The Spanish industry is constantly looking for new and better alternatives that can replace the use of high quality poisoning such as natural gas due to harmful carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. This is precisely why several companies in Spain have decided to start a new alternative that promises to transform the rules of the game, due to the need to adapt to a changing environment.
Spain’s alarming dependence on polluting gas
Recently, Sedigás, the Spanish Gas Association, together with PwC, carried out a report in which they point out the great importance of competitiveness between companies that promote the production of renewable gases in the country, this is due to the alarming rate that natural gas consumption has recently .
As detailed in the report mentioned above, it appears that a significant 17% of GDP (gross domestic product) is supported by significant dependence on natural gas. This same one has 55% of the total energy consumption in Spain. This would be the main problem that radically slows down the integration of renewable gases in Spanish industry.
Despite the shocking figures, the demand for natural gas has decreased significantly in recent times, with a 39% drop in the last month of 2022 compared to 2021. In fact, it is important to mention that the annual consumption of polluting gas only twice a year increased. percent, despite the fact that in 2023 there was an increase of 27% compared to the previous year.
The long-awaited project that will provide renewable gases in the face of delicate climate change
Renewable gases such as green hydrogen and biomethane could have a significant impact on the plan to decarbonize gas-intensive sectors. These two are extremely attractive and viable alternatives to once and for all replace the use of natural gas, which has an alarming impact on the environment and global warming and thus climate change.
When we talk about gas-intensive zones, emphasis is placed on areas with high electrification potential, which can be found in a specific range between 0% and 5%. This term refers to regions where dependence on gas-intensive energy sources is notorious and, on the other hand, indicates a window to make progress towards cleaner and more sustainable technologies.
Is it possible to enable the use of hydrogen today?
The integration of approximately 20% renewable hydrogen into the currently existing polluting gas network would represent a significant investment, according to a recent study by CavendisH2, carried out in collaboration with Sedigas and Bip Consulting. The estimated costs for this transition range between €92 and €703 million, reflecting the complexity and variability in implementing large-scale renewable hydrogen technologies.
In a recent update, those responsible for the H2SAREA project have certified a remarkably high compatibility in the gas distribution network. This remarkable achievement highlights the project’s outstanding effectiveness in seamlessly achieving the integration of hydrogen into the existing gas distribution infrastructure. The certification obtained confirms highly comparable compatibility, consolidating the viability and efficiency of the implementation.
Regarding the other potential product that could replace natural gas, we are talking specifically about biomethane, and Spain currently has the large capacity to produce 163 TWh/year. The above amount is sufficient to cover almost 50% of the annual demand for natural gas. These significant figures represent an important step towards the viability and acceptance of hydrogen technologies in the gas network.