Today at the annual Flame gas conference in Amsterdam, the Swiss Gaznat joined the 5 gas infrastructure companies from the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and France which have committed to actively contributing to the development of a carbon neutral gas supply by 2050. Gas infrastructure enables the transport and storage of energy on a scale unmatched by other energy systems. It is as such essential to the achievement of the EU’s low-carbon ambitions.
Leaders of the independent European gas infrastructure companies Gasunie (Netherlands), Fluxys (Belgium), Energinet.dk (Denmark), Swedegas (Sweden) and GRTgaz (France) met in Amsterdam at the annual Flame gas conference, where the cooperation was further expanded when Swiss Gaznat was formally accepted as a new member. The CEO of Gaznat states: “We are proud to become one of the partners in this cooperation that aims to provide a 100% carbon-neutral gas supply in 2050. It is clear that we can all only benefit from working together.” The companies have formed active working groups focussing on the following topics:
• Biomethane and green gas certificates
• Gas (CNG and LNG) as fuel for road and maritime transport
• Power-to-gas
To start with, the infrastructure companies have mapped the regulatory framework for biomethane injection and brought key players together to explore ways to establish a common green gas certificate market that will link producers and customers together, including cross-border. The partners have exchanged experiences in upgrading biogas to biomethane to make it compatible with gas infrastructure specifications.
Additionally, the partners in this initiative exchange and discuss best practices and general business cases with regard to gas as fuel for transport. A smarter and harmonised use of CNG and LNG technologies across Europe is required in order to release its green potential.
Finally, the partners are also exploring the potential of power-to-gas technologies that aim at further strengthening the link between electricity and gas systems. Power-to-gas technology makes it possible to store a temporary surplus of wind and sun energy in gas infrastructure, allowing it to be used at a later moment. In this way gas infrastructure delivers additional flexibility to the electricity system.
For more information:
Energinet.dk: Jesper Nørskov Rasmussen, +45 76224820; jnr@energinet.dk
Fluxys: Rudy Van Beurden, +32 2 282 77 54; rudy.vanbeurden@fluxys.com
Gasunie: Chris Glerum, +31 50 521 27 89; press@gasunie.nl
GRTgaz: Damien de Gaulejac, +33 1 55 66 42 94; damien.de-gaulejac@grtgaz.com
Swedegas: Saila Horttanainen, +46 70 622 76 06, saila.horttanainen@swedegas.se
Gaznat : R. Bautz, +41 58 274 04 63 ; r.bautz@gaznat.ch
About Gasunie
Gasunie is a European gas infrastructure company. Its network ranks among the largest high pressure gas pipeline grids in Europe, consisting of over 15,500 kilometres of pipeline in the Netherlands and northern Germany. Annually we transport about 125 bcm of natural gas. Gasunie serves the public interest in the markets in which it is active and works to create value for its stakeholders. Gasunie is the first independent gas transport provider with a cross-border network in Europe. Gasunie seeks to apply its infrastructure and knowledge for the further development and integration of renewable energy sources, particularly green gas.
The company offers transport services via its subsidiaries Gasunie Transport Services B.V. (GTS) in the Netherlands and Gasunie Deutschland GmbH in Germany. It also offer services related to gas infrastructure, such as underground gas storage, LNG storage and the certification of green gas by subsidiary Vertogas.
Because of its geographical location the Gasunie transport network plays a key role in the European gas market. (www.gasunie.nl)
About Fluxys Belgium
Fluxys Belgium is the independent operator of the natural gas transmission and storage infrastructure in Belgium. Through its subsidiary Fluxys LNG the company also operates the Zeebrugge liquefied natural gas terminal. As part of the Fluxys group, it is the company’s mission to contribute to security of supply and market liquidity in North-Western Europe by promoting cross-border flows and transfers between gas trading places.
Driven by its first mover approach Fluxys Belgium has developed its infrastructure into a central crossroads for international gas flows in North-Western Europe. The Zeebrugge area plays a key role in this pivotal function: the infrastructure in the area has a throughput capacity of some 50 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year, approximately 10% of the border capacity needed for Europe's natural gas supply. (www.fluxys.com)
About Energinet.dk
Energinet.dk is the transmission system operator for both electricity and gas in Denmark. We own the Danish natural gas transmission system and a gas storage facility as well as the electricity transmission system with shares in the electrical interconnections to Norway, Sweden and Germany.
Due to our geographical location Energinet.dk’s network is linking the Swedish gas market to the gas fields in the North Sea and the wider European market. The total Danish and Swedish markets demand almost 6 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year.
Our aim is to ensure reliable energy supply and create the framework for well-functioning energy markets and effective integration of renewable energy.
Using international and preferably market-based solutions, we facilitate the increased use of renewable energy and help to solve the global energy and climate challenges.
We are a non-profit enterprise and serve the interests of society. (www.energinet.dk)
About GRTgaz
GRTgaz is in charge of building, operating, and expanding France’s high-pressure natural gas transmission network, which covers most of the country. On behalf of its customers, GRTgaz delivers natural gas to public distribution networks that supply households and major industrial consumers in particular. With more than 32,200 km of gas pipelines and 26 compressor stations, GRTgaz invests every day to transport natural gas under the safest and most efficient conditions and to reinforce the security of supply within its territory. (www.grtgaz.com)
About Swedegas
Swedegas is a Swedish infrastructure company that invests in smart energy systems. Swedegas is leading the way in the responsible development of the gas market in Sweden. We create sustainable solutions for industry, energy supply and community development.
Swedegas owns and operates the national gas grid, which extends from Dragör in Denmark to Stenungsund in Sweden, and each year, Swedegas transmits energy equivalent to 15 TWh to distributors and directly connected customers. The gas grid supplies natural gas to 33 municipal areas and several combined heat and power plants and companies. Swedegas is currently investing in the development of an infrastructure for biogas and liquefied natural gas (LNG). (www.swedegas.se)
About Gaznat
Gaznat is a midstream company which supplies and transports high pressure natural gas in western Switzerland. Gaznat is owned by companies and administrative bodies active in the French speaking region. Thanks to a diversified portfolio, Gaznat is able to supply its customers at a competitive price and to reduce shortcut risks. Gaznat’s customers include distribution utilities and some large industrial groups.
Gaznat operates a high pressure network of approximately 600 kilometres of pipeline and around 50 delivery stations. Gaznat guarantees third party access to its gas network as defined by law and other rules in Switzerland. The high pressure network is connected to the Transitgas pipeline and to GRTgaz pipelines on the French border. Gaznat also owns storage capacity in Etrez, France. (www.gaznat.ch)