Renewable gas, as seen
on MasterChef
Move over natural gas, there’s a new type of gas that can be used for heating and cooking – renewable gas. This year renewable gas is once again cooking up a storm in the MasterChef kitchen. Learn about what it is, and how its potential is being showcased again on one of Australia’s most popular shows.
We’re changing gas
for a better future
Australians love natural gas. It’s a safe and reliable energy for the appliances we use for cooking, heating and hot water. But to meet our net zero targets we need to evolve the way we use gas including with renewable alternatives.
Australia needs many solutions to supply sustainable energy to homes and businesses into the future – so say hello to renewable gas! Like any great recipe, it’s all about what’s in the mix. Put simply, renewable gas is usually derived from organic waste (biomethane) or renewable electricity and water (hydrogen). Renewable gas can be blended into our existing gas supply over time. So whether it’s a dash, dollop, or eventually a larger portion, renewable gas is only one piece of the puzzle in reducing carbon emissions as Australia moves towards a more sustainable energy future.
50%
Almost half of all household energy in Australia is provided by gas
55%
Aenean massa. Cum sociis natoque.
The role of renewable gas in the home
Renewable gas can offer many of the same practical benefits as natural gas, such as reliable heating and cooking, but with significantly lower carbon emissions when used, making it a promising alternative to traditional fossil fuels.
When the gas industry launched Gas Vision 2050 seven years ago, the goal was to explore and demonstrate the viability of renewable gas technologies, such as hydrogen and biomethane, by the mid-2020s.
Since then, we have made progress through a range of pilot and demonstration projects, confirming that existing gas infrastructure can accommodate renewable gas. However, the transition remains in its early stages, as the focus now shifts to scaling up supply and enabling commercial production.
While large-scale emissions reductions should come with broader deployment, we are focused now on creating the conditions for the transition, through targeted trials, innovation and investment in energy solutions that align with Australia’s net-zero targets.
What is renewable gas?
According to GreenPower to, renewable gases are made from renewable energy sources. Just like renewable electricity can be made from solar or wind power, there are different types of renewable gases, including biomethane and renewable hydrogen.
Biomethane can be made from agricultural waste, food waste and wastewater, while renewable hydrogen is created using renewable electricity and water. These gases can have significantly lower carbon emissions when used, compared to natural gas.
How is it made?
There are a number of ways to produce renewable gas, but the types we are working towards delivering to your home are typically made from:
- water and renewable electricity, used to produce hydrogen through a process called electrolysis.
- Organic waste, by capturing waste gases (biogas), a renewable gas naturally produced by the breakdown of organic matter from industries like wastewater treatment, landfill and food processing or from agricultural and food waste. This biogas is then upgraded into biomethane, a renewable gas that meets the standards of natural gas and can be used in existing appliances to heat homes, just like natural gas.
Why renewable gas?
Renewable gas has the potential to replace existing uses of natural gas in the future, with a goal of significantly reducing carbon emissions. This is because, when burned for energy, hydrogen releases primarily heat and water, with no direct emissions. When biomethane is burned, it releases only the carbon dioxide that was absorbed from the air by the organic matter (like plants) used to make it, making it low emission in terms of combustion. It’s considered to be renewable because it doesn’t add any additional carbon dioxide emissions to the atmosphere at the point where it is used.
You won't have to lift a finger - we've got this.
Renewable gas can be safely and reliably delivered through the existing gas network.
This is aligned with our Vision for the sector. In 2017, industry released Gas Vision 2050, outlining a plan to demonstrate the viability of renewable gas technologies throughout the 2020s before rolling out these technologies across individual networks and industry; with the objective of achieving net-zero.
Biomethane won’t change how your appliances work no matter how much of it you are using.
With renewable hydrogen, appliances can operate safely and efficiently on blends of up to 20% hydrogen by volume. We are working towards enabling higher hydrogen blends as supply increases in the longer term, with customer needs in mind.
Our demonstration projects have shown that renewable gas can be produced, blended with natural gas, and supplied safely through the existing gas network. We are working on scaling up these solutions to ensure they can be safely and efficiently deployed across the broader network.
Targeting 100% renewable gas by 2050
As part of Australian Gas Infrastructure Group (AGIG), AGN is already delivering an up to 5% renewable gas blend to over 3,000 homes in part of South Australia with 10% renewable gas planned for other parts of the country. Together, AGIG aims to transition the gas in its entire network to run on renewable gas by 2050.
2030
the whole AGIG network supplied with 10% renewable gas blend2050
the whole AGIG network supplied with 100% renewable gas
Renewable gas projects here and overseas
Reducing environmental impact and cutting carbon emissions has become a global focus. Countries around the world are exploring renewable gas as part of the shift to lower-carbon, reliable energy solutions for the future.
From pilot programs to large-scale trials, projects at home and abroad are showing how renewable gas could support a cleaner energy future.
Low-carbon liquid and gaseous fuels leverage their ability to be blended, transported and stored in existing infrastructure adding to energy system flexibility and resilience whilst also addressing emissions. Countries around the world are investing in renewable gas to provide clean, reliable and renewable energy into the future.
