Gas Distributors for Sustainability (GD4S)

Today, we had the pleasure of meeting Mr Miguel Garcia Jones , Member of Cabinet to Commissioner Wopke Hoekstra, for an insightful discussion on the Clean Industrial Deal and the vital role of gas distribution networks and renewable molecules. We were joined by our members from Portugal and France—Nevin Alija (Floene ) 🇵🇹 and Arancha Boden (GRDF) 🇫🇷—who provided valuable national perspectives and shared key recommendations. We underscored the importance of harnessing renewable gases such as #biomethane and green #hydrogen 🌱, alongside existing gas infrastructure, to support energy-intensive industries 🏭, enhance system flexibility, and bolster the EU’s energy security. Our key asks included: ✅ National blending obligations & incentives to scale up renewable gases ✅ Integration of biomethane & green hydrogen into all EU decarbonisation frameworks ✅ Recognition of biogenic CO₂ as part of the circular economy ✅ Harmonised EU ETS rules for biomethane and hydrogen 🧾 ✅ Boosted public–private investments in critical infrastructure On National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), we highlighted: 🎯 Need for clear biomethane targets in NECPs 🛠️ Removal of injection barriers—simplified licensing, regulatory clarity, faster permitting 🔬 Stronger, better-implemented hydrogen strategies 🔋 Incentives for consumers and industries to shift from fossil to renewable gases 💸 Need for support mechanisms for the development of renewable gases As we strive toward the 2030 climate goals, renewable gases must take centre stage—particularly in heating, cooling, and other hard-to-decarbonise sectors. Let’s unlock the full potential of our energy system—together. 🤝 #EnergyTransition #RenewableGas #Biomethane #Hydrogen #CleanIndustrialDeal #GD4S #NECP #RePowerEU #GreenEnergy #Decarbonisation

This week, our Public Affairs Officer Valentin Calfa is attending the EU Energy Summit, hosted by the European Business Summits, where the focus is clear: accelerating a just and effective energy transition. Key takeaways so far: ✅ Both electrification and renewable gases are essential to decarbonise heavy industries and aviation. ✅ Infrastructure—like charging and refuelling stations—must be planned around real demand and supply. ✅ The European Commission is prioritising implementation of existing energy legislation to protect ongoing investments and provide certainty to investors. ✅ Hydrogen remains a promising solution, especially for heavy-duty transport, though challenges like autonomy and infrastructure persist. ✅ Speeding up permitting and grid connections is crucial—something we, as gas distributors, are ready to support. We're committed to enabling the green transition by ensuring renewable gases reach end users efficiently and sustainably. #EUEnergySummit #EnergyTransition #Hydrogen #Renewables #Sustainability #GreenDeal #CleanIndustrialDeal #GasDistributors

Piotr Kus, ENTSOG, attended the Biomethane Connect Europe event in Paris, hosted by Gas Distributors for Sustainability (GD4S).   ENTSOG’s participation to the roundtable discussion on #gas networks was a timely occasion to discuss the challenges and opportunities for the development of #renewable gases to ensure a #sustainable and #competitive EU.

🔥Our member, Italgas, has completed the acquisition of 99.94% of 2i Rete Gas S.p.A.'s share capital from F2i SGR S.p.A. and Finavias S.à r.l. "A transaction of extraordinary value for our company and its shareholders," commented the CEO of Italgas and GD4S Board Member Paolo Gallo, "one that transforms the industry by creating the European champion in gas distribution." 🏆 With this acquisition, the Group becomes the leading operator, with over 6,500 employees, 12.9 million customers in Italy and Greece, 154,000 kilometers of networks, and more than 13 billion cubic meters of gas distributed annually. 🌍 This strengthens the role of gas distributors in the clean energy transition and amplifies the voice of our association. #EnergyTransition #GasDistribution #Infrastructure

Lors de la première édition de #biomethane Connect Europe, organisée à Paris, GD4S a rappelé la nécessité d'un cadre stable pour développer le biométhane en Europe.

🎉 We are wrapping up the second day of Biomethane Connect Europe with a dedicated full-day workshop for Distribution System Operators (DSOs) ⚡. This interactive, rotating workshop provided European DSO representatives with the opportunity to deep dive into best practices for #biomethane connection 🌱. A huge thank you to our moderators for their excellent work in delivering the following sessions: 🔹 Connecting biomethane installations to the network (👏Nicolas Lafortune & Maïlys Pale Guerquin from GRDF / Francesca Gianetto & Giorgio Segre from Italgas) 🔹 Adapting the network to accommodate more biomethane and manage low summer consumption (👏 El Mahdi Nejjar & Benjamin Metz from GRDF ) 🔹 Integrating biomethane produced far from the network – exploring Biomethane Virtual Pipelines and Raw Biogas Networks with centralised upgrading and injection (👏 Padraig Fleming from Gas Networks Ireland and Ignacio Cabane from Nedgia, grupo Naturgy) 🔹 Strengthening DSO relationships with biomethane producers, including farmers, industrial operators, wastewater treatment facilities, and landfill sites (👏 Rami Hariri & Nicolas HUBERT from GRDF ) We are thrilled by the high level of interest in these discussions and look forward to continuing our collaboration with stakeholders to drive the energy transition—one that embraces renewable gases and the vital role of gas distribution 🔄. Many thanks to the GRDF team for the organisation and for hosting us Laurence Poirier-Dietz Arancha Boden Eric Feuillet Nicolas Spilliaert Maxime Kaplan Jeanne-Sarah Savart 👏 #BiomethaneConnectEurope #EnergyTransition #RenewableGas #GasDistribution

🌍 Today, in the framework of Biomethane Connect Europe in Paris, we had the pleasure of hosting a breakfast meeting between our Board members and Mechthild Wörsdörfer, Deputy Director-General of DG ENER, European Commission. During the discussion, each attending CEO shared updates on their operating landscapes from both political and regulatory perspectives. They also highlighted their companies’ actions towards #decarbonisation 🌱 and aligned their ambitions with the #CleanIndustrialDeal ⚡. Key challenges in the development and deployment of the #biomethane industry were addressed, with a shared commitment to overcoming barriers and driving implementation forward. 👥 Ahead of the meeting, we were delighted to formally welcome Ronan Galwey, Acting CEO of Gas Networks Ireland, to Gas Distributors for Sustainability (GD4S). He was welcomed by our President, Laurence Poirier-Dietz, and Secretary General, Frédéric DYKMANS 🌱. 🤝 We look forward to continuing the dialogue with the European Commission and policymakers to accelerate the #biomethane sector and emphasise the crucial role of gas distributors in the energy transition. #biomethaneconnecteurope #EnergyTransition #RenewableGas #gasdistribution

🇪🇺 Le biométhane est essentiel pour la décarbonation et la souveraineté énergétique de l’Europe. Le colloque #BiomethaneConnectEurope, organisé par Gas Distributors for Sustainability (GD4S), rassemblait les acteurs européens de la filière pour échanger des bonnes pratiques et travailler au développement de celle-ci. La présidente de la CRE Emmanuelle Wargon a ouvert ce premier rassemblement au côté de Laurence Poirier-Dietz, directrice de GRDF.  ♻️ Alors que la consommation de gaz fossile est appelée à diminuer, le biométhane s’impose comme une alternative renouvelable et locale, contribuant à la fois la décarbonation et à la sécurité d’approvisionnement en Europe. Soutenir la filière est un enjeu stratégique dans un contexte où l’énergie est plus que jamais un levier géopolitique.  Pour accompagner le développement du biométhane, la présidente de la Commission de régulation de l'énergie a mis en avant les missions du régulateur :    ➡️ Garantir un cadre économique stable pour le développement des installations, en équilibrant rentabilité des projets et efficience du soutien public ;  ➡️ Optimiser l’intégration au réseau en assurant des raccordements efficaces et économiquement pertinents ;  ➡️ Anticiper l’évolution des infrastructures gazières en tenant compte de la baisse progressive de la consommation de gaz fossile.  🎯 Avec 731 sites injectant 13,9 TWh/an de biométhane dans les réseaux français fin 2024, la filière a su prouver son dynamisme, a souligné Emmanuelle Wargon. Afin d’atteindre les objectifs fixés par la France et l’UE, il est essentiel de maintenir un cadre réglementaire prévisible et d’encourager des mécanismes innovants de financement. Anne-Sophie Dessillons, Directrice de la Direction du développement des marchés et de la transition énergétique au sein de la CRE, a réitéré cette volonté du régulateur lors de la table ronde « Elaborer les bonnes réglementations sur le biométhane pour accélérer », aux côtés de Marzia Sesini, PhD, chercheuse à la Florence School of Regulation, Małgorzata Kozak, Directrice au département des marchés et consommateurs – URE, le régulateur polonais et Agustin Alonso, expert gaz – CNMC (Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia), le régulateur espagnol. 📈 Elle a ainsi évoqué les facteurs de la croissance de la production de biométhane en France ces dernières années, grâce notamment à des politiques incitatives qui ont permis d'assurer la rentabilité des projets et l'accès au réseau. Le développement de la filière repose désormais sur une transition vers une approche de marché, a précisé Anne-Sophie Dessillons, des projets de plus grande envergure et l'utilisation de certificats de production de biométhane pour soutenir la réduction des coûts.

🚀 Accelerating Green Gases for Europe's Energy Future 🌱🔋 At the inaugural Biomethane Connect Europe conference in Paris, GD4S (Gas Distributors for Sustainability) emphasized the critical role of biomethane in Europe's energy transition. Laurence Poirier-Dietz, GD4S President & GRDF Managing Director, urged stronger EU policies to mobilize investment and ensure biomethane’s competitiveness. With Polska Spółka Gazownictwa (PSG) joining GD4S in April, the push for clean, local energy is growing stronger. To meet REPowerEU’s 35 bcm biomethane target by 2030, GD4S proposes: ✅ Clear & stable regulations 📜 to eliminate barriers and recognize biomethane as a key decarbonization lever ✅ National targets 🎯 aligned with EU goals, reflecting each country’s production potential ✅ Investment & infrastructure support 💰 to accelerate production and grid integration ✅ Technological neutrality ⚡ allowing consumers to choose the best-fit energy solutions ✅ Greater accessibility 🌍 making biomethane a competitive, local, and widely available energy source These actions will help position biomethane as a cornerstone of Europe’s sustainable energy future! 💡🌿 #GreenGas #Biomethane #EnergyTransition Check the press release https://lnkd.in/evsfEjbf

Affirming a term mandate where “competitiveness goes hand-in-hand with decarbonisation”, Mechthild Wörsdörfer Deputy Director-General, DG ENER European Commission opens the afternoon at #BiomethaneConnectEurope, the inaugural biomethane conference from Gas Distributors for Sustainability (GD4S) In her keynote, some positive takeaways for those working to develop the #biomethane industry, often amid challenging political and regulatory environments. Outlined as “next steps”, these included: - Reducing permitting delays for new investment - Prioritising innovation and research - Transposing EU legislation; working to remove “barriers” at national level - Ensuring biogas development is reflected in National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs) - Prioritising transmission (Tx) and distribution (Dx) grids, which are needed for delivery - Enhanced sector cooperation. The stated commitment to listen, remove obstacles; work with the sector; and progress development per the ambition of the #CleanIndustrialDeal is both timely and welcome. #competitivenesscompass #decarbonisation #renewablegas #sustainability Valentin Calfa Maria-Cristina Zaharia Frédéric DYKMANS 🌱 Martina Maggioni Claudio Motta Kieran OSullivan Gas Networks Ireland Maxime Kaplan Marie Sheehan Kimberley Harris Padraig Fleming Ronan Galwey Jeanne-Sarah Savart Christina van der Kamp MPRII Philippe GARREC David Kelly Karen Doyle Declan O'Sullivan Sean Crowley Padraic Byrne Nicolas Spilliaert