Gasunie repurposes 60-km pipeline to gather biomethane
- 60-kilometre existing natural gas pipeline repurposed for biomethane collection through five municipalities.
- Project links regional DSOs RENDO, Enexis and Coteq to the national transmission network operated by GTS.
- Collected biomethane is routed to a GTS plant in Ommen where two new boosters raise pressure for injection to the national grid.
- Biomethane production rose 14% last year; a planned blending obligation is expected to create steady demand and incentivise further investment.
Project overview
Gasunie Transport Services (GTS) has repurposed an existing 60-kilometre natural gas pipeline to serve as a gathering pipeline for biomethane. The line runs through Emmen, Coevorden, Hoogeveen, Hardenberg and Ommen, and reuse of the existing asset limited local construction impact.
Network connection and partners
The gathering pipeline connects regional distribution networks operated by RENDO, Enexis and Coteq to GTS’s national transmission network, enabling collection from regional production sites and transport to the national grid.
Capacity, boosting and market effects
Biomethane collected in the pipeline is transported to a GTS plant in Ommen, where two new biomethane boosters raise pressure for injection into the national network. Because biomethane production is year-round while demand is seasonal, the pipeline facilitates moving summer surpluses to demand centres and creates capacity for further production growth.
Production drivers and feedstocks
Biomethane is produced from organic waste streams such as food residues unfit for consumption, manure and sewage sludge via anaerobic digestion and, in future, gasification. Production in the Netherlands grew by 14% last year, and a forthcoming blending obligation is expected to provide steady demand and encourage investment in new plants.
Source: Gasunie