GIE and MARCOGAZ: Building a Culture Towards Net Zero Methane Emission
In July 2019, Belgium-based Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE) and MARCOGAZ published an industry-wide study, “Potential ways the gas industry can contribute to the reduction of methane emissions.” The study includes contributions from industry experts who span the entire gas value chain, from production to utilization, including biomethane production.
The study provides an overview of the current status of methane emissions and actions taken by the gas industry (e.g., detection, quantification, reporting verification, and mitigation), focusing mainly on the European gas sector. The study includes information about ongoing initiatives and proposed commitments for future actions by the industry.
GIE and MARCOGAZ shared the study’s findings through a series of activities and training programs, including:
- Three workshops, organized during the development of the report
- January 2019, Brussels, Belgium
- March 2019, Geneva, Switzerland
- April 2019, Brussels, Belgium
- International Gas Union (IGU) Joint Committee Meeting on Landfill Natural Gas & Transmission, September 2019, Gyeongju, South Korea
- Methane emissions mitigation along the gas value chain – The road ahead for a sustainable future (workshop), November 2019, Brussels, Belgium (European Parliament)
- EGATEC – Session on Methane Emissions, November 2019, Groningen, Netherlands
Additionally, GIE and MARCOGAZ worked with the Energy Community Secretariat and Methane Guiding Principles to conduct “Methane Emissions in the Gas Sector,” a training session focused on methane emissions in Central and South-Eastern Europe that was held in November 2019 in Vienna, Austria. Trainers from the European Commission, the Florence School of Regulation, the Sustainable Gas Institute of Imperial College London, and GIE and MARCOGAZ contributed to the training. The event was attended by more than 80 participants representing 48 organizations from 20 countries in Central and Eastern Europe and South East Europe, including the Contracting Parties of Energy Community.
The training provided high quality educational material on:
- Methane policies
- Methane science
- Methane reduction strategies and planning
- Measurement techniques
- Implementation of best available technology
- Targeting the reduction of methane emission
In parallel, GIE and MARCOGAZ developed an action plan covering initiatives and projects related to methane emissions. As part of the action plan, the “Assessment of methane emissions for Gas Transmission & Distribution System Operators” will be submitted to the European Committee for Standardization for use as a technical reference in preparing a European standard on methane emissions quantification in transmission and distribution grids. GIE and MARCOGAZ are also developing guidelines for methane target setting.
