The main actors in the energy sector meet this Thursday, May 8 in Madrid to celebrate the 51st Annual Meeting of the Spanish Gas Association (Sedigas). Under the motto “Renewable gases: sustainable energy for competitiveness and energy sovereignty”the meeting will analyze the challenges and opportunities of the sector in a stage marked by the Geopolitical tensionsclimatic challenges and the process of transformation of the European energy system.
With special attention to the role of Biomethane and renewable hydrogenThe day aims to highlight how these vectors will help guarantee the supply in a volatile environment, accelerate decarbonization and reinforce national economic competitiveness.
Balance 2024: Diversification, records and European leadership
during the past year, Spain reinforced its position as an energy reference in Europemaintaining the availability of 100 % of the gasist system even during extreme meteorological episodes such as Dana. They were recorded Imports from 14 different originsconsolidating the supply diversification.
The country exported 34.5 Natural Gas TWH, positioning itself as the second in Europe by volume of GNL rechargedjust behind Belgium. In parallel, 100 % filling the Underground storage in Augustanticipating the objectives set by the EU. In addition, the Spanish gas system was The first in the European Union to apply the 14th package of sanctions to Russiaadapting standards and procedures for the monitoring and control of ship loads.
The Spanish gas system was The first in the European Union to apply the 14th package of sanctions to Russia after the invasion of Ukraine
In terms of consumption, conventional demand reached 237,1 TWhwith an increase of 4.2 % in industrial use. In December the Daily demand record Of the last two years, with 1,671 GWh/day, driven by the combined cycles against low renewable generation.
Supply guarantee against ‘electric zero’
The recent interruption of the electricity supply last April 28 showed the relevance of the gasist system for national energy stability. During the failure, the gas supply remained operational and allowed the Combined cycles assume an essential role in the System recoverycovering 48 % of the electrical power in the early hours of Tuesday 29.
-This episode reinforces the debate on the need for a Capacity market for combined cycles as an essential support for the growing electrification and the boom of energy intensive infrastructure such as data centers.
Renewable gases: engine for energy sovereignty
Biomethane could cover up to 50 % of the national natural gas demandwith an estimated production potential of 163 TWH/year. However, current production barely represents 0.1 %, partly by the Scarce ambition of the Pniecwhich only sets a 20th Objective. The development of this source would allow to generate more than 62,000 jobs and mobilize investments higher than 40,000 million eurosespecially in the rural environment. It could also avoid even 83 million tons of methane.
For its part, Spain aspires to lead the production of renewable hydrogen in Europewith an objective of 12 GW of electrolyters. This energy vector will be key to Decarbonize intensive sectors and reinforce industrial competitiveness. In this framework, infrastructure of the H2MED European Corridorwith projects such as Celza y Barmarrecently beneficiaries of 75.8 million euros from the European CEF program.
Spain aspires to lead the production of renewable hydrogen in Europewith an objective of 12 GW of electrolyters.
Regulatory keys and transition regulation
During the day, the 2/2025 circular of the CNMCwhich regulates access and connection of new renewable gas facilities to networks. In parallel, the future processing of the Gasist system remuneration circular (2027-2032), which must guarantee regulatory stability, encourage investments and promote the use of existing infrastructure.
He New ETS2 emission rights trade system and the Red III and EPBD directives will mark the step in this transition. The sector sees clear opportunities in the elimination of subsidies to fossil boilers, the increase in the renewable objective to 42.5 % by 2030, and the mechanisms for supporting technologies such as biomethane and hydrogen.
The president of Sedigas, Joan Battlestressed that “the European objectives mark a clear road map so that Spain, with the potential it possesses, Lead the transition to a more autonomous, competitive and sustainable energy model“, And stressed that” natural gas, together with its infrastructure network, will play a key role as a technical facilitator of the process. “
