In 2021–2022, many industrial plants in Poland installed backup LPG gas supply systems, which often delivered a rapid return on investment – in many cases within just a few months.

This article explores how existing LPG gas infrastructure can be repurposed to help companies meet EU sustainability reporting requirements stemming from the CSRD Directive, which comes into force on January 1, 2025.

Energy security and resource availability are critical priorities for every enterprise. Faced with volatility in the energy market, many companies experienced sharp increases in natural gas prices, prompting them to seek alternative energy sources.

Companies with high natural gas consumption are increasingly required to implement renewable energy (RES) projects in order to reduce CO₂ emissions and gradually move away from fossil fuels. Strategic obligations under the Fit for 55 package and the European Green Deal force large enterprises to report on their environmental activities — and failure to comply may result in penalties of up to 5% of annual turnover.

Is Polish business ready for the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and the implementation of ESG standards (Environmental, Social, Governance)?
European regulations on corporate reporting, stemming from the CSRD (Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive) and CSDDD (Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive), introduce a transitional period from 2025 to 2029. The scope of reporting obligations will depend on the company’s size, number of employees, financial balance, and turnover.

As a result, we are witnessing a boom in RES projects across the European Union — including Poland — with billions of euros allocated to grants, subsidies, and preferential loans.

But what if a company with high natural gas consumption cannot replace it with biomethane or hydrogen?

The solution is BioLPG (renewable LPG) – an environmentally friendly alternative that enables carbon footprint reduction and helps meet EU decarbonization requirements.

Renewable BioLPG is a liquefied gas produced from renewable biomass sources, such as vegetable oils, animal fats, and other organic waste.

Chemically, it is identical to conventional LPG derived from petroleum, but its production results in significantly lower CO₂ emissions, making it a more environmentally friendly alternative to traditional fossil fuels.

BioLPG (rLPG) complies with the certification requirements of ISCC EU and ISCC PLUS (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification), as well as the provisions of the RED II Directive.

ISCC is a globally recognized sustainability certification system that confirms the renewable origin of BioLPG (biopropane) and its compliance with sustainability criteria for fuel production.

For a complete switch and fast transition from natural gas — without the need to reconfigure burners — backup and supplementary gas supply systems based on an LPG-air mixture are commonly used.

By mixing BioLPG with air, it is possible to produce a bioPropane-Air gas blend (bioSNG) with combustion properties — specifically in terms of calorific value and Wobbe Index — that are very similar to natural gas.

This type of mixture can be used as a direct substitute for natural gas in industrial facilities, heating systems, commercial kitchens, and other applications where natural gas is typically used.

Mixing BioLPG (bio-propane-butane) with air to replace natural gas is a promising solution that can help reduce dependence on fossil fuels and support the development of renewable energy sources.

This gas mixture is also referred to as renewable synthetic natural gas based on propane – bioSNG.

1. Renewable energy source – BioLPG (biopropane) is produced from renewable biomass sources, making it an environmentally friendly and sustainable solution.

2. Reduction of greenhouse gas emissions – Using BioLPG helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as it is carbon neutral. Additionally, burners powered by bioSNG produce less particulate matter, less CO₂, lower nitrogen oxides (NOₓ), carbon monoxide (CO), carcinogenic benzo(a)pyrene, and sulfur oxides (SOₓ), which significantly improves air quality and reduces negative health impacts.

3. Compatibility with existing infrastructure – The use of a bioLPG-air mixture often requires no major modifications to existing gas systems.

4. Enhanced energy security – The production of GreenLPG can reduce dependence on imported natural gas and contribute to strengthening national energy security.

Blending bioLPG with air is a forward-looking approach that can contribute to reducing dependence on natural gas and support the development of renewable energy sources. The growth of this environmentally friendly liquefied gas depends on the expansion of global bioLPG production, which will in turn reduce its scarcity and lower fuel costs.

Compared to conventional LPG, BioLPG with a 10% BIO blend is approximately 10–15% more expensive, while enabling a reduction of 0.3 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions. On the other hand, 100% BioLPG made entirely from renewable components is 60–70% more expensive than traditional LPG, but allows for a reduction of up to 2.96 tonnes of CO₂ equivalent emissions.

With the I-MAXIMUM calculator, you can assess the cost-effectiveness of using different types of fuel in your facility. Link to the calculator: https://i-maximum.com/pl/calculator

Unlike traditional gas mixers that rely on static mechanical settings, the I-MAXIMUM dynamic blender uses adaptive control algorithms to continuously adjust the composition of the gas mixture. By incorporating real-time mass flow measurement and electronic valve control, the system ensures precise maintenance of the calorific value—even when the parameters of gas sources fluctuate.

This is a relatively new approach, in which we propose the use of SNG (Synthetic Natural Gas) with a 10% BioLPG admixture to traditional LPG as the first step in partial decarbonization. This solution allows large industrial facilities to align with the requirements of the European Green Deal while continuing to serve their established customer base.

One of the most promising applications of BioLPG (as a substitute for traditional LPG) is its use as an additive to biomethane, which would enable compliance with the 100% renewable gas requirement. To stabilize the quality parameters of biomethane, it is essential to increase its calorific value. In most regions of Poland, gas distributed through the network has a calorific value ranging from 39.5 MJ/m³ to 41.5 MJ/m³. Biomethane, however, cannot reach this level on its own, as its calorific value is only about 38 MJ/m³.

Additionally, in some voivodeships—such as Greater Poland (Wielkopolskie), Lubusz (Lubuskie), and West Pomeranian (Zachodniopomorskie)—the gas in local grids contains higher nitrogen levels and a lower calorific value. In such cases, it may be necessary to downgrade biomethane by adding an inert gas before injecting it into the grid. The issue of gas admixtures to biomethane has already been regulated—relevant provisions have been included in the amended Renewable Energy Sources Act recently approved by the Polish Parliament.

„In Germany and the United Kingdom, where gas network calorific values also vary regionally, it is standard practice to add approximately 5% propane (LPG) to biomethane to meet grid quality requirements.

In 2024, gas distribution system operators in these countries have already received over 170 applications for connecting biomethane production facilities to the grid. For the LPG sector, this signals that by 2026–2027, annual consumption of bioLPG for biomethane enrichment could exceed 50,000 tonnes.” - Andriy Dorofeyev Strategic Director I-MAXIMUM sp. z o.o.

I-Maximum sp. z o.o. is a modern engineering company specializing in the development and implementation of advanced gas mixing systems. The company provides solutions that ensure continuous delivery of gases and gas mixtures (biomethane, biogas, hydrogen, SNG, etc.) with precisely controlled calorific value to industrial burners, steam boilers, cogeneration systems, combined heat and power plants, and other industrial installations.

These solutions represent a modern and efficient alternative to traditional fuels such as natural gas, coal, or heating oil, and are designed to meet the specific needs of industrial users.

I-MAXIMUM specializes in renewable gas supply systems based on bioLPG (BioSNG), which offer precise control over the calorific value – a key factor for stable and efficient operation of industrial installations – while supporting carbon footprint reduction and the broader transition toward low-emission energy sources.

👉 Learn more about our SNG gas mixers: https://i-maximum.com/products/sng-blenders/455130842

Prepared by:

MSc Eng. Świętosław Kariuk

Sales Manager at I-Maximum sp. z o.o. – a Polish manufacturer of gas mixers and biomethane enrichment systems – MGA-Bio mixer.