GAS INDUSTRY’S TRANSITION PATHWAY
BIOMETHANE PRODUCTION PROCESS
GREEN HYDROGEN PRODUCTION PROCESS
One step at a time
Energy Transition Manager at Phoenix Natural Gas. “It is also a matter of circular economy, as the country can decarbonise the agriculture sector by producing biomethane, and then put the energy into the system to decarbonise heating or use excess renewable electricity generation to produce more green hydrogen, which again can be used for heating or stored.” The new model will also create a lot of opportunities in the job market. The UK government predicts that reaching the hydrogen production targets could generate 12,000 jobs, a significant proportion of which could be created in Northern Ireland. “The Pathway to Net-Zero aims at an affordable and non- disruptive change to renewable gases.”
The gas network distributors’ Pathway to Net-Zero has been divided in six stages to guide the ongoing efforts to decarbonise the network. The first two stages are well underway, especially regarding biomethane. The biomethane regulatory framework is expected to be largely in place by the end of 2022 and the GNOs expect to begin injecting renewable gas into the network in early 2023. 1 Preparing for the transition (2022-2025) – Strategic planning with an emphasis on regulatory frameworks, research, and consumer stakeholder engagement.
2 3 4 5 6
Establishing Supply and Demand (2026-2030) – Biomethane and green hydrogen production levels steadily climb allowing demand sectors – industry, transport, power – to begin to transition to renewable gases. Roll-out of hydrogen-ready gas boilers begins. First Renewable Gas Connections (2022-2026) – Establishing biomethane and green hydrogen production to facilitate the injection of renewable gas into the network; specific trial projects to test delivery. Home Stretch (2040-2049) – With green hydrogen-ready boilers widely installed in NI homes, the focus will be to switch users not already benefiting from biomethane to a 100% hydrogen supply. Accelerated Ambition (2030-2040) – Expansion of biomethane and green hydrogen production, supporting significant advances in the decarbonisation of industry, transport, and power generation. A Zero-Carbon Gas Network (2050) – Natural gas is entirely replaced by green hydrogen and biomethane, offering zero-carbon solutions to residences, services, power, industry and transport sectors.
Further information on the journey to decarbonisation at Phoenix Natural Gas is available at: www.phoenixnaturalgas.com/safety-environment/energy-transition
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