UABIO calls for the approval of separate requirements for biomethane with a higher calorific value

The Bioenergy Association of Ukraine has sent a letter with proposals to the relevant committees calling for changes to the requirements for the minimum values of the higher volumetric heating value of biomethane (Hs).

“The issue that hinders exports is the fulfillment of the GTS Code’s requirement for the quality of gas that can be accepted into the gas network in terms of achieving a higher calorific value of 10.06 kWh/mcm under standard conditions (combustion temperature/measuring temperature) of 25°C/20°C,” the Association explains.

As stated in the explanation on the UABio’s Facebook page, according to the law, exports are possible provided that biogas or other types of gas from alternative sources comply with the regulations on natural gas in terms of their physical and chemical characteristics. In other words, setting different requirements for a higher calorific value for biomethane than for natural gas would be contrary to the Law.

The requirements for the physical and chemical characteristics of natural gas supplied to gas networks are determined by technical regulations, the provisions of which should set requirements for the quality parameters of biogas (biomethane) or other types of gas from alternative sources.

At the same time, the work on the technical regulations has been going on for more than 5 years, and, unfortunately, has not yet been completed. In recent years, at least two versions of the technical regulation on natural gas have been proposed, none of which has been adopted yet.

“These are the powers of the central executive body that ensures the formation and implementation of state policy in the oil and gas sector. At the same time, Ukraine has some of the highest requirements for the calorific value of biomethane compared to EU countries. Only Switzerland has higher requirements than Ukraine,” says the Bioenergy Association.

The BAU proposes to consider the following alternative solutions to this problem:

• Amend the GTS Code (without amending the Law of Ukraine “On the Natural Gas Market” and without approving the technical regulations) and set the lower limit of the higher heating value at no higher than 10.5 kWh/mcm (25°C/0°C), which will apply to both biomethane and natural gas.
• In the near future, approve the technical regulations for natural gas, which will set the value for the lower limit of the higher heating value of natural gas at a level not exceeding 10.5 kWh/m cubic meter (25°C/0°C).
• Amend the Law of Ukraine “On the Natural Gas Market” to provide that the specific physical and chemical characteristics of biomethane may differ from those of natural gas, with subsequent amendments to the GTS Code and the definition of specific requirements for the lower limit of the higher heating value of biomethane at a level not exceeding 10.5 kWh/m3 (25°C/0°C).