Green Gas Gateway
Abstract
Gas networks in Britain have connected 130 biomethane plants, which together have capacity to produce over 11TWh of green gas – enough to meet the annual demand of around a million average homes.
As biomethane production tends to cluster in farming areas, some parts of the country have higher connections and future potential. This can present challenges in relation to the capacity available for existing and new plants to inject biomethane, especially when overall gas demand is lower in summer months.
The gas networks and their partners have mature systems and processes to assess capacity and work with producers and developers to identify capacity. More recently, potential solutions to constraints have been developed and trialled, notably through the Optinet project (NIA_CAD0061) and including Wales & West Utilities’ Smart Pressure Control roll out and Reverse Compression.
The Government is continuing to support new production through the Green Gas Support Scheme and is considering future policy for biomethane. This could significantly increase the volume of biomethane produced and connected, which has been recognised in NESO’s FES 2025.
In its Draft Determination for RIIO-3, Ofgem has recognised the potential for future growth in biomethane connections. The regulator “encourage[s] the GDNs to collectively engage with the biomethane industry to streamline and align connection processes”.
In response to this and other feedback from biomethane developers and operators, this project will explore the potential for more standardised approaches to support capacity for biomethane and overcome constraints.
