Association: Biomethane could replace up to a fifth of gas imports to the Czech Republic by 2030

Biomethane produced in the Czech Republic could replace up to a fifth of imported fossil natural gas supplies by 2030. Its development is important for decarbonising the Czech energy sector. This is according to background materials published today by the Association of Modern Energy. It noted that, according to data from last year, around 1,2 million cubic metres of biomethane are produced annually in the Czech Republic.

The association said that under the latest update to the European Renewable Energy Directive (RED), Czechia should produce around 700 million cubic metres of biomethane annually by the end of the decade. It pointed out that achieving these targets will require substantial investment in new biomethane plants.

The association recalled that in mid-August the government launched the first round of subsidies to support the construction of new biogas plants. One billion crowns has been allocated to the call. However, the association said this will not be enough to meet the targets. Martin Schwarz, head of the biomethane section at the CZ Biom association, said the government must also support biomethane production in the National Climate and Energy Plan and the State Energy Policy.

According to the association, there are currently around 570 biogas plants in the Czech Republic, 400 of them in the agricultural sector. The country also has more than 100 municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants that produce sewage gas, and around 70 facilities producing landfill gas. Biogas is primarily used to generate electricity and, in some cases, heat, the association said.

It also pointed out that there are only a handful of plants where biogas is upgraded to biomethane that can be fed into the gas network. The pilot project was the plant at EFG Rapotín BPS in the Šumperk region, which began supplying the network in 2019. It produces gas from sorted food waste, and also generates heat and material that can be used as biofertiliser.

„The Czech Republic produces around two million tonnes of biodegradable waste each year, which, according to our calculations, creates the potential to operate around 66 biogas plants with total annual production of 100 million cubic metres of biomethane. That would provide enough gas for an estimated 130.000 households for a whole year,“ said EFG Chief Executive Tomáš Voltr.

The association also highlighted the trial operation of a plant launched by the Agricultural Cooperative of Livestock Breeders and Crop Growers in Litomyšl. It uses waste from livestock and crop production, which is then fed into the GasNet gas network. According to the association, this is the first use of technology integrated with agriculture, a bioCNG filling station and gas injection into the network. It said that over ten years of operation, the plant should process 30,6 million cubic metres of biogas. This means annual production of 1,7 million cubic metres of biomethane, it added.