Essential to the French energy mix, renewable and low-carbon gases contribute to the resilience of territories, strengthen the circular economy and guarantee security of supply. Whether produced from waste or surplus renewable electricity, gases resulting from methanization, pyrogasification, hydrothermal gasification, or even methanation allow this sector to be structured to promote the emergence of locally produced energy , with the support of network operators and energy-intensive manufacturers. Used for heating, mobility, or in various industrial processes, renewable gases today represent around 2% of total French consumption (i.e. around 8 TWh produced via methanization, the only mature sector to date). Network managers aim to increase this figure to 20% in 2030, and to reach 100% renewable gas in 2050. Several conditions are necessary to achieve these objectives:
-
- Industrialize less mature renewable and low-carbon gas production technologies such as pyrogasification, hydrothermal gasification and methanation.
- Transform network infrastructures to accommodate decentralized gas production, develop smart gas grids and digital technologies, and adapt certain networks to new gases (local CO2 and hydrogen loops).
- Develop a regulatory and economic framework favorable to the massive deployment of new gases on the networks in accordance with the needs and consumption, in particular of industrialists who are large consumers of gas (steel, metallurgy, glass, chemicals, cement, paper). These needs are reflected in the RePower EU plan, the Multi-annual Energy Program.
- Prepare the professions of tomorrow by defining (trans)training needs to enable the development of French know-how, and become a European reference in new gases.
The challenges faced by this issue
Faced with these strong ambitions, what are the major levers that the gas sector can develop and on which it can rely to achieve these objectives?
What Yélé Consulting believes in
We, at Yélé Consulting, are convinced that the transformation of the gas sector will only become reality through the following necessary developments:
-
- At the crossroads of electricity and gas, hydrogen will develop rapidly while benefiting from an appropriate regulatory framework. Projects must accelerate and multiply, like the creation of a green hydrogen pipeline for the chemistry valley (Lyon) and connecting the projects in the Grand-Est (Mosahyc) and the South (Bar Mar) .
- Mirrors of PPAs, BPAs (Biogas Purchase Agreements) will become widespread by favoring a fixed gas price in a very fluctuating market, offering a stable vision and perpetuating French industrial activity.
- Network managers will strengthen their investments in infrastructure transformation to adapt, develop, maintain and operate networks, particularly via digital technologies. In addition, the flexibility solutions necessary for balancing networks will appear as major assets to achieve 100% renewable gas in 2050.
- In the current geopolitical context, the reversal of gas flows has given France a central role in European supply.
- A co-product of biomethane and low-carbon gases, CO2 will find its place in the French industrial landscape, particularly in the food industry, promoting the exit from fossil fuels via different channels.
- Finally, renewable and low-carbon gases will be essential for the decarbonization of heavy mobility and maritime and river transport.
What Yélé Consulting offers its clients
Convinced by the central role of energy mix, Yélé Consulting has been supporting grid operators for more than 10 years in their transformation. As real partners of players in the sector, we bring our know-how in innovation (studies, benchmarks, monitoring), transformation strategy, and the implementation of end-to-end projects. Our team, made up of former gas workers and consultants using their cross-functional skills, supports you on a daily basis.