沼气和生物甲烷可满足世界20%的天然气需求

据土耳其新闻社3月22日消息称，根据IEA周五发布的最新报告，全球的沼气和生物甲烷供应可以满足全球20%的天然气需求，同时减少温室气体排放。

IEA解释说，沼气为社区提供了当地的能源和热能，也为家庭提供了清洁的烹饪燃料

IEA表示：“现代社会和经济产生的有机废物越来越多，比如农业残留物、食物垃圾和动物粪便，这些废物可用于生产沼气和生物甲烷，这些清洁能源对可持续发展具有多重潜在效益。”

它补充说，将沼气升级为生物甲烷将带来天然气的所有能源系统效益，而不会产生相关的净排放。

IEA执行董事Fatih Birol表示：“沼气和生物甲烷可以在未来的可持续能源中发挥重要作用，但目前我们正在错失减少浪费和减少排放的机会。”

他建议，各国政府的推动可以为沼气和生物甲烷提供必要的动力，在能源、交通、农业和环境等领域带来好处。

最大的前景在亚太地区，那里的天然气需求和进口近年来迅速增长。尽管如此，报告说，北美、南美、欧洲和非洲也提供了重大机遇。

报告说：“认识到减少二氧化碳和甲烷排放的重要性对提高生物甲烷的成本竞争力大有帮助。”

Birol表示：“政府在寻求加速清洁能源转型时，他们不应忘记生物甲烷和沼气等低碳气体的重要性。”他补充说，除其他好处外，沼气和生物甲烷还为农村社区和工业参与能源部门的转型提供了途径。

曹海斌 摘译自 土耳其新闻社

原文如下：

World’s biogas supplies can meet 20% of world gas needs

The world's biogas and biomethane supplies could meet 20% of global gas demand while reducing greenhouse gas emissions, according to a recent report by the International Energy Agency (IEA) on Friday.

The IEA explained that biogas offers a local source of power and heat for communities, as well as clean cooking fuel for households

“Modern societies and economies produce increasing amounts of organic waste – such as agricultural residues, food waste and animal manure – that can be used to produce biogas and biomethane, clean energy sources with multiple potential benefits for sustainable development,” the IEA said.

It added that upgrading biogas to biomethane would bring all the energy system benefits of natural gas without the associated net emissions.

“Biogas and biomethane can play major roles in a sustainable energy future, but for the moment we’re missing out on this opportunity to cut waste and cut emissions,” said Fatih Birol, the IEA’s executive director.

He recommended that a push from governments could give biogas and biomethane the necessary momentum, with benefits across energy, transport, agriculture and the environment.

The greatest prospects are in the Asia-Pacific region, where the demand and imports of natural gas have risen rapidly in recent years. Nonetheless, North and South America, Europe, and Africa offer major opportunities also, the report said.

“Recognition of the importance of reduced carbon dioxide and methane emissions goes a long way in enhancing biomethane's cost-competitiveness,” it said.

“As governments seek to accelerate their clean energy transitions, they should not forget the importance of low-carbon gases such as biomethane and biogas,” Birol said, adding that among other benefits, biogas and biomethane also offer a way to bring rural communities and industries into the transformation of the energy sector.