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The aim of the Estonian state is to increase use of renewable fuels in the transport sector to 14% by 2030, of which part is planned to be covered by biomethane. For this reason, the state has plans to develop the biomethane market and create the necessary conditions for this.

Elering, as the owner and system operator of the gas transmission network, has an important role in the promotion of biomethane production and consumption, as it can help in transporting biomethane to consumers and in biomethane calculations. In order for biomethane to reach consumers, Elering will create efficient conditions for biomethane producers to connect to the gas network, advise producers on finding connection options, and allow filling stations to quickly join new and existing gas networks. In addition, Elering will create and implement a certificate of origin system to verify the origin of gas for consumers.

According to Estonia's 2030 national energy and climate plan following the EU 2018/2001/EL renewable energy directive , Estonia has an aim to increase the share of renewable fuels consumed in the transport sector to 14% by 2030. In excess of 9.1 TWh of transport fuels are consumed in Estonia, almost two thirds of which is diesel and the remainder petrol. LPG and biofuel consumption in the transport sector has thus far been marginal. In order to increase biofuel consumption in Estonia, the state plans to develop biomethane production from local raw materials and to start using biomethane more widely in the transport sector.

According to a 2014 Estonian biomethane resource study carried out by the Development Fund, it is estimated that Estonia has the resources to produce up to 4.7 TWh (=483 mln m3) of biomethane a year, the raw materials for which would mainly be biomass from grasslands (83%) and waste from agricultural production (9.8%), but also biodegradable waste from industry, landfill gas, and waste from water treatment plants. The launch of biomethane production will introduce a supply source produced from local raw materials to the gas market, and will open a new area for gas consumption in the transport sector. Renewable fuel produced from local raw materials promotes sustainable regional development, diversifies the rural economy, and reduces dependence on imported fuel, while promoting distributed energy production and reducing environmental pollution.

Development of the biomethane market, final report 2016

In the course of the study, maps showing optimal locations for gas stations were also produced, and these can be requested at the following email address: biometaan@elering.ee.

 

Development of the biomethane market, presentation of the final report 2016

 

Action plan of biomethane

Estonian biomethane registry is currently a national system - no import of export of gas guarantees of origin is possible yet.

Cross border exhange of gas guarantees of origin will be possible following the renewable energy directive 2018/2001/EU provided that the solutions to meet the requirements are in place: harmonised gas guarantees of origin are issued by the established issuing body in that country, transferred through their registry in a digital way and there is a gas pipeline connection betweek the countries.

Regatrace project is working on harmonisation of solutions for gas guarantees of origin on an European level. Elering is one of the 15 project partner with the aim to contribute to developing rules, regulations and procedures.

Baltic-Finnish Green Gas Coordination Group is working on developing rules and solutions for achieving regional cross-border transfer of gas guarantees of origin within a shorter time frame.

REGATRACE (REnewable GAs TRAde Centre in Europe) aims to create an efficient trade system based on issuing and trading biomethane/renewable gases Guarantees of Origin (GoO) with exclusion of double counting.

This objective will be achieved through the following founding pillars:

  • European biomethane/renewable gases GoO system
  • Set-up of national GoO issuing bodies
  • Integration of GoO from different renewable gas technologies with electric and hydrogen GoO systems
  • Integrated assessment and sustainable feedstock mobilisation strategies and technology synergies
  • Support for biomethane market uptake
  • Transferability of results beyond the project's countries.

The project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 857796.

Read more here

Estonian biomethane registry is currently a national system - no import of export of gas guarantees of origin is possible yet.

Cross border exhange of gas guarantees of origin will be possible following the renewable energy directive 2018/2001/EU provided that the solutions to meet the requirements are in place: harmonised gas guarantees of origin are issued by the established issuing body in that country, transferred through their registry in a digital way and there is a gas pipeline connection betweek the countries.

Regatrace project is working on harmonisation of solutions for gas guarantees of origin on an European level. Elering is one of the 15 project partner with the aim to contribute to developing rules, regulations and procedures.

Baltic-Finnish Green Gas Coordination Group is working on developing rules and solutions for achieving regional cross-border transfer of gas guarantees of origin within a shorter time frame.

REGATRACE (REnewable GAs TRAde Centre in Europe) aims to create an efficient trade system based on issuing and trading biomethane/renewable gases Guarantees of Origin (GoO) with exclusion of double counting.

This objective will be achieved through the following founding pillars:

  • European biomethane/renewable gases GoO system
  • Set-up of national GoO issuing bodies
  • Integration of GoO from different renewable gas technologies with electric and hydrogen GoO systems
  • Integrated assessment and sustainable feedstock mobilisation strategies and technology synergies
  • Support for biomethane market uptake
  • Transferability of results beyond the project's countries.

The project has received funding from the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreement no 857796.

Read more here