The European Union aims to reduce imports of Russian gas by two-thirds already this year and to no longer be dependent on imports within a few years. Therefore, the European Commission is asking the agricultural sector in the EU countries to double biogas production as soon as possible.
Energy Commissioner Kadri Simson and Climate Commissioner Frans Timmermans presented an ‘energy package’ on Tuesday in the European Parliament. To eliminate the need for Russian gas, EU citizens and businesses must become much more energy-efficient and conscious in their energy use. Homes and buildings must also be upgraded to be energy-efficient at an accelerated pace.
It is not only companies or gas-fired power plants that run on Putin’s Gazprom gas, but also many homes, where gas is used for water heaters and central heating. Therefore, the EU decision to ban Russian gas will be directly felt throughout all EU countries.
The Netherlands is ‘only’ about 15 percent dependent on Russian gas, but other EU countries depend on it for three-quarters or even more. Hence, a complete embargo on all Russian oil and gas is not possible. The reasoning is that we must at least no longer be fully dependent.
The European Commission sees several benefits in increasing biogas production. There is less methane emission during production and storage. Furthermore, biogas reduces dependence on fossil fuels and can contribute to greening agriculture, according to the European Commission.
Biogas plants are also a strategic fuel reserve because biogas can be stored seasonally and is flexibly available when needed. The industry, as a major consumer, also needs a fast alternative solution.
The European Commission wants an additional 35 billion cubic meters of biogas to be produced within a few years. That is roughly doubling the amount compared to 2015. Biogas production in the Netherlands was 221 million cubic meters last year. Biogas can provide farmers with a new source of income, it is said.
The European Biogas Association (EBA) states that biogas production fits well within circular agriculture. According to the EBA, methane emissions from agriculture can be prevented if manure is used for methane production.
‘Extra production of biogas’ is already one of the criteria that Agriculture Commissioner Janusz Wojciechowski has included in his assessments of the national strategic plans (NSPs) of the 27 EU countries. According to unconfirmed reports, Wojciechowski will come up with an ‘agricultural action plan’ within two weeks in response to the consequences of the Russian war against Ukraine.