Renewable

March 25 (Renewables Now) - Austria should set a target to reach 10 TWh of annual biogas production by 2030 and introduce a green gas quota in order to ensure the security of supply in the country, local sector association Kompost & Biogas Verband said earlier this week.

The Alpine country has the potential to feed about 1 TWh of renewable gases in the next year and a half into the natural gas network through the conversion of existing facilities. This volume could reach 10 TWh by the end of the decade and replace some 10% of the natural gas consumption in the country, according to the association.

In the medium term, organic waste and residues from the agriculture and the wood industry could produce renewable gases, including biogas and wood gas, enough to meet 40% of the country's current gas consumption, Kompost & Biogas Verband said further.

The statement came as a response to the proposed amendment to the Gas Management Act (GWG) that was presented last week. The association criticised the Austrian government for the plan to create strategic gas reserves and said that this is purely a symbolic policy and would not be enough to guarantee the security of supply.

Kompost & Biogas Verband is urging the government to act quickly to create a reliable legal framework and introduce a mandatory quota for green gas in order to ensure a successful market ramp-up and reach climate neutrality by 2040.

The government's current strategy targets 5 TWh of renewable gases in 2030.

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