2024-02-21 11:45:41
After months of delay, the government has now agreed on the long-planned Renewable Gas Act (EGG). On Wednesday, a corresponding government proposal passed the Council of Ministers. The aim is to oblige gas suppliers in the future to gradually replace natural gas with fixed quotas of biogas. To make a decision in the National Council, the turquoise-green government needed a two-thirds majority and thus the approval of the SPÖ or FPÖ.
The review of the EGG draft ended at the end of March, and the negotiations between the ÖVP and the Greens then dragged on even longer. The government bill will now be sent to parliament, where majorities for the two-thirds matter are sought.
Climate Protection Minister Leonore Gewessler (Greens) hoped for quick negotiations in the press foyer following the Council of Ministers. After all, it is an important component of the energy transition. Austria must get out of dirty fossil fuels and the possibility of blackmail. Nobody can take away what you produce yourself – instead of a gas plant near the Kremlin, you have a power plant near the dung heap. With regard to the increased share of Russian gas, Gewessler wants a legal obligation to diversify. A corresponding amendment to the Gas Industry Act is in the process of being drawn up.
Agriculture Minister Norbert Totschnig (ÖVP) was also impressed by the agreement. He sees a “win-win situation.” The aim of the amendment is also to “give wings” to biogas funding. This is a key for the energy transition in Austria. Biogas is climate-neutral and Austria can never run out of raw materials. Ultimately, it is also a contribution to the circular economy.
According to government information, the aim of the project is to expand domestic biogas production. From 2030 onwards, at least 7.5 terawatt hours of “green gas” should be fed into the gas network every year. Utilities must ensure that from then on they supply customers with at least 9.75 percent green gas (in 2024 the proportion will be 0.35 percent). Compared to today, this means more than a 50-fold increase in domestic biomethane production (0.14 TWh to 7.5 TWh). A gradual increase with fixed percentage targets per year is planned for the years 2024 to 2030.
In addition to protecting the climate – according to the government, the Renewable Gas Act will save 4.2 million tons of climate-damaging CO2 by 2030 – the law is also intended to strengthen Austria’s energy independence. “Domestic biomethane can directly replace Russian natural gas and thus reduce dependence,” says the government documents.
By 2040, domestic gas consumption should be completely covered by biogas. This should primarily be used in those areas for which there are no other solutions, especially in industry. “Biogas” is produced by recycling wood residues, agricultural waste or organic waste. According to the government, the entire process binds the same amount of climate-damaging CO2 as is produced during combustion.
Compared to the draft assessment, the fines for non-fulfillment of the quotas, which the gas industry had objected to, were reduced. The sanctions stipulate that suppliers must pay 15 cents as a compensation contribution to the EGG processing agency for each missing kilowatt hour (18 cents from 2025 were still planned in the draft). This income should then be used as funding for the construction of biogas plants and plants for the production of renewable hydrogen. There is also a temporary safety net for the first biomethane plants: This is intended to guarantee that the quantities produced are also purchased.
1708516586
#law #biogas #supply
