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

e.g. primarily the KEV scheme, were put in place. However, if it appears that this
goal cannot be met, the Energy Act provides an option to introduce a renewable
obligation by the year 2016.
In autumn 2011 the Parliament decided to step out of nuclear energy and not
replacing existing nuclear power plants until 2030. The result of this decision will
see some change in policies. The Swiss Gas Industry considers biogas as an
essential element of the Swiss energy supply and supports biomethane with a
biogas fund to increase biomethane production by a factor of six within the coming
six years.
Natural gas consumption, suppliers, infrastructure
After the decision to exit nuclear power, Switzerland may increase natural gas
consumption. At present 12 % of the Swiss final energy consumption is based on
natural gas but compared to other European countries the gas utilisation is rather
underdeveloped. Only 0.7 % of the European natural gas consumed accounts for
Switzerland. This is the result of little inland resources and the dependence on gas
imports. Switzerland receives 41 % of its natural gas from the European Union.
Moreover, Norway (23 %) and Russia (24 %) are major suppliers. Liquid natural
gas is not significant since country's geographical position provides limited access
to LNG.
The Swiss grid has a total length of 17,500 km thereof about 2,150 km belonging
to the transmission network (> 5 bar) and 15,800 km to the distribution network
(< 5 bar). The grid is well established in the North, whereas in the mountainous
areas the expansion of the network is very limited. In the southern part of the
country the gas grid has started developing.
Historically, the Swiss gas industry is organised locally and federally with four
regional gas suppliers (Erdgas Ostschweiz, Gasverbund Mittelland, Gaznat und
Erdgas Zentralschweiz) and more than 100 local gas suppliers serving the Swiss
consumers. Most of the needed gas is procured by Swissgas AG as commissioned
by the regional gas suppliers. Minor gas quantities are bought from foreign gas
suppliers. Swissgas is fully owned by its shareholders who are the four regional gas
suppliers and the Association of the Swiss Gas Industry and sells at cost price.
Switzerland has one of the most developed infrastructures for gas vehicles and
takes a leading position in the CNG utilisation within the transport sector. According
to gasmobil AG there are 130 public filling stations and about 10,000 CNG cars such
as passenger cars, commercial and light duty vehicles. The Swiss government is
aware of the environmental benefits of gas as a vehicle fuel and supports both CNG
and LPG by a beneficial tax policy. The Federal Office of Import and Trade is in
charge of supervising the natural gas market. In terms of technical supervision the
SVGW (Schweizer Verein für Gas und Wasser / Swiss Gas and Water Association) is
in the authority to provide technical rules and advice.
Technical standards for biomethane and natural gas
The Swiss Gas Industry grants a non-discriminatory but not priority grid access for
biogenic gases. There are no restrictions regarding the sources of biogenic gases
apart from ecological points. The SVGW standard G13-09 determines the gas
quality requirements in order to protect the pipeline system, the measuring devices
and the gas customers from inappropriate gases entering the public grid. Moreover,
the technical standards SVGW G11 on odorization and SVGW G209 on the technical
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