Ukraine has the opportunity to start selling biomethane to other countries already this year

Ukrainian producers got the opportunity to export biomethane from Ukraine to Europe, because the procedure for customs clearance of biomethane export, determined by the order of the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine, has already entered into force.

As representatives of the operator of the gas transportation system of Ukraine informed, the conditions and tariffs for connection, transportation, and export through the gas transportation system of Ukraine for biomethane producers are similar to the conditions for natural gas producers. To support biomethane producers, the Operator plans to hold a series of trainings during which participants will be introduced to the procedure for providing transportation services, using the information platform, filing nominations for export, etc.

The Ukrainian gas transportation system opens opportunities for producers to export biomethane to Europe through interstate connection points with four EU countries. At the same time, biomethane producers do not have to connect their biomethane plants directly to the system, since the connection can be to gas distribution networks.

We will remind you that biomethane is a carbon-neutral analog of natural gas. It is formed thanks to the enrichment of biogas. We are talking about gas from biomass, agricultural waste. There are currently 77 biogas plants operating in Ukraine. Their capacity reaches 260 million cubic meters of fuel per year. This volume can be processed into 150 million cubic meters of biomethane. Biomethane production potential is 10 billion cubic meters per year. By 2030, this indicator can be increased to 1 billion cubic meters per year.

We will remind that the Verkhovna Rada supported the law on the export of biomethane - draft law No. 9456 was supported by 297 deputies. The document was developed with the aim of: developing a new field of energy production; fulfillment of international obligations regarding decarbonization; facilitating the fulfillment of the requirements of SVAM when exporting products to the EU; increasing the export potential of Ukraine; attraction of international investments in the development of the energy sector and restoration of the regions of Ukraine with the involvement of the use of new technologies.

In general, Ukraine can provide 20% of the energy needs of the European Union. Therefore, it is interested in exporting biomethane to Europe. At present, the country can provide not only its own energy needs, but also European energy needs by developing the production of biomethane at the expense of agricultural production waste. After all, the energy potential of biomass in Ukraine exceeds 25 million tons per year in oil equivalent. At the same time, the European Union plans to produce up to 35 billion cubic meters of biomethane per year by 2030. Therefore, Ukraine is potentially able to provide about 20% of the EU's needs.

In the production of biomethane, Ukraine can compete with any country and offer the cheapest raw materials. Ukraine has the largest area of ​​agricultural land in Europe and, accordingly, one of the best potentials in the world for the production of biomethane. The use of the bioenergy potential of the agricultural sector and the processing industry will contribute to the decentralization of the energy system and reliable energy supply of communities.

It should be noted that Europe is interested in appropriate cooperation with Ukraine. It is known that in Germany two influential organizations came up with the idea of ​​accelerating the development of biogas exports from Ukraine to the European Union in order to reduce the EU's dependence on Russian gas. As Deutsche Welle notes, according to experts, a relevant decision can lead to the rapid integration of Ukraine into the European energy market. Analysts note that Ukraine has an extensive gas transport infrastructure, which is oriented towards the European Union, as well as a powerful agricultural industry, which means that it has a huge potential for biogas production. Experts are sure that the supply of biomethane from Ukraine, thanks to the decentralized nature of production, can be started right now, it is only necessary to ensure the legal and financial framework. In addition, Ukraine and Denmark have already concluded a Memorandum on cooperation in the field of bioenergy. The Danish side brought a financial contribution of $5.8 million. As the ministers noted, Ukraine and Denmark have ten years of energy partnership. As Danish Energy Minister Lars Aagaard said, the ten-year cooperation between Denmark and Ukraine in the field of energy began with wind energy, renewable sources, centralized heat supply, and energy efficiency. And now another component has been added - this is biogas.