Answer extracted from The Future of Utilities Podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How can green gases like biomethane complement renewable electricity in future energy systems?
Biomethane already represents 1% of gas use today and could potentially meet between a fifth and a sixth of future demand. Beyond biomethane, hydrogen and carbon capture and storage will be essential components of energy systems, working alongside renewables when wind and solar output is low or when industrial processes require very high temperatures.
The energy transition is not a simple swap from fossil fuels to electricity alone. The future energy system will be fundamentally 'multi-molecule' — a combination of different green gases and electrification working in partnership, rather than one technology replacing another outright.
Beyond biomethane: A portfolio of green solutions
Biomethane is already being injected into gas grids across the UK, but it is only one piece of a larger puzzle. As discussed in the episode, other green gases will play equally vital roles. Hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage (CCS) represent complementary technologies that address different parts of the energy challenge.
Power generation is where these green gases will prove most critical. When renewable electricity output drops — during cloudy days or still nights — gas-fired generation with green molecules becomes the backup. This is not a temporary measure; it is a structural role that green gases will play in balancing a renewable-heavy grid.
Industry presents an even more compelling case for green gases. Many industrial processes, from steelmaking to chemical production, require extremely high temperatures that electricity alone cannot efficiently provide. Green gases offer a direct path to decarbonizing these hard-to-electrify sectors without waiting for breakthrough technologies or complete industrial restructuring.
"It has a fundamental role to play across a lot of different end uses, whether that be in power generation when renewables output is low, or in industry that need really high temperature processes."
James Earl — Chief Executive, Future Energy Networks. Earl leads the membership organisation representing the UK's gas networks, including National Gas and the four gas distribution networks in Great Britain, as well as Northern Irish Gas Networks. His dual expertise in both gas and electricity infrastructure gives him unique insight into how these energy vectors must work together in the decarbonized energy system.
The scale of this opportunity is significant. If biomethane alone could supply a fifth to a sixth of current gas demand — and this is just one green gas option — the combined potential of hydrogen, biogas, and other solutions becomes increasingly clear. Green gases are not a niche play; they are core to meeting 2050 climate targets.
For a deeper dive into how gas networks contribute to overall energy resilience and the specific technical challenges of this transition, listen to the full episode, where James Earl also explains the 1-in-20 resilience standard that keeps UK gas networks running reliably even during extreme weather.
Key takeaways
- Biomethane currently accounts for 1% of gas use and has the potential to meet a fifth to a sixth of future demand in the UK.
- Green gases including hydrogen and carbon capture and storage are essential for power generation when renewable output is low.
- Industrial sectors requiring very high temperatures depend on green gases as their primary route to decarbonization.
- The future energy system will be 'multi-molecule' — a combination of electrification and various green gases working in partnership, not a single-technology solution.
See also
What reliability standard do gas networks achieve during extreme weather conditions?
Gas networks are designed to a 1 in 20 resilience standard, which means they can cope with the coldest weather conditions that could possibly be expected within any 20-year period, delivering exceptional reliability.
What is NISO's commitment to the development of flexibility markets?
This is a core part of NISO's mission, role, purpose and vision to deliver growth in flexibility and growth in these markets, representing a fundamental strategic commitment beyond temporary initiatives.
What barriers exist for consumers and businesses to participate in flexibility markets?
There is significant complexity in the market and industry that makes participation daunting from the outside, though organizations like NISO are working to simplify access and reduce these obstacles.