Decarbonisation Technology August 2026 Issue

3. Infrastructure compat i bility Grid injection Injected directly into existing na xisting natural gas transmission and distr ansmission and distribution net ibution networks

4. Market integration

1. Renewable feedstocks

Compatible with existing infrastructure and end-use equipment

2. Production & upgrading

Agricultural residues

Industrial heating Rening, chemicals, cement, ceramics, glass, food processing. Uses existing boilers, furnaces , and burners

Animal manure

with minimal or no modications.

Organic waste ( f ood waste, MSW,

Anaerobic digestion

Existing gas grid

Upgrading CO removal, cleaning, drying

Power generation (CHP) Fully compatible with gas engines and turbines. Provides electricity and heat with lower lifecycle emissions. Transport – Bio-CNG Upgraded and compressed biomethane used as Bio-CNG

sewage sludge)

Natural gas quality Biomethane (>97% CH 4 )

Raw biogas

Wastewater treatment sludge

(50 - 70% CH)

Storage compatibilty

Energy crops & residues

Biomethane ow

Salt caverns

CNG systems

LNG treminals

Underground storage facilities

Storage connection End-use applications Gas infrastructure

in existing natural gas vehicles and refuelling infrastructure.

Provides energy security and system exibility. Enables seasonal balancing of energy supply and demand. Stores and dispatches renewable gas when needed.

Other end uses Commercial heating, district heating , and other gas applications .

Biomethane: Near-term deployment advantage

Biomethane

Hydrogen

Supporting decarbonisation and energy security

Uses existing gas pipelines and infrastructure

Hydrogen H

Often requires new or modied pipelines New storage systems and industrial equipment may be needed Higher infrastructure investment Large-scale deployment in the future

Compatible with storage, industrial equipment , and end-use technologies Lower investment and technical risk Immediately deployable at scale

Biomethane

Biomethane is an immediately deployable renewable gas solution for a low-carbon future

Figure 2 Infrastructure and market

breakthroughs (Miltner, et al., 2017) (Neri, et al., 2023) (Ankathi, et al., 2024) . Infrastructure compatibility and market integration One of biomethane’s most significant advantages is its compatibility with existing natural gas infrastructure, which substantially reduces deployment costs and accelerates market adoption (see Figure 2 ). Unlike many emerging low-carbon fuels, biomethane can be upgraded to natural gas quality and injected directly into existing gas transmission and distribution networks. This enables the decarbonisation of gas consumption without requiring major modifications to pipelines, compressors, or end-user equipment. In addition to grid injection, biomethane can utilise existing gas storage infrastructure, including underground storage facilities, salt caverns, CNG systems, and LNG terminals. This compatibility provides an important advantage in terms of energy security and system flexibility, as renewable gas can be stored and dispatched when needed. The ability to integrate biomethane into established storage

networks also supports seasonal balancing of energy supply and demand, addressing one of the key challenges associated with variable renewable electricity generation. Biomethane can also be readily integrated into industrial heating applications. Sectors such as refining, chemicals, cement, ceramics, glass, and food processing currently rely heavily on natural gas for process heat generation. Since biomethane possesses similar combustion characteristics to natural gas, it can often be used in existing boilers, furnaces, and burners with minimal or no technical modifications. Similarly, biomethane is fully compatible with CHP systems, allowing existing gas engines and turbines to continue providing electricity and heat while reducing lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions (IRENA, 2023) . The transport sector represents another important market opportunity. After upgrading and compression, biomethane can be used as Bio-CNG in existing natural gas vehicles, particularly in heavy-duty transport, municipal fleets, and public bus networks. Since Bio-CNG can utilise existing refuelling infrastructure and vehicle technologies, it offers a practical