Page 15 - AsiaElec Week 46 2021

AsiaElec RENEWABLES AsiaElec

IGU calls for more support

for renewable gases

ASIA GOVERNMENT policies to promote the use of the financial community. We all need to play our
so-called green gases such as biogas and hydro- part if there really will be a practicable gaseous
gen are falling far short of the support needed to energy revolution.”
realise their potential in decarbonising the gas Though policymakers have far more inter-
grid, the International Gas Union (IGU) warned est in hydrogen than bio-methane, the latter is
in a report published on November 10. already produced in far greater quantities and so
The IGU, which represents dozens of gas it needs to be recognised as a key tool for deliv-
companies across the world, estimates that ering on emission goals in the nearer term, the
enough sustainable biogas could be produced IGU said.
to replace about 20% of current natural gas “Given the scale of the decarbonisation
demand globally. But the current production challenge, and the need for as many worka-
of biogas and bio-methane equates to just 1% of ble solutions as possible to ease the pains of a
total global gas output, with more than half of global energy transition, all forms of renewable
that concentrated in Europe, with another 25% gas should be pursued as quickly as possible,”
located in China. The current pipeline of projects the union continued. “This will require strong
will produce 20 times less than this. and clear policy support from governments
And while many countries see hydrogen globally, robust entrepreneurial initiative from
development as essential for realising their car- the incumbent industry players and disruptors
bon goals, the increase in low-carbon hydrogen alike.”
production has been limited in the past five Access to capital will be essential for hydro-
years, the IGU said. Today, low-carbon hydro- gen and biogas projects being realised, the IGU
gen output accounts for just 0.03% of worldwide stressed.
natural gas output. Kang said there was a problem with a lack of
“The current level of planned and installed transparency regarding the volume and pricing
production capacity for renewable and low-car- of renewable gases. He added that “developing
bon gases appears negligible compared to the effective growth strategies requires an under-
stated plans, and that must be changed,” IGU standing of the baseline, and that is what we aim
president Joe Kang commented. “This report is a to establish with this series.”™
call to action on all fronts – policy, industry, and

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