Green Gas Hubs

1. What is a Green Gas Hub?

A Green Gas Hub is a smart and efficient production model for large-scale green gas production. Decentralised producers of biogas, such as farmers, can be connected via a (collection) pipe to a central plant, to which they deliver the biogas they themselves produce. In this plant, the biogas is upgraded to natural gas quality (green gas) so it can be introduced into the natural gas network.

2. What is the advantage of a Green Gas Hub?

Green Gas Hubs produce so much gas that they can immediately feed into the regional transport pipes of the Gasunie. This means that they do in fact need to compress the gas, but also that they are assured of continuous sales.

In order to make green gas from biogas, it is necessary to upgrade the biogas. The equipment required for this is costly, but also offers excellent economies of scale: larger installations are relatively cheaper than smaller ones.

Small biogas producers, once connected to a Green Gas Hub, do not need to invest in upgrading, compression or feeding. They can concentrate on fermentation.

3. Where can you find these Green Gas Hubs?

Due to their potentially large volumes, Green Gas Hubs are preferably located near a regional Gasunie transport pipe. Hubs are currently under development by Omrin in Oudehaske, by Essent between Dokkum and Leeuwarden, by the Suiker Unie in Groningen West, and by Attero in both Groningen East and in Wijster. Other areas are also being investigated to assess their potential for setting up a Green Gas Hub.

4. How much green gas can these Green Gas Hubs produce?

Taken together, the 5 Green Gas Hubs mentioned above are expected to produce some 200 million m3 of green gas per year. That is enough to supply 140,000 households with gas every year.

5. How do these Green Gas Hubs come by the biomass they need?

This varies from Hub to Hub. Omrin and Attero are waste management companies: they use organic household waste. Suiker Unie uses organic material that is a by-product of producing sugar from sugar beets. Decentralised digesters use manure and add other substances to boost gas production.

6. What happens to the gas produced by the Green Gas Hubs?

In the near future, the Green Gas Hubs will begin feeding the gas into the natural gas network, at which point it will be a substitute for natural gas in any and all of its applications. It is not inconceivable that in the future, some of the gas, perhaps upgraded, perhaps not, will be supplied directly to major natural gas consumers. Another option for the near future is the use of this gas as a fuel for transport.

7. Why aren’t there any Green Gas Hubs right now?

Green Gas Hubs, just like other green gas producers, depend on an (operating) subsidy. The regulation under which this subsidy is granted was written for ‘stand alone installations’, which assumes a single location with a digester, an upgrading system, and feeding system. However, a Green Gas Hub model has multiple digesters supplying a central upgrading and feeding system, which does not match the regulation. The Ministry of Economic Affairs is currently working to amend the regulation so that, starting from 2011, Green Gas Hubs will in fact be eligible for the subsidy.

8. What is the Energy Valley Foundation’s role in the development of Green Gas Hubs?

The Energy Valley Foundation developed the Green Gas Hub concept. Furthermore, as a network organisation, it brings together different groups, develops project ideas and works to create the optimal preconditions for large-scale green gas production in the Northern Netherlands. This is accomplished by working in close cooperation with the Northern Netherlands Green Gas Taskforce: an association bringing together all manner of professionals. The institute does not develop any projects itself, that is a concern for the market parties. We do support these market parties, if desired, in project development.

9. Can I set up a Green Gas Hub too?

You sure can! In principle, anyone who produces biogas and who is prepared to invest along with other biogas producers in upgrading and feeding of the gas can become a Green Gas Hub. However, it would be a good idea to do this in consultation with the Energy Valley Foundation because the Green Gas Hub concept, including the name and logo, are in fact protected and therefore cannot be used by just anyone without the consent of the Energy Valley Foundation.