The information meeting “Green Gas: Economic, Social, and Environmental Impact in Spain ,” organized by Agencia EFE and the Gas Verde, Sí platform, brought together institutional representatives, experts, and academics today to discuss the strategic potential of biomethane in our country.

The meeting featured a speech by Manuel García, Directorate-General for Energy Policy and Mines , whose presence reinforced the institutional commitment to the development of renewable gases: “Through the gas package, we aim to support, from a regulatory perspective, measures that, on the one hand, simplify processing and, on the other, provide the sector with certainty to undertake its investments. Meanwhile, we take note of the proposal to create mechanisms to incentivize demand for green gas through the establishment of quotas,” he concluded.

At the meeting of the Autonomous Communities, representatives from Andalusia, the Valencian Community, and Catalonia agreed that green gas is part of the decarbonization roadmap.

The challenges now focus on administrative simplification and shortening deadlines, the main obstacles to deploying green gas at the speed necessary to meet our country’s macroeconomic objectives.

The speakers also agreed on the need for academic institutions to disseminate information to combat the lack of information surrounding the development of green gas.

The Deputy Minister of Industry, Energy and Mines of the Andalusian Regional Government, Cristobal Sánchez , states that: “Few things can be as green as an energy vector based on natural resources, which is also capable of utilizing waste and combining renewable energy and the circular economy.”

Felipe Carrasco, Regional Secretary for Industry and Consumption of the Generalitat Valenciana : “The development of green gases will only be possible through public-private collaboration models. To move forward, it is essential that there is political will, fluid dialogue between administrations and companies, and a clear, understandable and agile regulatory framework so that there is development at the speed required by the sector and that citizens need.”

Jaume Margarit, head of the energy planning division at the Cataá Energy Institute (ICAEN), states: “If we convert livestock waste into biogas, we already benefit. Right now, we have many problems with soil pollution. We must raise awareness that these plants are beneficial for the environment. ”

For his part, Fidel López Soria, CEO of Redexis and representative of Gas Verde, Sí , commented that, “Green gas represents one of the greatest and most strategic opportunities for our country today.” He emphasized that “Spain has the third-largest green gas production potential in Europe and one of the most modern and extensive gas networks on the continent. We are talking about an energy source that can cover 100% of the thermal demand of Spanish households by 2040.”

Importance of dissemination according to experts

At the panel of experts and academics, with representatives from CIEMAT, the CSIC, the University of Cádiz, and the College of Industrial Engineers of Murcia, it was emphasized that green gas is an ideal, safe energy source with proven technology that is already available and scalable. It also has the advantage of already adapted networks and user equipment.

The event also highlighted the economic and social impact of green gas, which could mobilize up to €40 billion in private investment, generate more than 20,000 direct jobs in rural areas, and recover more than 120 million tons of waste within the circular economy. Furthermore, they emphasized that all this can be achieved without additional costs to families, without loss of industrial competitiveness, and without the need for new infrastructure, thanks to the existing gas network, which is fully equipped to inject biomethane.