By KYIV. Dec 15 (Interfax-Ukraine) – The total potential of biomethane production in Ukraine is estimated at 9.7 billion cubic meters (bcm)/year, of which the country’s agro-industrial complex can theoretically produce 7.8 billion cubic meters/year: 3.8 billion cubic meters/year of biomethane from waste and by-products of the agricultural sector, 2.7 billion cubic meters/year from corn silage and 1.3 billion cubic meters/year from other animal waste and processing industry.
According to a press release from the Ukrainian Agrarian Council, the EU currently produces 3.6 billion cubic meters of biomethane per year, and Ukraine can increase this figure by another 1 billion cubic meters by 2030.
"In the overall structure of biomethane production in the EU, agro-industry provides 38%. This figure consists of agricultural residues, including manure and crop residues. In some countries this figure exceeds 80% in France, and also 90% in Denmark. 70% of our country falls on agricultural land, which means we can become one of the leading countries in the production of biomethane," the association quotes its head Andriy Dykun.
According to the union estimates, the cost of commercial biomethane, depending on the type of feedstock, the capacity of the plant producing it and the cost of logistics to the end user, can vary in the range of EUR300-1200/1,000 cubic meters, while the cost of natural gas at European hubs at the end of this summer reached EUR3,400/1,000 cubic meters.
Thus, the development of the biomethane market will contribute to the decarbonization of the gas sector and will reduce Ukraine’s dependence on the import of fossil energy resources, and even more – open its export to the European Union.
"Of course, the development of the sector is affected by Russia’s armed aggression in Ukraine, due to which the sector’s growth opportunities are reduced. Despite all the difficulties, the Ukrainian government has prepared all the necessary legislative framework, and as of October some 30 potential market players have already requested technical specifications for connection to the gas network, including several agricultural holdings," the press service summed up.
