About the BIP Task Forces
The work of the Biomethane Industrial Partnership is structured in five Task Forces in which members collaborate at expert level on specific topics on the basis of the partnership’s Work Programme. Task Forces work on specific pre-defined actions and create deliverables that help to achieve the goal of the partnership. All EU policy makers, Member State representatives, companies active in biomethane and other stakeholders that wish to actively contribute and be involved to achieving the goal of the Partnership can sign up for Task Force membership. The following five Task Forces have been created:
Task Force 1 focuses on the creation of national biomethane targets, strategies and policies. The Task Force provides input to Member States and initiates a framework for bilateral collaboration between Member States to facilitate capacity building. The deliverables of this Task Force feed into national biomethane strategies to be incorporated into the draft updated National Energy and Climate Plans (NECPs), scheduled June 30th 2023. This Task Force is composed of ministry-level representatives of the Member States. Value chain members (associated members to Task Force 1) support the Member States by sharing the perspective and needs from the market ranging from production to end-use. Also after completion of national biomethane strategies, this Task Force can continue to work on facilitating and sharing best practices on biomethane policy making.
Task Force 2 focuses on the need to rapidly increase and secure sustainable biomethane production capacity. As part of its work, the Task Force assesses opportunities to boost innovation and projects size via access to EU funds, examines existing barriers to the use of biomethane, and addresses the creation of a cross-border EU market for biomethane. The Task Force also examines supply chain security, assesses the situation of biomethane production in areas without nearby gas grids and works to improve biomethane permitting. This Task Force is mainly composed of companies active in the biomethane value chain.
Task Force 3 assesses the sustainable potential for innovative biomass sources to produce biomethane. A significant effort is required to collect sustainable biomass feedstock to feed additional biomethane production installations. As part of its work, this Task Force focuses on assessing the EU-wide potential for sustainable rotational/sequential cropping to produce biomethane feedstock and the EU-wide potential for feedstock production on marginal and contaminated land. Other topics to be covered are an assessment of carbon budget, soil nutrient, water and biodiversity implications of rotational/sequential cropping and potentials of additional innovative sustainable biomethane feedstocks, including wastes and residues. This Task Force is mainly composed of companies active in the biomethane value chain.
Task Force 4 identifies and facilitates ways to decrease the cost of production and grid connection. Biomethane can contribute to a cost-effective energy transition and while scaling up biomethane, efforts to further drive down production costs can enable continued growth. Topics covered by this Task Force include a business case optimisation for biomethane production, the creation of a consumer guide for biomethane investors and facilitating the creation of standardised product offerings. This Task Force is mainly composed of companies active in the biomethane value chain.
Task Force 5 identifies the current status of R, D&I in biomethane production, grid connection and end-use applications and recommends future R, D&I needs. Continuous research, development and innovation (R, D&I) are important for future growth and to increase Europe’s strategic autonomy in green technology. Topics to be covered by this Task Force are an assessment of innovative thermochemical, biochemical and biological technologies for biomethane production and an improvement of anaerobic digestion and methanation technologies. This Task Force is characterised by a significant presence of academia, associations and technology providers.