inGRID
Injecting green gases into the grid
The aim of inGRID is to create a comprehensive overview of the optimal and efficient entry points for renewable gases into the gas grid.
inGRID is based on a digital twin of the Austrian gas grid - divided into efficiency classes for the entry of renewable gases. To identify suitable plant locations for biomethane, both the resource availability and the capacity of the gas grid were considered.
For hydrogen entry, the future hydrogen grid from the H2Roadmap for Austria is already implemented in inGRID. In addition, inGRID also shows suitable substations for the connection of electrolysis and soon also the realisable potentials for renewable electricity generation from wind, water and photovoltaics.
inGRID application
Overview of optimal and efficient entry for renewable gases.
Open the inGRID application
Biomethane or hydrogen
Thus, inGRID offers many advantages to producers and planners of biomethane and hydrogen plants. Through the categorised representation of the gas grid - different efficiency classes are colour-coded - producers are guided to the most efficient connection points. This allows synergies to be created in the gas grid and bottlenecks to be avoided, ultimately leading to a more efficient and faster connection of renewable gas plants.
Biomethane or hydrogen can be selected as the gas to be fed into the grid in inGRID. In the case of biomethane, the entry capacity can also be varied in stages from 200 Nm³/h to 5,000 Nm³/h. Depending on the entry capacity, the efficiency classes of the suitability zones also change. In addition, it can be selected whether it is an existing or a new biomethane plant. Accordingly, the radius of the suitability zone also changes from 3 km to 10 km. This distance corresponds to the maximum grid connection coefficient according to the Gas Industry Act, up to which the grid operator assumes the costs of the feed-in station incl. compressor and connection pipeline.
No efficiency classes are currently defined for pure hydrogen entry. Instead, the expected commissioning of future hydrogen pipelines - which depends on customer demand - is shown.
Various other layers such as the resource potential, existing biogas plants, transformer stations, areas with a constraint factor and the heat demand density can be activated in the layer selection. Using the "Biomethane potential calculator", the respective biomethane potential can be calculated again mathematically as the intersection of the circle regionally within a certain radius.
In addition, the respective system operator can be displayed with a click on the pipeline. Furthermore, the approximate distance to the gas grid can be determined with the "Measure Tool", but the actual distance can only be determined and defined by the system operator itself!
Contact and interacting with the system operator
If you, as a future renewable gas producer, have identified potential sites with the help of inGRID, you can contact the respective system operator directly using the following contact form.
Innovative cooperation project between AGGM and system operators
System operators face the challenge of integrating the growing volume of renewable gases into the existing gas grid. inGRID provides a solid basis for qualitative and quantitative statements on grid connection. The digital map not only shows the optimal entry points, but also takes into account technical requirements such as pressure and volume to ensure safe, efficient and continuous operation.
The cooperation with system operators, research institutes and leading experts from the energy sector has made inGRID a groundbreaking project that has the potential to accelerate the energy transition and significantly reduce CO2 emissions.
Legal basis
According to §18 (1) Z 12a. Gaswirtschaftsgesetz (Natural Gas Act), the distribution area manager, in cooperation with the system operators and the control area manager for electricity, is responsible for identifying and publishing potential entry points and suitability zones for renewable gases.
Covering Austria's demand for renewable gases
In addition to the huge domestic biomethane potential of approx. 33 TWh - calculated by the environmental agency austria and the BEST - approx. 24 TWh of renewable hydrogen could be produced regionally in Austria 2040.
Frequently asked questions about inGRID
Natural gas is a fossil fuel and natural gas mixture. The natural gas in the gas grid is composed of several hydrocarbon compounds. It consists mainly of methane (CH4) - 75% to 99% depending on its origin. Other minor components of the fossil fuel can be ethane (C2H6), propane (C3H8), butane (C4H10) and nitrogen (N2). Depending on its origin, natural gas thus has a calorific value of approx. 10 - 13 kWh/m³.
Biogas, on the other hand, is a renewable energy source that is produced regionally through the fermentation of wet biomass (residues). Biogas is a gas mixture of mostly (50% to 65%) methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2). Due to its very high carbon dioxide content of up to 50%, biogas must be upgraded to biomethane before it is fed into the gas grid. In this process, the carbon dioxide is separated and thus the calorific value is increased from approx. 5 kWh/m³ to 10 - 12 kWh/m³. Thus, upgraded biogas, namely as biomethane, with a methane content of approx. 96%, is chemically and physically very similar to natural gas and can easily substitute it in its applications.
Biogas is an energy-rich gas mixture that is produced during the natural decomposition of organic material in the absence of air. This decomposition process is technically used in biogas plants to produce biogas from liquid manure, biowaste or agricultural residues. The substrates are fermented in airtight fermenters. This requires the work of many different microorganisms. The most important component of biogas is combustible methane (CH4). Depending on the substrates used, the methane content varies between 50 and 65 percent. In addition, carbon dioxide (CO2) is present in a proportion of 35% to 50% and other constituents such as nitrogen, water, oxygen and hydrogen sulphide in small concentrations.
In order to be able to feed biogas into the gas grid, the accompanying gases such as carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen and hydrogen sulphide must be removed from the biogas using various technical processes. The result is biomethane with a methane content of about 96%. The biomethane produced in this way is therefore chemically and physically equivalent to natural gas and can therefore be fed into the natural gas grid and subsequently used like natural gas.
Yes, biomethane can be fed into the gas grid without any problems if it meets the quality criteria according to technical guideline GB210. Special attention must be paid to ensuring that the carbon dioxide content does not exceed 4%, the oxygen content does not exceed 1% and the nitrogen content does not exceed 5%. In addition, the calorific value must be between 9.87 and 13.23 kWh/Nm³ (standard condition). The Guideline GB210 "Gasbeschaffenheit" can be purchased on the homepage of the ÖVGW.
inGRID uses the suitability zones to show how efficiently different entry capacities can be realised. These suitability zones for biomethane feed-in are coloured according to efficiency classes from dark green to orange. In principle, biomethane can be fed in continuously everywhere, but with varying efficiency. The suitability zones change depending on the entry capacity.
The actual technically suitable connection point will in any case be determined by the system operator after contact and consultation.
In the menu bar of inGRID, the entry capacity can be selected via a drop-down selection. In order to display the suitability zones of the selected entry capacity, inGRID must be updated via the "Update" button.
Five efficiency classes from A to E were defined and colour-coded:
Efficiency classes of the suitability zones:
A - Entry with best efficiency possible
B - Entry with good efficiency possible
C - Entry into the grid possible
D - Entry into the grid possible with lower priority
E - Entry into the grid possible to a limited extent
How efficiently an entry can be realised depends on the pipeline pressure and the demand structure of the respective grid section. In lower grid levels, it is possible to feed in efficiently due to the low pipeline pressure, but especially in summer - due to the low regional consumption - recompression to a higher grid level may be necessary. However, this means additional costs in both the construction and operation of these plants and reduces efficiency. The more frequent the recompression and the higher the required pressure, the lower the efficiency class reported in inGRID.
The best efficiency class A enables entry without recompression or at least only at a few points in the year. Even with very large entry capacities, the efficiency also increases in higher grid levels due to the lower specific costs.
In efficiency class E, entry is possible under certain conditions, only after a case-by-case assessment. On the one hand, this can affect pipelines that will be used purely for hydrogen transport in the future, or grid level 3 pipelines with low hydraulic capacity.
By clicking on a gas pipeline, the information window for the respective system operator can be opened in inGRID. There you will be referred either to the homepage or to the customer portal of the system operator.
You can also contact the system operator directly via our contact form.
AGGM offers a contact form. This form can be used to provide the system operator with initial information about the feed-in, such as contact details, planned start of feed-in, location, output, pressure, etc., without obligation. In this way, the initial contact between the feed-in and the system operator can be established easily and without barriers. The system operator will then respond to your request in a timely manner.
After the initial contact with the system operator and agreement on the technically suitable connection point, the producer submits an application for admission to the grid to the system operator. After further consultation and, if necessary, specifications for the entry, the system operator sends the grid access contract to you. You can then be connected to the grid. In order to be able to use the grid, a grid access application must also be submitted to the system operator. In advance, an EI code application for the respective installation must be submitted to a local issuing office (e.g. the AGGM). With the signing of the grid access contract, the successful capacity booking for the entry also takes place and the grid can be used.
An EI code is a 16-digit code which is assigned to an object (e.g. supplier, producer, storage facility, cross-border transfer point, etc.) in the Austrian market area for unique identification in data communication. Further information on EIC allocation is available here.
The personalised EI code (type W) can be requested on the AGGM platform and is required for the network access application.
Admission to the grid means the first-time establishment of a grid connection or the modification of the capacity of an existing grid connection pursuant to § 12 Gas Market Model Ordinance. When applying for admission to the grid, the system operator must be informed of the data pursuant to Annex 1/II Gas Market Model Ordinance.
In addition, upon admission to the grid, a one-off grid provision fee pursuant to § 9 Gas System Charges Ordinance must be paid. This amounts to 3 EUR/kWh/h for grid level 2 and 5 EUR/kWh/h agreed connection capacity for grid level 3. Since 2021, the grid access fee has been waived for renewable gas feed-in pursuant to § 75 Gas Industry Act. The system operator also bears the costs for admission to the grid, quantity measurement, quality testing, odorisation, compression and connection line (maximum 3 km for new plants or 10 km for existing plants) if the entry point is within the grid connection coefficient.
Grid access means the use of the grid as well as the booking of capacity with the distribution system operator pursuant to § 11 and § 15 Gas Market Model Ordinance. When applying for network access, every data according to Annex 1/I. Gas Market Model Ordinance must be provided to the system operator.
In addition, the grid usage fee pursuant to § 13 Gas System Usage Fees Ordinance of currently 0.12 EUR/kWh/h per year must be paid for grid usage. For example, for a biomethane feed-in of 4,000 kWh/h, this is 480 EUR per year.
The grid connection coefficient according to § 75 (3) or §75 (4) Gas Industry Act determines the upper limit up to which the system operator has to bear the costs for admission to the grid, quantity measurement, quality inspection, odorisation, compression and connection capacity (up to 3 km for new installations or 10 km for existing installations).
Currently, the coefficient is 60 lfm/m³CH4-eq/h of agreed annual energy quantity to be fed into the gas grid.
Example: New plant, agreed energy quantity 35 GWh/a and distance to gas grid 6 km:
6000 rm * 7500 h / 35,000,000 kWh * 11 kWh/Nm³ = 14.14 grid connection coefficient.
Since in this example the grid connection coefficient of 14.14 is less than 60, the system operator bears the costs for the above components.
In principle, the system operator determines the technically suitable grid connection point and thus also the actual distance (route length). inGRID offers a possibility to roughly estimate the distance to the gas grid with the "Measure Tool".
In inGRID, the regionalised biomethane potential can be displayed via the layer selection.
The biomethane potential from wet residues was calculated by the Environmental Agency and is available in a highly regionalised form at municipality level due to the low transportability. By clicking on the municipality areas, the realisable potential 2040 per municipality can be displayed in GWh per year.
The biomethane potential from solid residues (forest biomass) was calculated by the K1 competence centre BEST - Bioenergy and Sustainable Technologies and is available regionalised at district level. By clicking on the district areas, the realisable potential 2040 per district can be displayed in GWh per year.
In inGRID, a biomethane potential calculator can also be used to calculate the collection area in particular. To activate this, "Calculate biomethane potential" must be activated in the menu bar and a circle with a selectable radius must be drawn at the desired location. This circle then cuts through all potential areas mathematically and adds up the potentials. The results are therefore based on a purely mathematical calculation and are only intended for approximate orientation.
If you want to produce hydrogen in the future and feed it into the gas grid, dedicated hydrogen pipelines are best suited for this. AGGM has designed the hydrogen grid together with the system operators and published H2 Roadmap for Austria (link to H2 Roadmap) the initial grid until 2050.
The future hydrogen lines of the H2 Roadmap can be displayed in inGRID by selecting "Type of gas" and updating afterwards.
The different colouring of the hydrogen pipelines corresponds to their expected commissioning. This commissioning depends strongly on customer demand and can also still change.
For entry, the system operator must be contacted. This can also be done via our contact form.
No. The existing high-pressure gas pipelines in Austria are basically also suitable for pure hydrogen transport. Since the Austrian gas grid already has enormously high transport capacities today, the foundation for tomorrow's hydrogen infrastructure is thus already laid today. The result of the H2 Roadmap for Austria (link to H2 Roadmap) shows that two pipeline systems - operated by the same system operator - will be created for the future transport of hydrogen and methane. Only 300 km of new hydrogen pipelines need to be built for this purpose. The rest can be achieved by rededicating about 1,400 km of existing pipelines.
The development of the hydrogen network depends largely on customer demand and the ramp-up of domestic and foreign production capacities. This should be done simultaneously as far as possible. When demand and entry are announced with the corresponding lead time, the hydrogen network is then planned and built. In this way, production capacities, demand capacities and transport capacities are ramped up in parallel and the chicken-and-egg problem is solved!
To achieve this, it is particularly important for the system operators to receive the demand reports for hydrogen entry and exit in the form of capacity expansion requests as early as possible. Only in this way can future demand be anticipated in good time and the hydrogen grid be available with sufficient capacity in good time. After all, the planning and construction of a hydrogen pipeline takes 2-4 years!
You can contribute to the development of the hydrogen network by reporting your demand. At www.aggm.at/energiewende/h2-roadmap/ you can directly inform us of your future hydrogen demand as well as methane demand. These requirements form the basis for updating the H2 Roadmap as part of the long-term and integrated planning (link www.aggm.at/gasnetz/netzplanung/lfip/), which is drawn up every two years.
In order to also implement the necessary projects for realising the H2 Roadmap, a capacity expansion application must be submitted to the system operator after a rejected grid access application for hydrogen - the hydrogen grid is not yet available. Only then will concrete projects be included in the long-term and integrated planning and submitted to the regulatory authority E-Control for approval. The first concrete hydrogen project in the distribution area to be approved by E-Control as a planning project is the H2 Collector East.
After refusal of grid access pursuant to section 33 (1) GWG, a capacity expansion request may be submitted to the distribution system operator. The capacity requirement on which this application is based shall be taken into account by the distribution area manager when drawing up the long-term and integrated planning. The information to be included in the capacity expansion request is set out in Annex 1/I. Gas Market Model Ordinance.
inGRID also offers an area-wide representation of the 380kV, 220kV and 110kV substations via the layer selection. Suitable substations for hydrogen production are highlighted in colour. This is a sector-coupled view of the electricity and gas grids. These suitable substations either offer good power supply due to the connection to the electricity transmission grid or have very high renewable electricity feed-in. In addition, suitable substations are located in the vicinity of the future hydrogen grid.
Areas worthy of protection such as nature reserves, biosphere reserves, European bird sanctuaries, national parks, water protection and conservation areas, etc., but also water areas, rocky areas, etc. can be displayed in inGRID via the layer selection under "Areas with difficulty factor". By clicking on the respective area, the exact designation can also be displayed.
To get the full potential out of electrolysis, it makes sense to also use the waste heat. In this way, the efficiency could be increased to 90%. This waste heat has a temperature level of approx. 50°-60°C. In order to be able to enter this waste heat into a district heating network with a flow temperature of 80°-100°C, a heat pump is also required. inGRID also shows where there are large heat sinks for waste heat utilisation. Based on the heat demand density - selectable via the layer selection - waste heat utilisation can be taken into account as an additional location factor.