Despite facing many difficult challenges over the last 5 years, the UK now has over 60 biogas upgrading plants injecting biomethane into the gas grid. Capacity has reached almost 3.5TWh/y, enough to displace almost four 60,000 tonne LNG tankers! However, achieving Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996 (GSMR), Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) budget caps, tariff uncertainty, achieving Sustainability Criteria, low natural gas prices and limited network capacity all pose unique obstacles to overcome going forward. Biomethane as a transport fuel could offer some hope to developers if Government go ahead with the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) proposals currently under consultation.
Elsewhere, further innovation may be necessary to overcome some of these more challenging factors.