Lithuania's Auga group starts biomethane supplies to German market
SUMMARY
The biomethane is being transported through the natural gas system operated by Amber Grid. [Image: Auga group]
By Shardul SharmaAuga group, headquartered in Vilnius, on March 13 announced the commencement of biomethane supplies to the German market through the natural gas system operated by Amber Grid.
The project capacities of three biogas power plants enable the generation of 61,000 MWh/year of gas, which is being sold to Tube Green. This gas is transmitted into the natural gas system using Auga's gas intake point.
Kestutis Juscius, the chair of the board of Auga group, said that the company had been producing biomethane for some time but Lithuanian laws didn't initially allow for separate intake points.
"We are pleased that, as the result of long and steady work, we and other biomethane gas producers in the country now have the opportunity to produce green gas in regions where sufficient raw material demand can be ensured, and the gas that is produced can later be successfully sold on the local or international market," Juscius said.
Juscius highlighted the commercial viability of biomethane production from agricultural secondary raw materials like cow slurry and chicken manure. He added that biomethane will be used in the Auga M1 tractors in the future.
Auga said its biomethane production aligns with EU energy independence goals, including the RePowerEU plan, which aims to increase biomethane production in the EU to 35bn m3/year by 2030. In Lithuania, the demand for biomethane is further bolstered by the Alternative Fuels Law, mandating a 15% renewable energy share in the transport sector by 2030.
"The biomethane map of the European Union produced by the European Biofuels Association and Gas Infrastructure Europe shows that the number of biomethane plants in the EU has increased by almost 30% from 2021 to April 2023, which is a clear sign that demand for biomethane gas is growing significantly," Juscius said.
