Towards a green grid
Today, more than a quarter of all gas in the Swedish gas grid comes from biogas – a higher share than in most gas networks across Europe and the world. But we’re not satisfied. Our goal is a gas grid that carries only green gas.
Gas is an important energy source and input commodity for businesses and households in southwestern Sweden. Many of our customers already run exclusively on biogas today, and many more want to transition. To make this possible, more green gas is needed. Sweden has strong conditions for producing the biogas we need domestically. In addition to the climate benefits, this would also make us less dependent on imported gas. It would strengthen our security of supply and preparedness for crises.
Nordion Energi is firmly committed to transitioning the gas grid and has adopted a plan for new investments that will enable more Swedish biogas production to be connected to the gas network.
Today, Swedish biogas production connected to the transmission grid corresponds to approximately 6–7 percent of the total consumption of pipeline gas in Sweden. Interest in connecting new production is high and has the potential, in the near future, to cover the entire Swedish consumption.
Nordion Energi is in discussions with a large number of producers and is engaged in dialogue regarding around 20 different projects. Together, these projects could cover the entire current gas consumption in the gas network, although many of the discussions are still at an early stage.
.png)
Potential of new biogas production
We are driving the transition
To enable the transition of the gas network, Nordion Energi will work with several different measures. The most important are:
Connecting new production.
The foundation for enabling more users to switch to biogas is ensuring that enough biogas is connected to the network. Sweden has strong conditions for producing domestic biogas from sources such as manure, sludge, and residues from the forestry industry. This is an opportunity we should take advantage of. Not all potential producers are located close to the existing gas network, and to reach them all we need to be able to expand the gas grid in new directions.
Liquefaction of biogas.
By liquefying biogas, it becomes possible to transport the gas beyond the gas network or use it as fuel for ships and heavy road transport. The market for liquefied biogas is expected to grow, and by building liquefaction facilities connected to the grid, we increase the attractiveness for producers to connect. Nordion Energi has made an investment decision for a liquefaction facility in the Port of Gothenburg with a capacity equivalent to 250 GWh and has plans for additional facilities in the future.
Investments in new technologies.
Today, biogas is primarily produced through anaerobic digestion of materials such as manure and sludge. Although demand is high, the amount of feedstock available for this type of production is limited. To fully transition the network, new facilities based on new technologies will be required, such as gasification, methanation, or digestion using new feedstocks. These new facilities are expected to be large-scale and account for a significant share of future biogas production.
Network adaptations.
As the amount of domestically produced biogas increases, higher demands are placed on us as the network operator to guarantee gas quality and manage flows moving in new directions. Investments in new equipment will be required, as well as the interconnection of existing networks, in order to ensure efficient and reliable network operations.
Together we reach the goal
The investments being made in the gas network can enable a transition to domestically produced biogas, benefiting both the climate and Sweden’s security of supply. Ultimately, however, it is the market participants themselves who decide which gas they want to sell or purchase. To succeed, we therefore need to work together — with both customers and producers, as well as with political decision-makers who can make biogas a natural and competitive choice.
Nordion Energi is doing its part, but it is together that we will achieve the goal.
Mer information
Vill du följa med på vår resa mot ett grönt gasnät? Klicka nedan för att läsa de senaste nyheterna!
