‘When talking about solutions supporting an energy transition that would be safe for the Polish economy, biomethane must not be omitted. Distributed systems deployed near sources of feedstocks and processing of burdensome agricultural and municipal waste may very soon contribute to obtaining a new source of energy and to solving major environmental challenges,’ noted Paweł Majewski, President of the Management Board of PGNiG SA.

The agreement puts forward proposed measures related to launching and conducting production operations, using biogas and biomethane and creating a regulatory environment and mechanisms supporting development of this industry. In the document the parties also declared their intent to further collaborate and run joint initiatives to implement the proposed solutions.

‘As a gas company, we are optimistic about the agreement. Recently, we have repeatedly raised the topic of the potential locked in biomethane. We are all the more pleased so many representatives of PGNiG could take part in the work on the project and share their knowledge and experience. We declare our full commitment to supporting further efforts aimed at implementing the market, institutional and legal recommendations contained in the document,’ Mr Majewski added.

PGNiG was responsible for coordinating the work of the BioLNG, BioCNG and Biomethane Injection into the National Gas Distribution Network Team. The group, comprising almost 70 delegates representing all stakeholders in the biomethane sector, held over a dozen meetings to discuss and review issues like fuel quality, costs of connecting and injecting biomethane into the distribution network and using the Sustainable Development Criteria (KZR) certification system in the production process. PGNiG employees also actively participated in the work of the other six working groups, including in consultations on the use of digestate.

The agreement is a result of the efforts undertaken pursuant to the Letter of Intent to establish a partnership for the development of a biogas and biomethane sector signed in October 2020. The project was initiated by the Minister of Climate and Environment and the Government Representative for Renewable Energy Sources with the support of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Minister of State Assets, the Minister of Education and Science and the Minister of Development and Technology.

The project is yet another initiative implementing the goals of Poland’s Energy Policy 2040, to which Polskie Górnictwo Naftowe i Gazownictwo is a party. In October 2021, the company joined the Sectoral agreement for the development of a hydrogen economy in Poland.