Zero Carbon Gas

CEDIGAZ has just published its 2024 annual report on the global biomethane market which focuses on recent trends in global and regional biomethane markets in 2023. According to CEDIGAZ, global biomethane production expanded to 7.7 billion cubic metres (bcm) in 2022, a growth of 20% compared to 2021, driven by Europe and North America. It is estimated at 9.5 bcm in 2023, an increase of 23%. Driven by strong structural policy and market drivers, the biomethane market is poised for a huge expansion over this decade and beyond. The targets announced by regional and national governments around the world exceed 100 bcm/y by 2030. Reaching this ambitious level requires the adoption of the right policy and regulatory framework, an acceleration of support, and faster permitting, which many governments have put in place in 2023.

An in-depth analysis of recent developments and prospects in Europe-Russia gas relations

With quality information from Russia getting increasingly scarce, the Russian natural gas market has become more and more of a black box. In its latest report “Russian gas in Europe: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow. An in-depth analysis of recent developments and prospects in Europe-Russia gas relations”, CEDIGAZ tracks the unprecedented changes between glorious “yesterday” (2018-2021), gloomy “today” (2022-Q1 2023) of Russian gas (both pipeline and LNG) in Europe, including the evolution of the European countries’ dependence on Russian gas, using data still available. The report also discusses possible futures for Russian gas in Europe after 2023 (“tomorrow”) – given new inputs, including selected pipeline export routes limitations, the Turkish natural gas hub initiative, and Russian LNG project developments.

Russian gas in Europe: Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow - An in-depth analysis of recent developments and prospects in Europe-Russia gas relations. Author: Alexander Kislov – PDF – 55 pages.

The global biomethane or renewable natural gas industry grew by 23% in 2022 and has potential to surpass 100 billion cubic meters by 2030 with appropriate policies. Energy security concerns, climate change urgency, and methane emission reduction focus have led to new incentivizing policies stimulating investment in the RNG sector. Biomethane is being adopted across sectors worldwide to decarbonize and respond to ESG concerns, and transportation represented half of global demand growth in 2021. The sector has seen unprecedented investment, with European energy majors and financial investors creating dedicated biomethane business units, highlighting biomethane's attributes and exponential growth.

This annual report assesses underground gas storage (UGS) in the world at the end of 2021. It is based and complemented by a comprehensive online database, including detailed statistical information on current and future capacities for the 667 UGS facilities in operation in the world and the 166 UGS projects under construction, planned or potential. Altogether, the database includes 51 countries. The database also includes information on closed, mothballed and inactive UGS facilities, as well as the expansion stages of UGS facilities, when this information is available (see Methodology). The database is available to CEDIGAZ’s members under the infrastructure section of CEDIGAZ website.

This report includes two parts. The first one gives an assessment of UGS capacity at the end of 2021 and new capacity under construction, planned and potential. The second part reviews major trends in UGS in selected key markets: Europe, Ukraine, Russia, the United States, and China. In view of the crucial role of gas storage for security of supply, this review includes an analysis of gas stocks in 2021/22 and winter 2022/23 preparedness. In addition, recent UGS construction activity is reviewed in Central and South America and the Middle East.

This report is based on information available at the beginning of November 2022.

This report shows how the Netherlands is advancing its journey towards becoming the foremost hydrogen hub in North-Western Europe (NWE). It contains two types of information: strategic information on the Dutch hydrogen vision and policy, and detailed information on what is going on in the field. Information is updated to July 2022 when Shell took final investment decision (FID) on Holland Hydrogen I with an initial capacity of 200 MW (picture of the cover page). This is an important milestone. Holland Hydrogen I is the first large-scale electrolyzer investment in the Netherlands. It will be Europe's largest renewable hydrogen plant when it starts operation in 2024.

The United States of America enters the global clean hydrogen race

The International Association Cedigaz has just released its hydrogen report: “The United States of America enters the global clean hydrogen race”, which assesses market developments, policies and prospects of the hydrogen industry in the United States. The report also provides data on US clean hydrogen production projects.

A once-in-a lifetime growth over this decade Despite the pandemic and its impact on supply chains and fuel demand in the transportation sector, the RNG sector has been resilient. Global RNG production was up 20% in 2020 to 5 billion cubic metres (bcm). It has more than doubled since 2015. There were 1,161 biogas upgrading facilities operating in the world at the end of 2020, with a production capacity of 800,000 Nm³/h (or 6.7 bcm/y), ensuring healthy growth going forward. The market remains dominated by Europe, but the United States, which became the world’s leading producer in 2019, ahead of Germany, continues to register significant growth. In other regions, biomethane production is still limited but is taking off in Brazil, Canada, China and India.

This report gathers comprehensive data on one hundred of the world’s strategic high-pressure gas transmission pipelines in seven different global regions (North America, Central & South America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Russia & CIS, and Asia Oceania). Data collected on the pipelines includes:

• Pipeline ownership – Project structure, shareholders, and their respective shares,
• Technical characteristics – Including pipeline length, diameter, wall thickness and grade of steel used and the pipeline route.
• Pipeline route – Including a bespoke map for each pipeline detailing the route and lengths
• Pipeline construction data – Including CAPEX data relating to the original cost of the pipeline, as well as the cost of subsequent upgrades together with details of the main EPC construction contractors used.

The report comes with an Excel spreadsheet database.

This annual report assesses underground gas storage (UGS) in the world at the end of 2020. It is based and complemented by a comprehensive online database, including detailed statistical information on current and future capacities for the 661 UGS facilities in operation in the world and the 91 new projects under construction, planned or potential. Altogether, the database includes 51 countries. The database also includes information on closed, mothballed and inactive UGS facilities, as well as the expansion stages of UGS facilities, when this information is available (see Methodology). The database is available to CEDIGAZ’s members under the infrastructure section of CEDIGAZ website.

This report includes three parts. Due to the exceptional events on the gas (and energy) scene in 2021, this year’s report includes an analysis of the main causes of the elevated European and North Asian spot gas prices (Part 1). Then, the report gives an assessment of UGS key metrics in 2020 and their evolution compared to 2019. The third part reviews major trends in UGS in selected key markets: Europe, Ukraine, Russia, USA, and China. In addition, recent UGS construction activity is reviewed in South and Central America and the Middle East.

AUSTRALIA AT THE FOREFRONT OF DEVELOPING A HUGE HYDROGEN EXPORT INDUSTRY

The Australian government released the National Hydrogen Strategy (the Strategy) in November 2019 and has continued to outline its support for hydrogen through the First Low-Emissions Technology Statement, released in September 2020. The government has stated its commitment to reducing Australia’s emissions through technology investment, rather than through carbon pricing, with the Technology Investment Roadmap a core element of its long-term emissions reduction strategy.

This report updates the 2019 CEDIGAZ’s comprehensive study on global biomethane (also known as renewable natural gas, RNG). It focuses on biogas upgrading and looks at key developments in the marketplace, policies, and major markets. Global RNG production reached 4 bcm in 2019, a doubling since 2015. There are now close to 1,000 biogas upgrading plants operating in the world. The market remains dominated by Europe (2.4 bcm), but the United States is catching up rapidly and, in fact, has become the world’s leading producer (1.1 bcm), ahead of Germany. In other regions, biomethane production is still limited (0.4 bcm collectively), but the market is taking off in Brazil, Canada, China and India. Recent years have seen significant shifts in terms of key sources of demand and market drivers. Hard-to-abate sectors (road transportation, shipping, heat) are becoming the focus of support policies, while cost reduction in wind and solar power generation makes the use of biomethane in the power sector less attractive, except for providing flexibility. RNG is more and more recognized for its key role in decarbonizing and bringing sustainability in the agriculture and waste sectors and is increasingly included in climate policies targeting these sectors.

This report updates the 2019 CEDIGAZ’s comprehensive study on global biomethane (also known as renewable natural gas, RNG). It focuses on biogas upgrading and looks at key developments in the marketplace, policies, and major markets. Global RNG production reached 4 bcm in 2019, a doubling since 2015. There are now close to 1,000 biogas upgrading plants operating in the world. The market remains dominated by Europe (2.4 bcm), but the United States is catching up rapidly and, in fact, has become the world’s leading producer (1.1 bcm), ahead of Germany. In other regions, biomethane production is still limited (0.4 bcm collectively), but the market is taking off in Brazil, Canada, China and India. Recent years have seen significant shifts in terms of key sources of demand and market drivers. Hard-to-abate sectors (road transportation, shipping, heat) are becoming the focus of support policies, while cost reduction in wind and solar power generation makes the use of biomethane in the power sector less attractive, except for providing flexibility. RNG is more and more recognized for its key role in decarbonizing and bringing sustainability in the agriculture and waste sectors and is increasingly included in climate policies targeting these sectors.

The dramatic developments in gas markets in 2019-2020, with an acute oversupply situation due to the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on demand and compounded by the massive increase of LNG supply from the US has stressed the fundamental importance of European Underground Gas Storage, assisted by Ukrainian UGS, to alleviate the imbalance of global gas markets. While until recently, UGS has mainly been developed in North America, Europe and the C.I.S., China is now on the fast lane for storage development. Russia, although the second global UGS capacity holder is still developing its storage infrastructure to serve both domestic and export markets.

This new report by CEDIGAZ provides an insightful review of storage activity in 4 key markets in 2020 and highlights the crucial role of UGS in balancing the global gas market as well as increasing security of gas supply in the context of rising geopolitical risks and trade tensions. The report also includes data on operating, under construction and planned facilities detailed by country.

The International Association Cedigaz has just released its report “GERMANY National Hydrogen Strategy: Germany aims for leadership in green hydrogen technologies”, which assesses developments and prospects for green hydrogen in Germany and some potential supplying countries.

ON THE CUSP OF A MAJOR BREAKOUT

Looking ahead, the Chinese hydrogen energy sector is on the cusp of a major breakout. In the context of the 14^th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025), the central government is planning a new development path of the sector. The development of hydrogen energy is of great significance for China to achieve its energy transition, promote new industrial chains, and ensure the country’s energy independence. Draft policy documents consider the recognition of hydrogen as an energy source, the establishment of a national strategic plan and roadmap for the sector, and the set-up of rules, codes and standards for hydrogen energy.

The Hydrogen Society is gradually coming to the fore Japan has been a pioneer in hydrogen and fuel cell technologies and has the world’s most ambitious vision. Japan’s ambition is to lead the way towards decarbonisation in the world by providing hydrogen as a new energy option. In the context of the nation’s unique energy challenges, the government wants to turn Japan into a hydrogen society to solve the issues of energy security and global warming. Japan’s Basic Hydrogen Strategy (2050 Vision) is the world’s first national strategy developed. It describes the future visions for the year 2050 and also serves as an action plan through the year 2030, coordinating public and private hydrogen initiatives. The main thrust of the strategy is to achieve the cost parity of hydrogen with competing fuels (after allowing for environmental externalities) by increasing economies of scale and overcoming technological barriers. The target cost is to make H2 affordable at $3/kgH₂ by 2030 and $2/kgH₂ by 2050.

The new WORLD hydrogen economy

Since 2017, governments from 18 countries have adopted national hydrogen strategies for deploying clean (low and zero carbon) hydrogen energy solutions. Leading companies around the world are proactively investing in clean hydrogen and related technologies. The transition to clean hydrogen would create a significant step-change in hydrogen production technology in terms of scale and costs, making clean hydrogen solutions more attractive not only for industry, but also in all other sectors. Clean hydrogen is an emerging market. It is a key lever for achieving deep decarbonisation, specifically in hard-to-abate sectors like transport. It can tackle various critical energy challenges, including facilitating the large-scale integration of intermittent renewables, enabling grid balancing and seasonal storage. It can also help to improve air quality and strengthen energy security. Its potential is immense and future developments depend on energy and environmental policies, cost reductions and competition with other low-carbon options.

 

Following a period of low activity and weakening interest in recent years, CCUS is back into the limelight, especially in the US and in Europe, in the wake of the Paris agreement, boosted by a growing interest in hydrogen, rising carbon prices, new supporting policies and new business models.

This report provides an update on CCUS globally with a focus on Europe and the US, the two leading areas for this technology.

Contents:

1. Introduction: CCUS is back on policy makers’ agenda
2. Growing policy attention and support for CCUS
3. Global status of CCUS
4. Barriers, challenges and required policies
5. United States: Growing carbon capture & CO₂-EOR industry
6. Renewed interest and policy support in Europe
7. Conclusion

This report provides a detailed analysis of the booming biomethane market as governments around the world increasingly recognize the many benefits of renewable natural gas.

Since 2010, world biomethane production has increased exponentially, reaching three billion cubic meters in 2017 and there will soon be more than 1,000 biomethane production plants operating in thirty-four countries, up from 720 at year-end 2017.

For many years a European phenomenon, Green Gas is Going Global.

The report contains three parts:

1. An overview of global biomethane production and markets, biogas upgrading plants, key drivers and future trends (region by region)
2. Country reviews for forty countries in Europe, North America, Asia, Central & South America and Africa
3. In-depth case studies on key developed and emerging biomethane markets, e.g. U.S., Canada, Brazil, Germany, France, China and India.

 

It complements the CEDIGAZ Global Biomethane Database