No agreement – draft law for Renewable Gas Act fails
In Austria, the EGG – Renewable Gas Act – was seen as a beacon of hope for the expansion of green gas production from biomethane. The Austrian Council of Ministers had already adopted the EGG in February 2024. The approval of the National Council with the necessary 2/3 majority could not be achieved in the 272nd plenary session of the National Council on 04.07.2024 either.
Until the very end, attempts were made to introduce a revised draft law for a vote in the National Council on 18.09.2024. However, the negotiations on this failed, as the Austrian Federal Government announced on 17.09.2024.
The rejected draft law was intended to create the basis for more security of supply and energy independence in Austria. The draft law had provided for Austria to produce at least 7.5 TWh of domestic, renewable gas annually by 2030. Corresponding crediting would have been possible exclusively through biomethane from Austrian production. The focus of the input materials is also clearly regulated. Only waste and residual materials were considered permissible.
High potential for biomethane production in the Danube-Alpine state
With a comparatively small number of biogas plants, the Republic of Austria offers a high potential for expansion. Statista determined a number of 350 operated biogas plants for 2022. The Styrian Chamber of Agriculture has identified 14 feed-in plants for biomethane from this total. Compared to the Alpine republic, around 9,600 biogas plants are operated in Germany (as of 2024), of which around 238 are plants in which processed biomethane is fed into the gas grid (as of 2022).
Regulatory frameworks as impetus for sustainable development
Representatives of biogas-producing agriculture had placed great hopes in the successful implementation of the law until the very end. The Styrian Farmers’ Union emphasises important steps for Austria’s security of supply and energy independence and, with a view to the parliamentary votes, made it clear that “Anyone who votes against the Renewable Gas Act is trampling on climate protection”.
The Service Agency for Renewable Gases (2024) had also considered the original draft law with regard to future development potential. In particular, penalties were highlighted, which would have provided for a penalty rate of 15 cents per missing kilowatt hour if the quota had been missed and would have been used for the expansion of infrastructure and projects for the production of renewable gases. The motivation for suppliers to expand capacities for biomethane production would have been significantly influenced by this.
After the failure of the legislative initiative for more biomethane in the gas grid, it remains to be seen whether and when a new push in favour of the expansion of biogas use will take place.
