”The goal is of course 100% biogas in the gas grid. And that’s realistic.”

? How is biogas a sustainable energy source?

! As long as there are people on earth, organic waste will also be produced. With initiatives against food waste and changed food and consumption habits, we can change the amount and composition of the waste, but we cannot completely avoid it. Therefore, it is a fundamental task to make the best use of that waste. We do this by making climate-friendly and CO2-neutral biogas. Biogas is sustainable because it is circular economy at its best: Private individuals, industry and agriculture generate organic waste, which is converted into green and climate-friendly energy. And then it is also important to mention the degassed manure, which is an important by-product of production. We are sending that back to the farmers. And it is manure that is freed from the climate-damaging methane, and at the same time contains more nutrients and is better absorbed by the crops.

? How does biogas position itself in the energy system in relation to natural gas?

! Biogas is a key tool if we are to create European energy independence. Where natural gas is a fossil form of energy, which we currently buy from Russia. Biogas is a green, CO2-neutral and locally anchored alternative. This is both good for the climate and for security of supply. In 2021, 25% of the gas we sent through the gas grid in Denmark was green biogas. This gives us the world’s greenest gas grid. The goal is of course 100% biogas in the gas grid. And that’s realistic.

? Is there enough biogas to meet the demand?

! Yes, there is enough biomass to meet demand. Right now, the Danish gas demand is covered by both natural gas and biogas. But there is still a great and green potential in becoming better at exploiting, for example, the Danes’ food waste. If we succeed, we can produce even more biogas and go further in the green transition. With the right conditions, including the expansion and advance of support pools, we can fill our entire gas network with biogas within a few years. 2027 is realistic, and we are ready to press the accelerator and build more large-scale biogas plants.

? What about the biogas infrastructure?

! We have a well-developed gas network and, at the end of the day, it is a matter of political will, whether we send green or black gas through it. The infrastructure couldn’t be better. Biogas currently occupies 27 percent of the Danish gas grid, which gives us the world’s greenest gas grid. By 2025, it is expected that more than 40 percent of the gas in the grid will be biogas. I think this shows something about the fact that we are in a rapid development and that climate-friendly green biogas is central when we are to reach the Danish 70% CO2 reduction target.

? What role does biogas play when we talk about sector coupling and Power-to-X?

! In Nature Energy, we have developed a Power-to-X technology that has the potential to revolutionize our biogas production and turn the gas grid into a large battery for the green power. This will help solve the central problem of storage we face in the development of green forms of energy. When we produce biogas, we are left with large amounts of biogenic or “clean” CO2. Combining this with surplus power from solar cells and wind turbines, we can create PtX, and this makes it a huge green resource in the green transition. It is crucial that we work closely together across the energy sector, and with our technology we can together make Danish gas consumption CO2 neutral already in 2034 – six years earlier than expected.

? What is the role of biogas in the energy system of the future?

! None of the green forms of energy that we as a society have developed can handle it all. But together, the different forms of energy can cover a full and complete green transition. If we look at e.g. heavy transport and heavy industry, biogas is an obvious solution if you want to reduce CO2. With biogas, we create a green alternative to oil and coal – both in gas and liquid form. It contributes to creating climate-friendly solutions for the benefit of the green transition, which gives an effect here and now. We believe that biogas has a significant role to play – both in Denmark, but also abroad. And therefore, we at Nature Energy are also in the process of making our experience with large-scale biogas plants applicable globally. Time right now clearly shows us that we must be self-sufficient in gas in Europe. Therefore, we have no doubt that biogas will play a major role in the energy system both now and in the future.”

“With our technology, together we can make Danish gas consumption CO2 neutral already in 2034 – six years earlier than expected.”

Ole Hvelplund, Director, Nature Energy