1. Biomethane Roadmap in the UK
Berlin, 17th June 2015
David Collins
Renewable Energy Association – REA Biogas

2. FWACV across country – average figures taken across 2012
Website to find these numbers –

3. Background
Renewable Energy Directive (2020 targets) - 15% of total energy in the UK to be renewable – heat, electricity, transport
Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) supports heat and biomethane injection – to meet targets (2011)
after Solar industry overspent the budget & general spending cuts – now severe budgetary controls & degression mechanism
Levy Control Framework – sensitivity over taxation and household bills
Since May 2015 current government has begun cutting all forms of RE subsidy - former Minister says “The Tories (Conservatives) are trying to kill off our renewable energy boom” -
Renewable electricity replaced coal for one day in May

4. New RHI Incentives – 1st July 2016

5. CNG Market TSB providing £11 million funding 2012-15
Green Gas Certificates
CNG for trucks and buses and CHP/District Heating for new housing/stores
GGCS scheme not for profit scheme is helping to facilitate biomethane projects
UK NGV focus is trucks and buses
No support for CNG cars
353 natural gas trucks
348 dual fuel trucks
5 dedicated gas trucks
26 new or upgraded refuelling stations
UK funding for Natural Gas Vehicles
TSB Competition with DfT – £11million funding 353 natural gas trucks
Green Bus Fund – £2.1million (for CNG/biomethane buses)
LCEB rebate – 6p/km
TEN-T Funding – £5million for Bio-LNG stations
LNG Vehicles are now well established
TSB providing £11 million funding
13 consortiums trialling low carbon trucks
353 natural gas carbon trucks
348 dual fuel trucks
5 dedicated gas trucks
26 new or upgraded refuelling stations

6. Biomethane projects per year 2010-2016
63 projects injecting gas by end March 2016

7. Proportion of Projects by Biogas Flow-rate m3/hour

8. Proportion of Projects by CO2 Removal Technology

9. Proportion of Projects by Feedstock

10. Annual Production & RHI Cost for 2012-2016

11. LTS (Local Transmission) INNOVATION PROJECTS IN 201511

12. Industry is slowing down this year
Looking Forward
Project Performance
Key issue in 2016 is to increase production rate of projects
Technical challenges – flow weighted average CV – LTS projects
RHI Consultation
Waste good, crops bad
Capture of CO2 from biomethane plants – only possible for crops as waste is not acceptable in the CO2 utilization industry
Funding availability for 20 projects per annum each of 40 million kWh
Tariff stability
Tariff booking essential to move away from 3 monthly project cycle
Green Gas Certificates
Developments on Vehicle Fuel?
Cost and complexity
How can we persuade the Grid Operators and Ofgem to want to do it
Will 19 bar “Hexel One” be approved for further projects?
Low cost CNG compressors at biomethane plant
Farm tractors on compressed biomethane great for sustainability….
Industry is slowing down this year

13. RHI Incentive vs Road Transport Fuel Certificates
RHI fixed for 20 years – 7.5p/kWh
RTFC Market traded – 2 for waste derived fuel
Less than 10 filling stations

14. BARRIERS budget restraints and future tariff degression
availability of waste feedstocks
the use of crops still under debate
gas grid capacity
cost of grid connections/delays
energy content (CV) of biomethane v grid (propane)
Sustainabily Criteria- in force 5th October 2015
60% GHG savings compared to GHG EU fossil heat average
Lifecycle emissions of < kg CO2 equivalent (34.8gCO2e/MJ) of biomass heat generated
Consignment basis – no averaging
Waste exempt – emissions up to the process of collection
Land criteria requirements to be introduced by April 2015
All existing plants will have to comply

15. 48 p/therm in April 2015 – 28 p/therm now
Gas Prices
48 p/therm in April 2015 – 28 p/therm now

16. Biomethane Market Forecast
UK total gas demand now is around 800 TWh/annum
Around 50% domestic heating, 25% power gen and 25% industry
Biomethane injected by end 2015 is 2.00TWh
Potential maximum biomethane by 2030 is around 20TWh
For heat in cities there are few practical/economic alternatives
Biomass (air quality), heat pumps (do not work in very cold weather), district heating (too late to dig up cities)

17. UK Biomethane Projects 2012-15
2015
2014
2013
2012

18. Contact details David Collins
Renewable Energy Association – REA Biogas
Board Member - EBA
Thanks to CNG Services for providing data
Contact: John Baldwin