DECARBONISATION
L-R: Declan Billington, Chair of CBI NI Energy Working group; Gordon Lyons MLA, Economy Minister; Michael McKinstry, Group CEO Phoenix; Kevin Hegarty, DAERA Director of Green Growth & Climate Change.
THE RENEWABLE GAS CONFERENCE DISCUSSED THE OPPORTUNITY TO DECARBONISE THE GAS NETWORK WITH THE INTRODUCTION OF RENEWABLE GAS ALTERNATIVES SUCH AS BIOMETHANE AND GREEN HYDROGEN… Phoenix Gas promotes debate on the journey to decarbonisation
T he opportunity for Northern Ireland to be a leader in the delivery of a new renewable gas future was the focus of a landmark conference held by Phoenix Natural Gas in Belfast in October. With contributions from leading local and international speakers, the 250 delegates at the Renewable Gas Conference learned more about the opportunity to decarbonise the gas network with the introduction of renewable gas alternatives such as biomethane and green hydrogen, providing clean energy solutions for the 550,000 homes and business that have access to the existing gas network. Conference delegates heard from Gordon Lyons MLA, Minister for the Economy, who delivered a keynote address on the potential for us regionally to become leaders in indigenous energy production and the significant role that the modern gas network can play in delivering renewable gas solutions. Speakers from Queen’s University Belfast, Department for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, Catagen,
SGN, B9 Energy, Translink, Renewable NI, the Consumer Council NI, KPMG, and John Thompson and Sons Ltd further discussed the opportunity for local energy decarbonisation, demonstrating that the transition to renewable gas solutions can positively benefit the whole of society. Providing an international insight on decarbonisation, delegates heard from Torben Brabo, Director of International Relations at Energinet, the Danish national transmission system operator for gas and electricity. In 2022, biomethane production is expected to make up for 30% of total gas consumption and Torben explained its importance in delivering the Danish Government ambitions of 100% green gas coverage by 2030. Opening the Phoenix Renewable Gas Conference, Michael McKinstry, Chief Executive Officer at Phoenix Natural Gas highlighted how well placed NI’s energy landscape is to transition to a renewable gas economy and commented, “The region has a rich source of indigenous resources which support both waste-to-
energy projects as well as the production of green hydrogen.” Michael further advised, “The extensive investment in the modern gas infrastructure over the last two decades will play a pivotal role in the delivery of integrated energy solutions which will drive decarbonisation locally”. Concluding the Conference, Jonathan Martindale, Director of Business Development at Phoenix Natural Gas, reflected on the key takeaways from the inaugural Renewable Gas Conference with a particular focus on how a collaborative, partnership approach across the energy sector will materially increase the successful delivery of energy transition locally.
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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