ATMAS advocates integration of biomethane into the national network

A the new Association for Renewable Gases (ATMAS) aims to accelerate the integration of biomethane into the national network, presenting it as a complement to electricity and alternative to contain energy transition costs.

In an interview with Lusa, the executive director of the newly created association, Gonçalo Salazar Leite, said that the existing gas network should be used in decarbonization, because it is prepared to receive biomethane “without any change”, this gas can replace 60% of the natural gas injected into the system in the long term.

“ We estimate that taking advantage of gas redistribution and boosting biomethane production will cost the taxpayer a third of what it would mean to electrify all this final energy,” he said.

For Gonçalo Salazar Leite, the integration of renewable gases into the network should be seen in a logic of complementarity between energy vectors, rather than as a replacement of electricity.

“Electricity is and will increasingly be the main energy vector in our country,” he said. However, he warned: “We cannot electrify everything” without considering the costs “for the taxpayer, the consumer, the industry and the economy”.

“ The gas network is paid for, it works well. The national gas system does not have a euro of a tariff deficit and we are not so rich that we can take advantage of an energy asset that already exists, which is functioning well and is prepared for the future”, supported the executive director of ATMAS, which was initially boosted by gas distribution system operators and currently has 10 associates and by the end of the year “hopes to integrate at least so many”.

According to Gonçalo Salazar Leite, biomethane can be directed to the industry, in particular to the heat-intensive sectors, but also to domestic services and consumers.

“Of course the industry is a priority,” he said, pointing out ceramic and glass cases as examples of sectors where electrification would have high investment costs and could make energy “much more expensive in the future.”.

He also argued that domestic consumption should be part of the discussion on renewable gases, in a context of concern about the accessibility of energy.

“ Domestic gas consumption is frankly cheaper than equivalent electricity consumption. And are we going to impose this burden on final consumers?”, he questioned.

“ We believe that biomethane can, and should, be directed both to industry and to services or to final consumers,” he said.

Asked about the reasons for the creation of the association, he explained that “it was launched at this time because the moment demands it”, justifying the creation of the structure with the ongoing debate on the future of the European and national energy system.

According to the responsible, laws, financing plans and regulations are currently under discussion, both in the European and national context, and the decisions taken now will condition the sector “for the coming decades.”.

On the Biomethane Action Plan, which points to a target of 2.7 TWh in 2030, Gonçalo Salazar Leite considered the goal “perfectly realistic”, but dependent on faster implementation.

Among the priorities was the simplification of regulations, the construction of market mechanisms and the strengthening of dialogue between the various actors.

“What we need is to accelerate the construction of legislation and implementation that will lead to integrating renewable gases into public policies and allow the acceleration of the construction process of this industry,” he said.

Currently there are three biomethane units in operation in Portugal, more than 50 potential projects identified by the LNEG and more than 70 units signaled by the association that can be built “in the very short term”.

“ A single unit of all that we currently have in production already supplies a third of the municipalities of Évora, Beja, Olhão and Portimão with renewable gas ", said.