In the midst of the energy transition, public conversation usually revolves around new technologies, large investments or changes in habits. However, a part of the energy sector defends that moving forward can also consist of making more use of infrastructures already deployed. That is the starting point of “Lógico”, a campaign that, in addition to highlighting the role of green gas, wants to show that, in many cases, reusing existing networks can be easier and faster than replacing them.
The campaign comes at a time of regulatory acceleration. The Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge has proposed promoting biomethane through increasing minimum quotas in natural gas sales, with a path that would start in 2028 and reach 6% in 2035. The declared objective is to reduce foreign energy dependence, recover waste, generate employment – especially in rural areas – and advance in the decarbonization of the economy.
One of the main messages of the campaign is to highlight gas networks, an infrastructure that structures the territory and connects millions of homes. In Spain, this network reaches nearly 90,000 kilometers, a base that would allow distribute renewable gas without from zero nor require complex changes at points of consumption.
“The energy transition will be faster and more affordable if we manage to rely on solutions that already exist and that can reach millions of homes today,” they explain from the platform. “The next step is to convey to the citizen that decarbonizing can also be done through efficiency, taking advantage of local resources, already amortized infrastructure and renewable energy that fits with daily life.”
The campaign is also supported by data that reflects a high social receptivity towards green gas. According to a study by Salvetti Llombart for Nedgia carried out on 1,500 Spanish households, 72% consider that green gas fits their energy needs and 65% would be open to contracting it. The concept also obtains an average rating of 8.4 out of 10 among those surveyed. Among the main attributes associated with green gas, its renewable and clean nature, its ability to use waste and its contribution to reducing environmental impact stand out. Furthermore, 74% of households perceive it as new and different energy.
The importance of distributing
The underlying message of “Lógico” connects with a broader debate within the energy sector. Just as important as producing clean energy is ensuring that it reaches every corner of the territory safely and constantly. In that sense, green gas does not compete with existing gas networks, but rather expands their function, integrating them into an increasingly diverse energy mix where electricity, hydrogen and biogas coexist.
International organizations agree that this compatibility is one of the strengths of biomethane. The International Energy Agency emphasizes that biogas and biomethane, produced locally from organic waste, can contribute to energy security, waste management, emissions reduction and agricultural development. Furthermore, having similar characteristics to natural gas, biomethane can be used in sectors such as industry, transportation, buildings or electricity generation.
The circular logic of biomethane
Added to this is a component that the campaign especially highlights: the circular origin of green gas. When produced from organic waste – of agricultural, livestock or urban origin – this type of energy closes a cycle that reduces emissions and, at the same time, takes advantage of local resources that would otherwise remain unused. The consequence is not only environmental, it also translates into a greater degree of energy independence for the territories that produce it. The energy transition thus ceases to be just a question of renewable generation and is connected to the circular economy.
The Biogas Roadmap of the Government of Spain already identified this technology as a way to articulate energy transition objectives, circular economy and demographic challenge. The document set a minimum biogas production target of 10.41 TWh per year in 2030, within the strategic energy and climate framework.
The potential, according to recent sector studies, is considerable. APPA Biogás estimates that Spain could mobilize between 25 and 35 TWh of biomethane in 2035, a figure equivalent to between 7% and 10% of national gas consumption. From a European perspective, the European Biogas Association and Gas Infrastructure Europe highlight that the sector already exceeds 1,600 biomethane plants on the continent and that at least 86% are connected to the gas network. For infrastructure operators, this data shows that existing networks can play a relevant role in the integration of renewable gases and the decarbonization of the energy system.
The Green Gas platform, Yes
The Gas Verde, Sí platform, promoted by Nedgia, the Naturgy Group’s gas distributor, brings together actors from the gas, agricultural, industrial and heating equipment manufacturers sectors to promote the development of biomethane in Spain. As Raúl Suárez, CEO of Nedgia, explained in the presentation, its vocation is transversal, aimed at balancing the decarbonization process, providing security of supply and offering an affordable system for families and companies.