Techno-economic Assessment of Renewable Energy Communities for Biomethane based on a Case Study in Bruck/Leitha

Biomethane will play a crucial role in the decarbonization of the energy system. To achieve Austria’s goal of climate neutrality by 2040, it is essential to phase out fossil gas imports and significantly expand domestic biomethane production. One potential concept for the integration of biomethane into the Austrian energy system is the formation of renewable energy communities (REC) for gas. This thesis investigates the techno-economic feasibility of such a model through a specific case study based on the biogas plant in Bruck/Leitha, which could form a REC with a nearby industrial company. The objective of this techno-economic analysis was to determine whether forming a REC would be economically viable for both entities. To this end, the levelized cost of biomethane was calculated based on data from the biogas plant. Subsequently, end-consumer prices for natural gas and biomethane within a REC were determined. Various scenarios were modeled to evaluate the economic and technical effects of creating an energy community.