Biomethane is ideal for greening gas. Hydrogen is also made more expensive by European regulation, says head of gas association

The development of the gas sector in the Czech Republic faces key challenges – many see decarbonisation simply as a move away from gas, while gas industry representatives see it as the gradual rise of renewable gases. In the second part of our interview with Josef Kotrba, head of the Czech Gas Association, you will find out how he views the future of natural gas, the role of hydrogen and the transition to renewable alternatives.

We also discussed why a long-term strategy is crucial for the sector’s stability and how a realistic approach by politicians can ensure an efficient transformation without excessive reliance on subsidies.

In the first part of the interview, we outlined the European Union’s future plans for renewable gases. How realistic do you consider the possibility that natural gas will be replaced by renewable gases?

I see the greatest potential in biomethane. Yes, it is still more expensive than natural gas, but we are no longer talking about the multiples we saw, for example, in electricity during the solar boom of 2009–2010. The price is now roughly double, which is relatively reasonable.