EU Needs Renewable Gas Targets: Gas Distributors

The heads of seven EU gas distributors have called on the EU to introduce targets for renewable gases and take further steps to help decarbonise the gas sector.

The CEOs of Gas Networks Ireland, Italy's Italgas, Romania's Distrigaz, Greece's Edathess, Portugal's Galp Gas Natural Distribuicao, France's GRDF and Spain's Nedgia, all members of the Gas for Sustainability group, held a virtual meeting on September 10 with EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson. In the meeting they highlighted "the critical role" of gas distribution networks in integrating renewable energies and advancing sector coupling to achieve EU decarbonisation goals, Gas Networks Ireland said in a statement.

They expressed their commitment to decarbonising the gas sector and developing renewable and decarbonised gases, such as biomethane and hydrogen, in a cost effective way. But they called on the EU to establish targets for these gases to facilitate their deployment.

The company heads also said it was important that clean technologies were subject to a full life cycle assessment across all sectors, so that they can be compared fairly.