A common terminology for gases

This FSR online debate will provide participants with insights on the FSR’s proposal for a common terminology for gases.

Sector coupling is meant to accelerate the decarbonisation of the EU energy sector and gas sector will be playing a key role in the process. However, recent discussions, studies and existing pilot projects led us from a rather uniform world of one commodity (natural gas) to the uncharted territory of the heterogenous low-carbon and decarbonised gases. Biogas, biomethane, green, blue and grey hydrogen, synthetic methane could be produced through different processes and from different substrates, which rises the questions on their environmental and climate impact.

Panellists: Chelsea Baldino (ICCT), Eva Hennig (Eurogas), Augustijn Van Haasteren (DG ENER), Malcolm McDowell (DG ENER)

Moderator: Ilaria Conti (FSR)

That’s why one of the key debates at the latest Madrid Forum on 5-6^th June 2019 was devoted to the identification of a common terminology for gases.

The recently adopted recast Renewable Energy Directive (RED II) takes up the matter, e.g. by extending the Guarantees of Origins to renewable gases and by introducing the provisions enabling the integration of gas from renewable sources in the existing gas network infrastructure. Yet, it does not introduce clear definitions or criteria (taxonomy) to classify the various types of gases that are currently being used in the system.

This is the first online debate organised as a part of the FSR sector coupling platform project realised in cooperation with the European Commission (DG Energy). For more information visit the FSR Sector Couling platform.

Preparatory materials:

ICCT presentation on Common terminology for gases from the research perspective

CEDEC presentation on Gas industry proposal to align gas terminology