Jemena Welcomes Changes to National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme  

Leading energy infrastructure company - and owner of Australia’s first biomethane to network injection project - Jemena, has welcomed changes to the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS) which will formally recognise the decarbonisation benefit of biomethane and hydrogen delivered through gas infrastructure. 

Commenting on the change, Suzie Jakobovits, General Manager, Renewable Gas said it represents the next piece of the puzzle in achieving a fully-fledged renewable gas market. 

“This is a significant step in the development of Australia’s biomethane sector and provides businesses with the ability to purchase biomethane to reduce their Scope 1 emissions,” said Ms Jakobovits.

“Biomethane is a renewable gas, that is 100 per cent compatible with existing infrastructure and gas appliances. This makes it a suitable drop-in fuel that will help Australian industrials decarbonise their operations.

“We expect this will be particularly useful for manufacturers who currently use natural gas to produce many of the items we use every day, such as glass, bricks, fertilizers and some medicines.”

Ms Jakobovits said Jemena is already laying a strong foundation to drive Australia’s biomethane industry. As the owner and operator of Australia’s first biomethane network injection project, located in the Sydney suburb of Malabar, Jemena is currently producing enough biomethane to meet the energy needs of approximately 6,300 customers.

Jemena has also signed several MOUs with businesses who are looking to produce biomethane and inject it into Jemena’s New South Wales gas distribution network. These collaborations could, in time, produce enough biomethane to meet the energy requirements of all of Jemena’s current hard-to-abate industrial customers in New South Wales.

Jakobovits noted, although biomethane production is still an emerging industry in Australia, it is already demonstrating the benefits of a circular economy on the global stage.

“Denmark aims for 100 per cent biomethane injection by 2030, while Ireland plans to transport 100 per cent renewable gas through its network by 2045.”

Australia’s Bioenergy Roadmap, produced by the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA), found that Australia’s biomethane sector could contribute around $10 billion in extra GDP per annum, reduce carbon emissions by about 9 per cent, and create over 26,000 new jobs by 2030.

For more information about Jemena’s Malabar biomethane injection project visit: www.jemena.com.au/future-energy.

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