New South Wales to get accredited renewable gas
Australian infrastructure company Jemena on June 1 said New South Wales (NSW) gas customers would soon have access to verified and accredited renewable gas through the use of a certification pilot project.
Jemena, NSW government-managed accreditor GreenPower, and peak industry association Energy Networks Australia (ENA) have joined forces to develop the pilot. It will run for two years, helping to inform the development of a permanent scheme for certifying renewable gases.
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“We are driving the call for a national certification scheme because our customers have told us they want certainty in their ability to purchase verified and accredited zero emission gas just as is currently the case for renewable electricity,” said Jemena executive general manager of energy networks Shaun Reardon. “A national certification scheme will boost industry investment in renewable gases such as biomethane and hydrogen and make them available to Australian homes and businesses.”
Jemena said its customers can lower their carbon footprint without making any changes to the way they currently use their gas appliances. “In the long-term, it will ensure gas remains affordable through the decarbonisation of existing gas infrastructure without the need for building new alternative forms of energy infrastructure,” Reardon added.
Chair of the National GreenPower Steering Group Tim Stock said the renewable gas pilot was a key step in the development of a voluntary market for renewable gas.
“GreenPower’s collaboration with Jemena and Energy Networks Australia showcases government and industry working together to support renewable gas markets and will provide more choice for consumers to help drive our energy transition," said Stock.
The pilot will first be applied to the Jemena and Australian Renewable Energy Agency co-funded biomethane-to-grid project, located at Sydney Water’s Malabar wastewater treatment plant. It will be later be expanded to encompass other projects as they come online, Jemena said.
“Australia’s inaugural biomethane-to-grid project is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the process, share learnings and insights with industry and provide customers with a level of certainty as they strive towards their environmental targets,” said Reardon.
The green gas certificates will be available to all customers. Retailers will hold the certificates for residential customers and Jemena will manage the certification process for commercial, industrial and other large customers.