Overview of biomethane markets and regulations ... - Green Gas Grids

Figure 2: Transmission grid of Croatia (source www.plinacro.hr)
The natural gas transmission system comprises 2,034 km of pipelines, 142 exit
metering-reduction stations with 210 metering lines and 19 entry metering
stations. Regarding distribution, the total gas pipeline length is 15,980 km. There is
a uniform gas quality. The share of methane in the Croatian natural gas grid varies
between 85 and 95 %, therefore biomethane production and the adjustment to
natural gas quality is expected to demand less effort compared to public grids with
high calorific gas. The Gas is odorized in the distribution grid. The supervising
authority in charge of regulating the natural gas market is Croatian Energy
Regulatory Agency (HERA).
Natural gas plays a minor role in transportation. According to the NGVA, by end of
2010 only about 200 vehicles ran on natural gas, which was about 0.01% of the
total number of cars and trucks in the country. There are two filling stations
offering CNG in Croatia, one located in Zagreb and the other one in Ivanic Grad.
Technical standards for biomethane and natural gas
The Act on Natural Gas Market (Zakon o tržištu plina) determines the rules and
measures for performing energy-related activities in the natural gas sector, the
rights and obligations of the gas market participants, the unbundling of activities of
the system operators, third party access to the natural gas system and the natural
gas market opening. According to this act, biogas, gas from biomass and other
gases are permitted for injection into the natural gas grid presuming the same
technical and safety standards for natural gas are fulfiled. Gas quality requirements
for natural gas are laid down in the standard General condition for natural gas
supply (OG 43/09). Due to the fact that the detailed standards and obligations for
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