Remaining on top of the regulatory situation in the biomethane market

Nearly all laws and regulatory requirements that influence the biomethane market are not exclusively focused on this market, but rather provide a framework for the entire energy market. In order to maintain an overview of the legal situation, it is therefore useful to first categorize it into relevant dimensions. The focus here should be on German, European and global legislation. As the first major dimension, all legal obligations that specify emission limits or targets can be included. One example is the Climate Protection Act (KSG), which states, among other things, that greenhouse gas emissions in Germany must be reduced by 65% by 2030 compared to 1990 and creates a legal framework for the increased use of renewable energies. The dimension of subsidies includes all laws that support the biomethane market through financial support. Subsidies for the use of biomethane in CHP plants can be obtained, for example, through the Combined Heat and Power Act (KWKG) and the CHP Tender Act.

Further dimensions are sustainability requirements for the product, in particular the biomass from which the biomethane is obtained. The Biomass Ordinance (BiomasseV) should be mentioned here in particular, as well as trade with, for example, the Gas Grid Access Regulation (GasNZV). The following table provides an excerpt of the relevant legislation: