“The EU could produce enough biomethane to replace Russian gas”

Since the day the Russians have invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, the European Union (EU) paid more than 28 billion euros to Russia in exchange for its gas ( FINANCING FUTIN’s WAR: FOSSIL FUEL Imports from Russia During the Invasion of Ukraine , Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air, Crea). At the same time, the EU is looking for other sources of supplies to replace the 155 billion cubic meters (MMC) of natural gas imported from Russia. However, the EU could produce locally, in various ways, enough biomethane to replace this imported gas.

Let us recall that biogas is produced by decomposition, in the absence of oxygen, organic matter (manure, human wastewater, agricultural residues, etc.). Biogaz consists of 50 to 70 % methane and 30 to 50 % of co _{2 . By eliminating the latter and the traces of hydrogen sulfide (which produces the bad smell of “rotten egg”) by an easy and inexpensive process, it remains pure methane, perfect substitute for natural gas.}

Biomethane produced in large production centers often costs a third less than the now high price of natural gas. In small production centers, costs are more comparable to Russian gas, but at least money remains on site, it does not go to Russia! Biomethane circulates in the same storage pipes and installations as natural gas.

a way to store energy

So why not substitute it for Russian gas? Simply because we produce very little, about 3 mmc, as indicated by the European Biogaz Association (EBA) . This same source also indicated that by using its own waste, the EU could produce 35 mmc of biomethane by 2030, or more than 20 % of imports of Russian gas.

This estimate was retained in the official strategy of the European Commission, Repowreu. Installing the production infrastructure of this biomethane would cost, according to the EBA, some 80 billion euros. It seems a lot, but it is little compared to the 28 billion paid to the Russian invaders in just four months!

In addition, the co _{2 extract from the original biogas can be valued to obtain more biomethane: combined with hydrogen in a reactor, in the presence of a nickel catalyst, It comes out in the form of pure methane gas. It would be a way to store energy to compensate for intermittent production losses of wind and photovoltaic parks.}

The EU must act in a specific manner

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