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BEMIP Gas Regional Investment Plan 2017
4.2.2 CONSOLIDATION OF THE DANISH
GAS INFRASTRUCTURE
Currently, a consolidation of the Danish gas infrastructure is taking place. Energinet.dk
acquired the gas storage facility Stenlille in 2014
3)
and 30 September 2016 took
ownership over one of the four gas distribution companies in Denmark (DONG’s dis-
tribution grid).
Moreover, Energinet.dk is obliged to acquire DONG’s offshore gas pipeline from the
North Sea Platforms to the mainland (and the corresponding oil pipeline in the North
Sea). At the time of writing, negotiations are still on-going.
4.2.3 BIOGAS INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT
2016 is expected to undergo the largest increase in biogas production. At the current
rate, production is expected to exceed 2,500GWh, of which more than one-third will
be upgraded to biomethane and injected into the natural gas network. In compari-
son, the total production in 2012 was 1,200GWh, which was nearly all used for
production of electricity and heat. This trend is expected to continue with an esti-
mated total production of approx. 4,200GWh in 2020, where more than 1,500GWh
is expected to be upgraded and injected into the natural gas network.
6.00
5.00
4.00
1.00
2.00
3.00
0
0
7.00
8.00
9.00
90,000,000
10,000,000
20,000,000
30,000,000
40,000,000
50,000,000
60,000,000
70,000,000
80,000,000
%
kWh
Injected biomethane compared to the total consumption in DK (%)
Injected biomethane (KWh)
Biomethane injected into the Danish natural gas grid
12/2013
02/2014
04/2014
06/2014
08/2014
10/2014
12/2014
02/2015
04/2015
06/2015
08/2015
10/2015
12/2015
02/2016
04/2016
06/2016
Figure 4.3:
Historical development of biomethane injected into the Danish natural gas grid (Source: Energinet.dk)
Biomethane infrastructure – upgraded biogas injected to the grid – is developing
rather rapidly in Denmark, see figure 4.3.
By July 2016, 18 plants have been interconnected since 2014 and a number of
other plants are to be connected. One biomethane plant is connected directly to the
transmission grid while the rest are connected at the distribution grid level. The Dan-
ish Energy Authority estimates that biomethane in the grid could reach 5% of total
Danish gas consumption by 2018.
In a limited number of distribution grids injection of biomethane will exceed local gas
consumption during summer breaks if current trend is continued. This development
will call for new market – or technical solutions (e. g. flexibility services or reverse
flow plants).
3) Following the purchase of the Stenlille storage facility, both Danish storage facilities are now owned by Energinet.dk as
a separate commercial company – Energinet.dk Gas Storage.