency on Russian gas could be greatly reduced through a rapid expansion of biogas plants. By 2030, an additional 35 billion cubic meters of “green gas” could be produced in Europe, said Harmen Dekker, chairman of the European biogas association – a goal that the EU Commission has already adopted.
“That’s already two thirds (of the capacity) of Nord Stream II,” said Dekker at a joint online press conference of the Biogas Association based in Freising, Bavaria, with the Federal Association of Renewable Energies. By 2050, biogas could cover 30 to 50 percent of the gas demand in the EU, emphasized Dekker. Most German biogas plants are in Bavaria and Lower Saxony, but expansion has stagnated for years. One reason is the high cost of generating electricity from plant residues or liquid manure.
In addition, the biogas industry has to contend with criticism that there is a lack of acreage for corn and other energy crops used in food production. However, the Federal Association of Renewable Energies (BEE), in which all sectors of green electricity generation are represented, calls for a strong expansion: “Bioenergy is indispensable for the success of the energy transition,” said BEE chairwoman Simone Peter, former party leader of the Greens.
The generic term “biogas” summarizes various types of systems for generating electricity, heat, gas or fuel. The green electricity industry emphasizes as a major advantage that biogas plants, unlike wind turbines and solar panels, are independent of the weather.
The state subsidies for biogas plants have been capped in the Renewable Energy Sources Act for several years. “That’s not up to date,” said Horst Seide, President of the Biogas Association. According to the head of the association, five percent of Russian gas imports could be replaced immediately with an end to the cap.