Millions of Dutch households use natural gas every day to cook and heat their homes. Natural gas is an important fuel in industry, agriculture and horticulture. The supply of natural gas is not infinite. We must therefore look for sustainable alternatives to natural gas. The production of green gas offers a solution, as green gas can be used for exactly the same applications as natural gas.
Green gas is the renewable, green variant of natural gas. Although biogas may have the same qualities and applications as conventional gas, its production is much more sustainable. Green gas is not of fossil origin, organic waste forms its basis. Think of animal manure, vegetable and fruit remains and agricultural waste. These residual products are converted into 100% renewable green gas via an environmentally friendly fermentation process. While this gas was still in its infancy a few years ago, everything has now been prepared for the big breakthrough. Gas will only become greener in the coming years.
Difference between biogas and green gas
Biogas is produced from sludge, waste from landfills, garden waste, vegetable/fruit residues and animal residual products such as cow manure. The biogas is then purified, dried and brought to the same quality as natural gas. After these operations, it can be called green gas and is a sustainable alternative to fossil natural gas.
Feeding into the gas network
Green gas can be fed into the normal gas network and can be used by anyone with a gas connection. Because green gas has the same properties as natural gas, it is not necessary to adjust equipment.
Certifications
Just like green energy, green gas is supplied certified. In the Netherlands, Vertogas issues the certificates of Guarantee of Origin (GvOs). Vertogas checks whether the gas meets the requirements for such a certificate. This way the customer can be sure that the green gas is really green. Green gas is fed into the natural gas network. Green gas does not have to come from far away. Cooking and heating may come from green gas from a nearby farm.
Safety
Green gas is just as safe as regular natural gas. Network operators impose strict requirements on the quality of the gas that is fed into the network. The gas quality and condition of the gas network are frequently checked. Thanks to the quality controls of the network operators, the green gas that flows through the gas network is clean and safe.
Thorough check
For safety, an odorant is added to green gas. Green gas therefore has the same characteristic gas smell as natural gas. The installations for upgrading biogas to green gas are checked frequently and thoroughly. Green gas installations pose the same risk as natural gas installations and those risks are very limited.
Importance of green gas
The recently concluded Coalition Agreement stipulates that by 2030, 20% of all natural gas used in the built environment must be green gas.
Europe
The Netherlands has the ambition to become an important European player in the field of green gas. Transport capacity plays a major role in this. The Netherlands is connected to many gas connections with other European countries via the Gasunie Transport Services (GTS) network and, including through Gasunie, is a participant in Nord Stream, the largest pipeline project in the world. As part of this gas roundabout, the Netherlands can do a lot for the distribution of (green) gas in Europe. The European Union is positive about this sustainable and economically attractive idea.
