The energy transition towards cleaner and more sustainable energy sources has become one of the most important challenges globally. In this scenario, biomethane becomes an important circular energy source to move towards the goal of achieving a more decarbonized economy.
Boost to decarbonization
The alliance between Naturgy and the pan-European biomethane platform CycleO represents a great step forward in the development in Spain of biomethane – a carbon-neutral gas, obtained from the treatment of organic waste, such as that from agriculture and the agri-food industry, which makes it a fundamental element for the energy transition and compliance with the decarbonization objectives established by Spain and the European Union.
CycleØ is a pan-European biomethane platform that captures methane emissions from organic waste produced by the agri-food, industrial and municipal sectors, and converts them into biomethane. This green gas is used to decarbonise the transport and maritime sectors, as well as the gas network.
Thanks to the alliance between both companies, the first virtual gas pipeline has been launched that allows the injection of renewable gas into the Nedgia network from production points far from the existing infrastructure.
With this innovative system, CycleO will be able to inject 70 gigawatt hours (GWh) annually of biomethane and e-methane in the Nedgia network, coming from production plants located in the province of Lleida. This amount of renewable gas is enough to supply the consumption of more than 14,000 homes, which demonstrates the potential of this solution to promote the energy transition in an efficient and competitive way, helping Spain to meet its decarbonization objectives.
Virtual gas pipelines
Virtual gas pipelines are emerging as an innovative, sustainable and effective alternative to transport gas to complex orographic environments, remote areas of the planet or long distances.
In a traditional gas pipeline, specifically designed gas logistics are used to transport gas. Networks of underground or surface pipelines are built that carry natural gas from its deposits to processing plants or consumption centers.
In the case of virtual gas pipelines, natural gas is extracted from fields and compressed (CNG) or liquefied (LNG). Once this process is finished, They are transported by trucks, ships or special trains. Once it reaches its destination, it is “regasified” and distributed to users.
The use of these gas pipelines is fully aligned with the European circular economy strategy and the promotion of renewable energies, with the environmental, health, economic and social advantages that it entails.
It also represents a new opportunity for rural areas, one of the main problems that affect large areas of the developed world, including Spain, since it opens the possibility of creating new jobs and different sustainable business models.