Up to £400 million is expected to be invested in 48 new biomethane plants by January 2020, raising the total number of operational facilities from 98 currently to 146.
The figures – based on the number of applications to Ofgem for permission to operate the facilities – have been published by the four gas distribution networks (GDNs) in Great Britain which have joined forces to support the expansion.
Cadent design manager and chair of the Energy Networks Association’s biomethane group, Tina Hawke, said: “The evidence is now pointing to fast growth for biomethane – we know there are around 50 applications for new plants going through the system.
“This will provide safe, sustainable gas supplies for homes and businesses for decades to come and help to reduce the country’s greenhouse gas emissions.”
Charlotte Morton, chief executive of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association, said developers are seeking to take advantage of changes to the subsidies available through the Renewable Heat Incentive scheme which were implemented in May.
The tariffs were restored to a higher level and a guarantee was introduced allowing applicants to secure the rate before their project is commissioned and fully accredited. The guarantee will only apply to plants commissioned by 31 January 2020.
“We are expecting as many as 50 new biomethane facilities to be built over the coming 18 months as a result of the changes, with an accompanying investment of £300 million to £400 million,” said Morton.
“We’re delighted to see the gas distribution networks working together to enable and support this anticipated growth in biomethane and commit to safely connecting every biomethane plant to the gas grid.
“This will allow these plants to provide the green gas that we as a country absolutely need to help decarbonise the gas grid and meet our climate change targets.”
To help developers meet the deadline, the Energy Networks Association has launched a new biomethane connection code committing the GDNs to introducing a standard connection process, sharing resources as much as possible and providing full transparency over the resources available to deliver connections.
“The GDNs are working to standardise a number of elements of the design and commissioning process,” Hawke explained.
“We’ve set up a working group, through the Energy Networks Association, to develop a GDN standard specification. This will bring huge benefits to our customers and the supply chain – there will be a consistency in application irrespective of which GDN you’re working with.”
She continued: “We are also exploring having a single, consolidated GDN project commissioning plan.
“Historically, we know that projects do not commission to the original dates. With the constraints on resources for this phase of projects, and with the high risk that many will seek to commission during the last quarter of 2019, we need to consider and manage our resources efficiently and effectively.”
James Court, policy and external affairs director at the Renewable Energy Association, commented: “We are pleased to see the commitment from the gas networks to cut red tape, standardise connections across Great Britain and connect all projects under development as swiftly as possible.”