Delgaz Grid's natural gas distribution networks - operating across 20 counties in northern and western Romania and totaling more than 26,000 kilometers - are fully prepared for the use of biomethane and approximately 70% ready for hydrogen, company representatives announced on Thursday at the "Are green gases, biomethane and hydrogen among the viable solutions for Romania's energy transition?" held in Targu Mures.
"Delgaz Grid's natural gas distribution networks, stretching over 26,000 kilometers, are fully prepared for the use of biomethane, while the polyethylene pipelines - representing 70% of the network - are largely ready for hydrogen. The company currently runs three projects in the field of green gases (biomethane and hydrogen), seen as viable solutions for Romania's energy transition alongside green electricity and natural gas. Biomethane is essentially methane, the main component of natural gas. We are preparing the networks for hydrogen, which is another type of gas but not unmanageable. As you know, we have been managing natural gas for 110 years and hydrogen for 100 years in the industrial area of Tarnaveni, Azomures. So we have the experience; we just need to adapt the current networks for hydrogen. By this, I mean pure hydrogen, with customers' appliances becoming compatible with it, since hydrogen has slightly different characteristics than natural gas," said Cristian Calin, Director of Delgaz Grid Green Gas Programs and Decarbonization Solutions.
The company representative stressed that bringing together stakeholders from the hydrogen and biomethane value chains is an important first step toward unlocking and implementing these technologies.
"We have identified several bottlenecks that must be addressed: European legislation needs recalibration, national legislation must be developed accordingly, and financing programs remain scarce - especially for distribution operators. Currently, there are no funding schemes for operators, which must change so we can adapt networks quickly for hydrogen, as they are already prepared for biomethane," emphasized Cristian Calin.
He argued that radical solutions such as "all electric" or "all green" are not feasible in the medium or long term. Instead, he emphasized the viability of hybrid approaches - combining green electricity, green gases, central heating, and geothermal energy - with a transition period for natural gas and nuclear power. Green gases like hydrogen and biomethane, he noted, are among the few options capable of balancing renewable variability and consumption volatility.
Participants at the Targu Mures conference highlighted Romania's significant potential in green gas production. According to the National Energy Strategy, biomethane projects aim for a 5% share in the natural gas network by 2030 and 10% by 2050. The National Hydrogen Strategy sets production targets of 49 kilotonnes annually by 2027 and 153 kilotonnes by 2030, with applications in heating and recognition of the importance of existing gas infrastructure.
"Decarbonization is not only vital for the environment and energy security, but also for economic competitiveness. Natural gas will remain fundamental in Europe's energy architecture, especially during Romania's transition," said Delgaz Grid CEO Cristian Secosan. Deputy CEO Anca Evoiu added that delaying investments will only raise long-term costs, while hydrogen and biomethane projects can drive growth and jobs, positioning Romania as a promoter of clean energy technologies.
Andrei Gusan, leader of the Romanian Business Leaders Foundation in Mures, compared the energy transition's transformative potential to Artificial Intelligence, stressing Romania's chance to become a credible supplier of green energy if it has the courage to act early.
The roundtable, organized by Delgaz Grid in Targu Mures, brought together representatives from energy, industry, utilities, academia, and local authorities.
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