The European Commission selects the joint project by Natran and Energinet for the “Project of Common Interest” label on the integration of reverse flow installations into European gas networks to pave the way for the RePowerEU target of 35bcm biomethane in the energy system by 2030.

Natran (France’s leading gas transmission operator) and  Energinet (Denmark’s national gas and electricity transmission operator) are proud to announce that their joint project, GREENCONNECT, focused on the integration of reverse flow installations  into European gas networks, has been selected by the European Commission and awarded the prestigious “Project of Common Interest” (PCI) label. These facilities enable surplus biomethane produced in local distribution networks to be fed back into national transmission networks.

A STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP FOR ACCELERATING EUROPE’S ENERGY TRANSITION

At the end of 2024, Natran and Energinet forged an ambitious partnership, united by a shared vision: to make biomethane a key driver in the decarbonization of Europe’s energy systems. In a context shaped by the european goal of reducing net greenhouse gas emissions by 55% by 2030, biomethane production is set to increase significantly.  And in the EU’s RePowerEU, the policy target for biomethane in 2030 is 35 bcm of biomethane.

To help achieve these objectives, both partners are committed to facilitating the injection of biomethane into gas networks by ensuring competitive connections for producers and efficient delivery of biomethane to interconnection points through the installation of reverse-flow stations. This involves the development of dedicated infrastructure, particularly reverse flow stations. By 2030, Natran in France will operate 153 such stations, up from 27 at the end of 2024, while Energinet in Denmark plans to operate 11, alongside investments in gas quality monitoring.

A PROJECT RECOGNIZED BY THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The project recognized by the European Commission is structured around three main pillars:

• Sharing technical and operational experience on reverse flow installations, to optimize their design, operation, and maintenance, leveraging the feedback from both countries.
• Secure a faster project execution for installing Reverse Flow Stations in the gas system.
• The promotion and sharing of best practices during various European forums, thereby encouraging the deployment of reverse-flow solutions as measures that facilitate decarbonization and the rollout of biomethane in Europe.

A COMMITMENT TO INNOVATION AND EUROPEAN SOVEREIGNTY.

This European recognition highlights the unique expertise of France and Denmark in biomethane integration and demonstrates that injecting biomethane into transmission networks is already a reality. Through this partnership, Natran and Energinet reaffirm their commitment to innovation, knowledge sharing, and active contribution to Europe’s energy sovereignty and carbon neutrality.