Through the supply of Renewable Natural Gas (biomethane) and the utilisation of virtual pipelines – mobile compressed biomethane storage and transportation units – InoMob offers an immediately applicable, economically competitive and reliable solution for reducing the carbon footprint and enhancing the energy efficiency of our commercial partners, explains InoMob Founder & Managing Director, Sotiris Petrakides.
"We believe that in the coming years RNG will play an increasingly important role in the industry's energy transition," he notes in an interview with InBusinessNews and reveals that "in the long term, our ambition is to expand InoMob's presence outside Cyprus, leveraging the know-how, business model and strategic partnerships we are developing today."
How does InoMob help businesses and organisations transition to cleaner forms of energy?
As an integrated energy partner in the supply of alternative, zero-carbon gaseous fuels, InoMob enables domestic industry - businesses and organisations - to transition to cleaner and more competitive forms of fuel, without requiring significant changes to existing infrastructure or their production processes.
Through the supply of Renewable Natural Gas (biomethane) and the utilisation of virtual pipelines – mobile compressed biomethane storage and transportation units – we offer an immediately applicable, economically competitive and reliable solution to reduce the carbon footprint and enhance the energy efficiency of our commercial partners.
At the same time, based on the ISCC (International Sustainability and Carbon Certification) certification, we provide full transparency through sustainability certificates for each quantity of Renewable Natural Gas - Biomethane that we supply, ensuring that our strategic partners can document their compliance with both the provisions of the respective national legislation and with European and international environmental standards.
As a vertically integrated energy partner, InoMob creates long-term value for its commercial partners through more resilient, efficient and sustainable energy models.
In this way, sustainability is transformed into a strategic advantage that strengthens the position of businesses in the market, facilitates their access to new commercial opportunities, strengthens their competitiveness, and effectively prepares them for the challenges and demands of the new energy era.
What are the main advantages of Renewable Natural Gas (RNG) compared to traditional fuels?
A fundamental differentiation of RNG/biomethane compared to conventional fossil fuels is its production process itself. It is a locally produced biofuel, produced through the anaerobic digestion of organic waste and livestock manure, transforming an environmental challenge into an opportunity for socio-economic development and environmental progress, based on a circular energy model.
At a commercial level, RNG constitutes one of the most immediate, reliable and cost-effective solutions for the decarbonisation and energy transition of industry and businesses, particularly in sectors with high thermal demands, where full electrification remains technically and/or economically difficult.
At the same time, it offers a high degree of energy security and reliability, ensuring the continuous operation of critical industrial applications, unlike other forms of renewable energy that depend on weather conditions or require significant investments in energy storage systems.
Another important advantage is that RNG can be harnessed through existing energy infrastructure and equipment, allowing businesses to immediately reduce their carbon footprint without requiring extensive investments or changes to their production processes.
At the same time, it contributes to reducing the exposure of businesses to future regulatory risks, carbon costs (ETSII) and compliance obligations that are expected to intensify in the coming years within the framework of European environmental/energy policy.
For InoMob, RNG is not just an alternative zero-carbon biofuel, but a strategic tool that allows businesses to combine environmental responsibility, operational efficiency and sustainable development, creating long-term value and strengthening the competitive position of domestic businesses in the international markets of the future.
What technological and business innovations are expected to accelerate the growth of the RNG market and what will be its role in the industry's energy transition in the coming years?
Innovation is a key factor in the development of the RNG market, as it accelerates the transition from a linear energy model to a more sustainable, decentralised and circular system of energy production and consumption.
In recent years, we have seen significant developments in biogas production and upgrading technologies to biomethane. Of particular interest are technologies for capturing and utilising biogenic carbon dioxide, which is a by-product of the biogas upgrading process. Through the combined use of renewable hydrogen, biogenic CO₂ can be converted into synthetic methane, increasing the energy efficiency of production units, enhancing fuel availability and improving the overall sustainability of investments in the sector.
At the same time, the digitalisation of the market is showing particular momentum through advanced traceability and sustainability certification systems, which allow for the full monitoring of the origin and environmental characteristics of each Renewable Natural Gas - Biomethane unit. This development enhances the transparency, reliability and trust of the market, elements necessary for the wider adoption of RNG by industry and businesses.
Also at the same time, new business and financing models are being developed that facilitate businesses' access to clean energy solutions, while the increasing connection of RNG with ESG frameworks, carbon markets and decarbonisation strategies creates additional value beyond energy consumption itself.
Another particularly important trend is the use of virtual pipelines and decentralised biomethane distribution models, which allow the provision of clean energy even in areas without access to natural gas networks. This significantly expands the scope of biomethane and accelerates the energy transition of industry and businesses regardless of geographical location.
We believe that in the coming years, RNG will play an increasingly important role in the energy transition of industry, not only as a low or even zero carbon footprint fuel, but also as a strategic tool for energy security, circular economy and strengthening the competitiveness of businesses in an ever-changing international environment.
What are the company's goals for the coming years and how do you see the clean energy market evolving?
InoMob's main goal for the coming years is to establish itself as the leading provider of Renewable Natural Gas - Biomethane and integrated gaseous biofuel supply solutions in Cyprus, substantially contributing to the energy transition of the local economy, industry and businesses.
At the same time, our strategic goal is to contribute to the development of a strong domestic biomethane market, which will leverage the principles of the circular economy, transforming local organic resources and waste into clean energy and new opportunities for economic growth.
In the long term, our ambition is to expand InoMob’s presence outside Cyprus, leveraging the know-how, business model and strategic partnerships we are currently developing. We believe that the experience we gain from developing the biomethane market in Cyprus can serve as a basis for our operations in new markets in the wider region. Furthermore, we seek to expand our network of strategic partnerships, expand the use of virtual pipelines and create the conditions for broader access of businesses to clean energy, regardless of geographical location or existing energy infrastructure.
Regarding the clean energy market, we believe we are at the beginning of a particularly dynamic period of growth. European decarbonisation policies, the implementation of ETS2, increasing ESG requirements and the need for businesses to maintain their competitiveness create strong incentives for the adoption of sustainable energy solutions.
In this environment, Renewable Natural Gas – Biomethane is expected to play a leading role, especially in sectors where decarbonisation remains technically and economically challenging. In addition to industry and thermal energy production applications, we estimate that in the coming years the use of biomethane will develop significantly in heavy road transport and shipping, two sectors that are at the heart of European policies to reduce emissions.
Biomethane offers a readily available and commercially mature solution to reduce the carbon footprint of long-haul road transport, transport fleets and maritime activities, leveraging existing or rapidly developing technologies and infrastructure. It also contributes to improving energy security, diversifying supply sources and creating new growth opportunities around the circular economy and renewable fuels.
How difficult has the journey been so far? Were there individuals, companies and organisations that supported you in your first steps, on a logistical level?
InoMob's journey to date has been particularly demanding, as is the case with any innovative venture that attempts to introduce a new energy model/product to a market that is in its infancy in terms of the production and supply of renewable gaseous fuels.
In the early stages of our journey, the biggest challenge was not only the development of production technology and business model, but also the need to create trust around a new approach to the production, supply and utilisation of Renewable Natural Gas - BioMethane in Cyprus, a country that has not yet welcomed fossil natural gas.
Along this path, we were fortunate to meet people and organisations who believed in the vision of InoMob and the capabilities of its founders from the very first steps.
Special mention deserves the multinational group Island Oil Holdings, its management team and personally the owner of the group, Mr. Chrysostomos Papavassiliou, who, as a visionary businessman and investor, promptly recognised the prospects of the Renewable Natural Gas - Biomethane market and chose to support InoMob as a strategic investor.
The trust he demonstrated in both the company's vision and its founders and team was a decisive factor in the evolution of InoMob from an innovative idea to a dynamically growing company with a clear strategic direction, strong commercial activity and a substantial contribution to Cyprus' energy transition.
His support during the early stages of the company's development was not limited to the investment aspect, but functioned as a vote of confidence in a new market and a new energy model, substantially contributing to the creation of the conditions for the development of the Renewable Natural Gas - Biomethane sector in Cyprus.
Equally important was the trust shown by the Photos Photiades Group and in particular Mr. Pavlos Photiades together with his management team, as Photos Photiades Breweries was the first industry to trust InoMob for the complete decarbonisation of its brewery's thermal needs through the use of Renewable Natural Gas - Biomethane.
This collaboration is not only a significant business milestone for our company, but also a practical demonstration that the Cypriot industry can utilise Renewable Natural Gas - Biomethane as a reliable and commercially viable solution to achieve decarbonisation and sustainability goals.
At the same time, it confirms that companies that pioneer the adoption of innovative energy solutions can further strengthen their sustainability strategy, while maintaining their competitiveness, their production efficiency and their leading position in the market.
Additionally, the contribution of the Research & Innovation Foundation (RIF) was significant, supporting the initial stages of InoMob's technological development and contributing substantially to the transition from research and innovation to the commercial exploitation of our technology and energy solutions. This support enabled the company to develop its first applications and take its first substantial commercial steps.
InoMob’s journey to date confirms that innovation never develops in isolation. It requires people with vision, strategic investors who believe in new ideas, businesses willing to pioneer and institutions that support research and innovation. We are particularly grateful to everyone who contributed to this effort and we continue with the same ambition to shape the future of clean energy in Cyprus and beyond.
(Source: InBusinessNews)
