REN Redes Energeticas Nacionais SGPS – First renewable gas injections into the transmission network to take place within next 36 months – including biomethane and renewable hydrogen
The winners of the first renewable gas auction for biomethane and renewable hydrogen, funded through the Portuguese Environmental Fund, have committed to a maximum deadline of 36 months from the grant date for the first injection of renewable gases into the Portuguese National Gas System (NGS). As announced by the Directorate-General for Energy (DGEG), the auction resulted in the award of 1,990 MWh/year of biomethane at €62/MWh and 119,280 MWh/year of renewable hydrogen at €127/MWh, enabling the NGS to incorporate its first renewable gas production projects for injection into the NGS, namely hydrogen.
The auction, valued at 140 million euros, allows for long-term contracts for renewable hydrogen injection into the Portuguese Public Gas Network. The renewable gas quantities established in this auction will be purchased by the Supplier of Last Resort for injection into the transmission and distribution networks, operated by REN and Floene, respectively.
In 2022, REN conceived and implemented the H2REN Programme, achieving in 2024 the certification of all its infrastructure for the transmission, distribution and storage of hydrogen-gas blends, meeting the decarbonisation objectives set by the Portuguese Government.
This certification process, carried out by the certification body Bureau Veritas, following specialised studies conducted between 2022 and 2024, confirmed that, technically and through a series of adaptations, REN meets the conditions to transport hydrogen-gas blends up to 10% in the Portuguese National Gas Transmission Network (NGTN) and in the Carriço Underground Storage Facility (AS Carriço), and up to 20% in the Portuguese National Gas Distribution Network (NGDN) operated by REN Portgás.
Aligned with European Union policies, decarbonising gas infrastructure is one of the strategic objectives of Portuguese energy policy. REN has been making permanent contributions, as a public service infrastructure operator, to the implementation of this energy transition. REN’s strategy for renewable gases is based on two pillars: adapting existing infrastructure to accommodate these gases and developing infrastructure that is 100% dedicated to hydrogen, in order to meet the actual needs of the market.
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REN Redes Energeticas Nacionais SGPS – First renewable gas injections into the transmission network to take place within next 36 months – including biomethane and renewable hydrogen, source
