The EU Green Deal established a vision and a framework towards the goal of carbon neutrality for the bloc by 2050. This vision has since been applied in subsequent strategies pertaining to key areas, for example the Energy System Integration Strategy (2020) and the EU Hydrogen Strategy (2020). These two Communications envisage a prominent role in decarbonising the energy sector for the so-called “renewable and low carbon gases” or “clean molecules” (biogas, biomethane, hydrogen and synthetic methane).

Despite limited use of clean molecules to date, they are quickly attracting growing attention from policy makers and industry who see them as a potential sector coupling tool to balance energy grids as well as a means to decarbonise certain hard-to-abate sectors. As a result, the debate around clean molecules and their uptake in strategic areas has become an important EU policy and regulatory focus.

However, is the attention and excitement around clean molecules justified? How important are clean molecules for the achievement of carbon neutrality and in which areas? How are clean molecules different from each other and how are they different from fossil alternatives? What economic and regulatory barriers are stifling their market uptake and how can they be removed? Which technologies seem more promising and cost-efficient? We will explore all of these questions and more.

This intensive online training is expected to engage you for approximately 8 hours/week (excluding live classes).

• The EU context and policy debate
• Definitions (taxonomy) of renewable and low-carbon gas
• Biogas and biomethane production processes
• Energy decarbonisation in non-EU countries
• Energy transition challenges
• Transporting renewable and low carbon gases
• Power-to-gas: technology and costs
• Pyrolysis: technology and costs
• CCS: how it works and pilot projects
• National hydrogen/ decarbonisation strategies
• The main regulatory barriers for clean molecules
• A dynamic approach to regulation
• Triggering development via the ETS
• Governance of the decarbonised gas sector
• Clean molecules and methane emissions
• How to design a circular economy
• Decarbonisation in LNG and storage

This training will provide specialist insight into:

• How clean molecules are different from their fossil alternatives
• How clean molecules can support the energy transition in Europe
• The impact of clean molecules on the environment
• The latest developments in the sector covering the different gases and technologies
• The market potential of clean molecules and how their uptake can be supported
• The role of clean molecules in achieving EU long-term climate and energy objectives
• Legal and regulatory challenges related to the uptake of clean molecules

Registration is open to all professionals (institutions, utilities, associations, academics and researchers) following the debate on decarbonisation of the energy system who are interested in having a deeper understanding of the future role of gas and its support to the energy transition.

No specific academic background is required. The language of instruction is English.

• General fee: 1,700 EUR
• Students fee: 400 EUR
• Associate Donor 10%: 1530 EUR
• Major Donor 20%: 1360 EUR
• Star Donor 25%: 1275 EUR