New quality protocol for biomethane launched

The Environment Agency (EA) has today (30 January) launched a new quality protocol (QP) for Biomethane.

Developed with the Waste & Resources Action Programme (WRAP) with support from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), industry representatives and other regulatory stakeholders, the QP sets out end-of-waste criteria for the production and use of biomethane arising from the degradation of organic wastes in a landfill site or anaerobic digestion (AD) plant. It replaces the revised draft QP released last year.

The new QP, applicable from today in England and Wales, allows gas to be injected into the grid or used in an appliance ‘suitably designed and operated for natural gas’, without the need for waste regulatory controls. However, this does not affect the obligation on producers and processors to hold an environmental permit. It provides a standardised definition of when gas ceases to be waste, and can be classed as ‘recovered’ instead.

Although producers, processors and users are not obliged to comply with the QP, if they do not, they must adhere to the relevant waste management controls for the storage, handling, transportation, and application of biomethane.

Specifically, the QP outlines that in order for biomethane to cease to be waste when injected into the gas grid, it must:

• be destined for use as a fuel or raw material delivered through the gas grid;
• meet an approved product standard specified for the particular end;
• comply with the requirements of the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations 1996, including complying with any further amendments to or replacement of those regulations;
• be supplied under a Network Entry Agreement (NEA) that has been drawn up by a gas transporter under the Uniform Network Code; and
• be accompanied by evidence of compliance through records management.

In order for biomethane to cease to be waste and used as fuel in an appliance (including vehicles), it must:

• meet an approved product standard for the particular designated application;
• comply with the requirements of the appliance manufacturer’s warranty, if required;
• be accompanied by evidence of compliance through records management; and
• be accompanied by evidence of compliance with operational requirements contained in the warranty, or other operating instructions, through records management.

It is hoped the QP will help to ‘significantly stimulate growth’ in biomethane gas (largely from AD) and replace around one per cent of the UK’s domestic annual demand for natural gas by 2020.

Further, it is estimated the QP could help save businesses around £34 million a year due to a reduced dependence of imported gas.

Overcoming barriers to biomethane applications

To date, biomethane-to-grid applications have been scarce (the UK’s first commercial-scale AD and biomethane-to-grid plant opened in Dorset in November 2012). Speaking of the effects of today’s launch, EA Environment & Business Manager Roger Hoare explained: “Biomethane to grid is an embryonic sector in the UK at present, with only a handful of trial projects in operation.

“This is largely due to cost and regulatory barriers that exist, one of which is the waste status of biogas from landfill and AD. This QP provides a route to overcoming this barrier.”

The QP has been welcomed by members of the renewable energy sector, with Matt Hindle, Policy Manager of the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA), saying: “Biomethane has huge potential as a form of renewable energy which can decarbonise hard-to-reach areas such as industrial processes, heating and road transport.

“The quality protocol will help developers and operators by giving greater certainty around waste controls, so ADBA welcomes its publication. On behalf of the industry, we would also to thank the Environment Agency and all the other bodies involved in developing the QP for their work.”

REAL, a subsidiary company for the Renewable Energy Association, also welcomed the QP’s arrival, with Certification Manager Ciaran Burns saying it “confirms once and for all that biomethane from AD can be treated as resource rather than waste, eliminating the need for costly waste handling controls”.

Burns added that the QP could set a ‘benchmark’ for developers of new biomethane technologies and help ‘build confidence’ in the green gas sector.

The QP is hosted on the Green Gas Certification Scheme website (operated by REAL) and has been funded through LIFE +, the EU programme for environment and climate protection.

Read the quality protocol for biomethane.