Grüngas24, the specialist congress on the topic of renewable gases, was successfully held from December 4th to 6th, lasting three days for the first time.
In the middle of a time full of upheaval, challenges and crises, the renewable gas industry gathered at WIFI St. Pölten to shed light on current topics from the perspective of business, politics and other stakeholders. With around 350 participants and 45 exhibitors, the industry once again gave a strong sign of life and, due to the high level of interest, confirmed that it is also a time of opportunity in which we live. The energy transition is making steady progress and is paving the way for an affordable, secure energy supply while simultaneously reducing CO2 emissions.
The Governor of Lower Austria, Johanna Mikl-Leitner, who opened the first day together with the President of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce, Wolfgang Ecker, also highlighted these opportunities: “The topic of hydrogen is rapidly becoming more important and offers great opportunities for our state, for our entrepreneurs, but also for the environment and climate.”
Renewable gases are a great hope for ending the long-term dependence on fossil energy sources and at the same time promoting the greening of the economy, emphasized the governor of Lower Austria. The opening day was then dedicated in particular to the topics of renewable hydrogen, CO2 and wood gas.
The following two days were all about biogas and biomethane. Biogas chairman of the Compost and Biogas Association, Norbert Hummel, opened the most heavily attended second day and, as last year, emphasized the importance of the Renewable Gas Act (EGG) for the entire industry: “Unfortunately it is 5 to 12. Many of our operators have been in the starting blocks for some time and are just waiting for the law to come into force. It’s about quickly picking up where we left off in the government negotiations and getting the EGG implemented.”
Federal Minister Norbert Totschnig was able to directly build on this in his video message: “Energy policy is location policy. And a successful location needs a strong biogas industry. Our aim is to build a national gas supply in the long term.”
And for this, the Federal Minister continued, the necessary framework conditions are needed quickly. Creating this is a major concern for the minister. The newly constituted National Council and the future government should quickly take the necessary steps and create clarity, both for the plants that feed biomethane into the gas network and for the biogas power generation plants. He very much regrets that the Renewable Gases Act has not yet found a majority in parliament. “The crucial thing is honesty, including with ourselves. The energy transition will not come at no cost.” The Federal Minister demanded this honesty from all those who claim to support a renewable gas law, but at the same time do not want to give the system operators any room to live .
The congress was organized by Green Gas Service GmbH in cooperation with the Austrian Compost and Biogas Association and with the support of the Lower Austrian Chamber of Commerce, the State of Lower Austria as well as the Austrian Gas Clearing and Settlement AG (AGCS), European Renewable Gas Registry (ERGaR), European Biogas Association (EBA) and Biogas World.
The cozy atmosphere at WIFI St. Pölten offered everyone present the opportunity to get involved and, of course, an excellent setting for exchanging ideas and networking. We would like to thank all participants and exhibitors, especially our premium partners: NAHTEC Nahwärmetechnologie und Anlagentechnik GmbH, Müller waste projects GmbH, Awite Bioenergie GmbH, agriportance GmbH, BioG GmbH, AB Energy Deutschland GmbH, EnviTec Biogas AG, waste2energy GmbH, EVN Biogas GmbH, PowerUP GmbH, OEKOBIT GmbH and INNIO Jenbacher GmbH & Co OG.
We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and are already looking forward to Grüngas25!