European Commission publishes REPowerEU communication

In Belgium, the Commission published on Tuesday its Communication “REPowerEU: Joint European action for more affordable, secure, and sustainable energy”. The Communication aims to support the EU’s energy independence by accelerating the deployment of renewables and ensuring the affordability and security of energy supply.

REPowerEU identifies diversifying the EU’s gas supplies as the first action to increase EU energy independence. Biomethane is recognized as a sustainable alternative to natural gas. The document proposes an EU target to produce 35 billion cubic meters (bcm) of biomethane by 2030, which compares to 18bcm of biogas produced in 2020. The document calls for Member States’ CAP strategic plans “to channel funding to biomethane produced from sustainable biomass sources, including in particular agricultural wastes and residues.”

. EU wholesale gas prices have increased 14-fold since December 2020. Russia’s aggression in Ukraine has greatly exacerbated the situation; prices have more than tripled over the past two weeks alone. They now stand at 270 EUR/MWh, vs 19 EUR/MWh in December 2020.