Scaling Up Renewable Gas Production In Europe.pdf

The OIES paper "A mountain to climb? Tracking progress in scaling up renewable gas production in Europe" by Martin Lambert and Gbemi Oluleye assesses the current state and future prospects of renewable gas (biomethane, renewable methane, and hydrogen) in Europe. Key points include:

- Policy Context: European policy aims for a net-zero emissions energy system by 2050, potentially limiting gas's role beyond 2030 if it cannot demonstrate low-carbon credentials.
- Long-term Targets: Studies by the European Commission, Entsog/Enstoe, and Navigant propose varying levels of renewable gas production by 2050, ranging from 100 to 1,000 TWh.
- Database of Renewable Gas Projects: The paper introduces a database tracking 102 biomethane, 13 hydrogen, and 11 renewable methane projects across Europe.
- Cost Analysis: Current costs for renewable gas production range from €15-25/GJ, with potential reductions to €5-10/GJ by 2050 if scale-up progresses as per target scenarios.
- Conclusion: To meet long-term targets, significant scale-up is required, with biomethane needing a 20% annual growth rate and other renewable gases needing even higher rates. Follow-up work will continue to monitor progress and update the database.