Green Gas or bioSNG in the Netherlands

Energy transition
Already in 2006, a group of experts published a vision document entitled 'Vol Gas Vooruit' ('Let's give full gas'). This report specifies appealing and challenging goals for the substitution percentage of natural gas with Green Gas in the Netherlands: 8-12% substitution in 2020 and 50% in 2050. In 2010, the goal has been changed to 1.5 - 2 bcm (5% of NL consumption) in 2020 mainly through digestion, since large-scale thermal conversion will take more time to develop. This includes both the green gas made by digestion and the gas produced through gasification (also referred to as bioSNG).

Businesses and Industry
Customer demand for energy companies to offer Green Gas in addition to green electricity is continuing to grow. For example, Gasunie intends to substitute 12.5% of natural gas with new gases by 2030. Gasterra joined the large 40M€ cooperation programme on green gases (EDGaR), and Ballast Nedam wishes to supply green SNG to their continuously increasing number of filling station through their company CNGnet. There is also considerable national and international interest from industry to help develop SNG technology and commercialise it further.

Gas Roundabout
In the Netherlands approximately 12 500 km of gas pipe lines transport gas to customers. The system is connected to international pipe lines, LNG terminals and underground gas storage. Gas is imported and exported. The complete system often is referred to as the gas round about. Green Gas is considered key in the transition to a biobased economy.

North-Holland
The province of North-Holland (North-West of the Netherlands; ECN in Petten is within this province) aims to being a centre for wind and biomass. The 10MW SNG-demo based on Milena and OLGA is planned to be the nucleus for a expert centre with participation of industrial partners active in eg. waste energy, gas storage, gas transport and CNG for transport.

NL subsidy scheme
Since 2011, the new so-called SDE+ includes subsidy's on Green Gas and BioSNG. In a 4-phased scheme, the subsidy increases from 9 throug 11 and 13 to 15 €ct/kWh. This concerns power from various sources, but also includes bioSNG. This translates to 0.62 up to 1.04 €/m³ Natural Gas equivalent in the Netherlands.

Gas Grid specifications
Gas specifications for Green Gas injected into the existing gas grid are under development in the Netherlands. Already since 2006, specifications exist for injection into the low pressure grid. Just to mention a few, hydrogen concentrations up to 12vol% may be accepted and CO up to 1 mol% is OK. For injection into the high-pressure grid, this however has been published to be 0.02% and 0% respectively. It is apparent that this is work in progress. A new “equilibrium” has to be found in which a good balance exists between green gas ambitions on one side and pipe line integrity and customer demands and guarantees on the other side.