More biogas for greater energy security

Not only biogas for electricity generation will be subsidised in the future, but also biogas that is fed into the gas grid – provided a motion is approved.

At the event, VSG and Biomasse Suisse proposed a “marche à suivre”, a promotion programme introduced by the two associations in collaboration with the Société des Gaziers de la Suisse romande. Source: gazenergie

The Swiss gas industry is underscoring its decarbonisation ambitions with the target of 30:30 which aims for a  share of 30% renewable gas in the household heating market by 2030. Together with Biomass Switzerland, representatives of biogas producers, consulting firms, energy companies and politicians were recently briefed on the topic of feeding biomethane into the gas grid at a meeting in Fribourg.

In order to achieve the set targets, an improvement of the framework conditions, a massive increase in biogas production and an adjustment of the feed-in conditions for biogas are absolutely crucial. Priska Wismer-Felder, the National Councillor from the Centre Group, submitted a broad-based motion (22.3193), which was signed by a further 44 parliamentarians. The aim of this is to quickly establish the necessary legal basis so that existing and additionally built biogas plants in Switzerland can increasingly process their gas into biomethane and market it as such. At the same time, the local biogas potential should be able to be used quickly thanks to the removal of administrative hurdles and faster approval procedures.

Centrist politician Priska Wismer-Felder during a vote in the National Council. Source: Priska Wismer-Felder

“The necessary planning and investment security can only be achieved if the production costs of biogas plants which feed gas into the grid are covered,” states National Councillor Wismer-Felder in her motion. “The domestic biomass potential in Switzerland is high and, to a large extent, is still barely exploited for direct use of biogas. In agriculture, farmyard manure has a sustainable biogas potential of more than 4 TWh, of which less than 5% is currently used for energy production. Numerous commercial and agricultural facilities could be upgraded with a treatment plant and connected to gas infrastructure. A significant increase in biogas production could secure sustainable energy for Switzerland.”

This is because Switzerland urgently needs to reduce its dependency on foreign and, in particular, Russian natural gas and diversify its energy production. Also in order to be able to operate peak-load gas-fired power plants with biogas in a climate-neutral manner – as Federal Councillor, Simonetta Sommaruga, has also brought into play in recent weeks to achieve the Swiss climate targets and avoid the winter electricity shortage. By increasing the production of ecologically sustainable biogas, some of the fossil fuels in the industrial, heating and transport sectors can be replaced.

Source: gazenergie

In addition to the discussions on the framework conditions and technical and economic prerequisites that apply to the feed-in, the participants were given fascinating insights into two biogas production plants. The Aïre wastewater treatment plant in Geneva is supplying biogas produced from sewage sludge, and the plant in Courtemelon in the Canton of Jura will soon feed in biogas produced from agricultural biomass. Finally, we took a closer look at the Les Neigles wastewater treatment plant in Fribourg, which has been successfully feeding biogas into the grid since as early as 2013. Priska Wismer-Felder’s motion proposes that the Federal Government should support precisely such facilities with an appropriate investment contribution, in order to expand their treatment and feed-in infrastructure. New biomethane-producing biogas plants should also benefit from funding. This is because more Swiss biogas will not only help to reduce CO₂ emissions, but it will also help to reduce dependency on energy imports. This will create greater energy security – a win-win situation. (jas, 28 April 2022)

The ARA Les Neigles in Fribourg has already been successfully feeding biogas into the grid since 2013. Source: gazenergie