Events

The European Biomethane Map is an annual publication by the European Biogas Association (EBA) which this year includes for the first time an open-access interactive map, built with the support of EBA members, who have provided the necessary data. Additionally, the digital and print versions of the European Biomethane Map are the result of an ongoing collaboration between the EBA and Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). Sources of each country are listed on the map. Data covers active facilities under operation, according to the available EBA dataset by June 2024.

Discover the interactive version of the European Biomethane Map 2024

How are biogases produced and utilised, and what are their main benefits for the environment, society, and energy landscape? Explore our publication ‘Decoding Biogases: Made in Europe, Sustainable, and Affordable’ for insights.

Key highlights include:

Biogases: the all-rounders of the future energy mix
Latest data on biogases production in Europe
Facilitating a resilient energy transition
Decarbonising the EU economy with biogases
Valorising digestate and bio-CO2
Enabling a negative emissions footprint
Socio-economic benefits across the biogases value chain

Interested in learning more about biogas and biomethane production and use across Europe? Check out the EBA Statistical Report here.

EBA monitors biomethane investments yearly to forecast the growth of the sector and better identify market trends, drivers and gaps.

The second biomethane investment outlook identifies a growing commitment from industry with a total of 27 billion EUR allocated to invest in biomethane production. This marks a growth of 9 billion EUR compared to investments identified one year ago. The figures presented in this outlook are based on replies from 26 investors and project developers within the EBA, 2 more compared to the previous edition. The investments are projected to deliver 6.3 bcm/year of biomethane capacity to Europe by 2030.

More information and registration here

Brussels 18/06/24 – The European biomethane sector will receive an injection of €25 billion in private investments by 2030, according to a European Biogas Association (EBA) analysis released today. This represents a 30% increase compared to last year estimates. The 2^nd edition of the Biomethane Investments Outlook forecasts €2.1 extra billion investments in the pipeline, but yet to be allocated.

The projected investments by 2030 will result in the installation of 950 new biomethane plants across Europe, alongside the 1,300 facilities already operational. This will add 6.3 billion cubic meters (bcm) of biomethane capacity annually to the continent, which could contribute to avoiding nearly 29 million tons of CO₂ emissions each year, providing renewable energy to 5 million European households year-round, and producing 830 thousand tons of fertiliser annually.

Investments will be mostly located in Denmark (€3.6 billion), Poland (€3.4 billion) and Italy (€2.4 billion). In the case of Denmark, the share of biomethane in the gas grid is close to 40% and there are plans to increase this production to substitute 100% of the gas demand before 2030.

Two years following the launch the REPowerEU plan, the industry is swiftly mobilising to achieve the 35 bcm biomethane production target by 2030. Investments are crucial to fully unlock biomethane production potential and streamlining the development of new plants across Europe.

Aligning the EU Taxonomy with the REPowerEU objectives for biomethane will direct capital towards the sector. The EU Taxonomy plays a crucial role in incentivising green investments, although challenges in implementing screening criteria persist. To secure the announced investments, it is essential to implement aligned policies, maintain stable regulatory frameworks and facilitate long-term end-use of biomethane and its co-products.

EBA will present the key outcomes of this analysis on 5^th July at the webinar “Biomethane scale-up in figures: Mapping new plants and investments across Europe”, which will also unveil the new edition of the European Biomethane Map.

Contact

Mieke Decorte – EBA Technical Director decorte@europeanbiogas.eu

We are delighted to invite you to the fourth European Biogas Association Dig Deep! Webinar “Biomethane scale-up in figures: Mapping new plants and investments across Europe”, on July 5, from 10:00 to 11:30, disclosing the most recent data on biomethane production facilities in operation and the private investment currently driving the growth of the sector with the launch of a new edition of the European Biomethane Map and the EBA Biomethane Investment Outlook.

2024 marks the second anniversary of the REPowerEU plan, an initiative that has seen rapid mobilisation within the industry to meet the ambitious goal of producing 35 bcm of biomethane annually by 2030. With an estimated total biomethane potential of 41 bcm by 2030, the sector is set for significant growth.

Investments are crucial to fully unlock biomethane production potential, streamlining the development of new plants across Europe, the decarbonisation of existing gas infrastructure and the integration of innovative technologies.

We look forward to discussing together the future of biomethane in Europe and exploring the opportunities for further investment and growth.

Programme

10:00 – 10:05 Welcome

10:05 – 10:15 Keynote

Phd Biljana Kulisic, Policy Officer, Unit C2 Decarbonisation and sustainability of energy sources, Directorate-General for Energy, European Commission

10:15 – 10:25 2^nd EBA Biomethane Investment Outlook

Mieke Decorte, Technical Director, European Biogas Association

10:25 – 10:35 ENGIE’s biomethane portfolio

Annette Kroll, Head of Regulation and Advocacy, ENGIE

10:35 – 10:50 Q&A session

10:50 – 11:00 European Biomethane Map 2024

Anastasiya Agapova, Technical and Project Officer, European Biogas Association

11:00 – 11:10 Infrastructure facilitating biomethane growth

Pierre Duvieusart, GIE Biomethane Area Sponsor

11:10 – 11:25 Q&A session

11:25 – 11:35 Concluding Keynote

Harmen Dekker, CEO, European Biogas Association

Air Liquide recently adopted an internal charter developed with WWF France and other experts, including the European Biogas Association, to enhance sustainable biomethane production. It focuses on four main pillars: contributing to the energy transition, supporting agroecological practices, maximising benefits for local ecosystems and promoting a circular economy, and preserving biodiversity while preventing environmental risks. We spoke with Arnaud De Veron, Sustainable Development Leader, to learn more.

The charter aims to increase awareness about the potential impacts of biomethane projects and to foster further collaboration with the ecosystem towards more efficient sustainability frameworks.

Could you briefly present Air Liquide’s Biogas Solutions?

Air Liquide, a world leader in gases, technologies and services for industry and healthcare, has developed competencies throughout the entire biomethane value chain. This includes biogas production from waste, its purification into biomethane, and its injection into gas grids or compression/liquefaction for storage and transportation to customers. Air Liquide currently operates 26 biomethane production units worldwide, with a yearly production capacity of approximately 1.8 TWh.

Could you elaborate on the inception of this collaboration project with WWF France and Air Liquide’s proactive approach to sustainable biomethane production?

In 2020, we carried out Life Cycle Assessments on two of our biomethane production units. The results highlighted the diversity of impacts of our sites. While every energy production asset can have both positive and negative environmental impacts, the multifunctionality of anaerobic digestion likely contributes to a broader range of externalities. This finding underscored the need for us to better understand and monitor the sustainability characteristics of our current operations and future projects, going beyond existing regulations that primarily focus on biomethane as an energy vector.

To reach this goal, we collaborated with WWF France to leverage their expertise in defining sustainability criteria to improve our projects and bring further legitimacy to our approach. Air Liquide Biogas Solutions and WWF France joined forces to design a first set of principles, criteria, and indicators to frame what sustainable biomethane production means with the support of some other stakeholders (consultants, academia and the European Biogas Association).

What are the main findings of this collaboration and the main commitments of Air Liquide?

The collaboration led to consider that the development of sustainable biomethane relies on 4 main principles:

Contribute efficiently to energy transition
Be a lever for agroecological practices
Maximise benefits for local ecosystems and promote circular economy
Preserve biodiversity and prevent environmental risks

The main findings are further detailed in a public synthesis that aims to increase the awareness of the potential impacts of biomethane projects and to engage further collaboration with the ecosystem toward more efficient sustainability frameworks.

Could you provide some specific examples of actions taken by Air Liquide?

Besides the public synthesis, the collaboration aimed to develop an internal charter for our investment committee to assess the sustainability of any new projects based on (i) clear and thorough criteria considered as “Sustainability Essentials” for selection purposes and (ii) key sustainability indicators combined into an overall “Sustainability Score” for comparison purposes.

For instance, this frames the followings:

production projects should not incorporate food-and-feed crops (except intermediate crops)
facilities are designed to minimise methane and ammonia losses
biomethane carbon footprint reduction and energy return on investment maximisation are incentivised
agroecological practices (e.g. diversification and chemicals minimisation for the intermediate crops) are promoted

What are the main limits and what could be the next steps?

First, I would emphasise that beyond this generic framework, the sustainability of each project depends on local conditions. Moreover, this internal charter must be seen as a humble contribution that will certainly evolve in the future and that needs to be discussed, enriched, and challenged by other stakeholders. In particular, biomethane projects are embedded within existing agricultural systems and the farmers are a crucial part of the equation. It will be necessary to engage more with them in the future.

We also need to collaborate more with the authorities to make sure that government incentives favour equally economic success and sustainability. We must seek systemic, impactful, and pragmatic measures and create a level playing field that promotes the most sustainable practices.

May 23, 2024 03:00 PM

ALFA’s webinar on Challenges and needs for the uptake of biogas in livestock farming in Europe will be the first of 6 webinars organized by the ALFA project and Sustainable Innovations. White Research will present a series of identified barriers, needs, and enabling factors to the uptake of biogas in livestock farming, based on European-wide surveys of experts and citizens. The European Biogas Association will present the current status of biogas in Europe and the benefits of enhancing its adoption. Attendees will also have the opportunity to share their experiences and voice their concerns about existing challenges and needs particular to their regional contexts.

27-28 November 2024. Barcelona, Spain.

The pursuit of net-zero emissions by 2050 has propelled the demand for biogas and alternative fuels to unprecedented levels. The industry faces significant challenges as it strives to expand and innovate within this timeframe.

The conference sessions will delve into current policies and regulations, advancements in the transportation sector including maritime applications, geographical considerations, emerging opportunities in biogas, the journey towards reducing dependence on Russian gas, and more.

This two-day event will convene senior executives and experts across the entire value chain, providing a platform for collaboration and knowledge exchange for all stakeholders involved in anaerobic digestion of organic matter and renewable energy production through biogas.

12-14 June 2024. Pula, Croatia

Relevant experts from the public and private sector and high representatives of national and international institutions await you at the most important conference on renewable energy sources in this part of Europe. This conference is an ideal opportunity to obtain information and connect all relevant stakeholders in one place.

The three-day event through panels and lectures will cover numerous topics such as public policies in the RES sector, the development of all RES technologies (wind, sun, geothermal, biogas and biomass), agrosolar power plants, energy storage systems, grid development, hydrogen, environmental and nature protection, electromobility and other topics important for RES development.

Programme and registration

Using manure from livestock farming for biogas production has positive environmental and economic impacts. These include reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by replacing fossil fuels, mitigating air, soil, and water pollution through improved manure management, and diversifying farmers’ income. In this article, we explore the strategies adopted through the ALFA project to achieve this objective and highlight the benefits of unlocking the biogas potential from livestock farmers. Additionally, we shed light on the social perception and acceptance.

Sustainable agriculture as driver of biogas production

According to the European Biogas Association’s 2023 database, the agricultural sector significantly contributes to European biogas and biomethane production, with 67% of biogas and 64% of biomethane originating from agricultural plants. This shows the substantial role of agricultural feedstocks like manure, sequential crops, and other residues. The recently published Guidehouse report “Biogases towards 2040 and beyond: A realistic and resilient path to climate neutrality” calculates that by 2040, 82% of the biogases potential will be derived from agriculture, with 43% from sequential crops, 20% from agricultural residues, and 19% from animal manure. This indicates a continued integration between the agricultural sector and renewable gas production.

In that context, the ALFA project aims to harness the significant role of agriculture in the biogas sector by tapping into the potential of biogas production specifically from livestock farming. The goal is to promote wider uptake of renewable energy sources and increase the share of bioenergy as a flexible energy source, all while reducing emissions from untreated animal waste and supporting the creation of new jobs and the local economy.

The diverse frameworks and specificities of local biogas markets across Europe require an adaptable approach that goes beyond uniform strategies when supporting the scaleup and market uptake of biogas technologies.

Critical challenges for livestock farmers

During the initial phase of the ALFA project, partners assessed the current social, economic, and legal factors that hinder the use of anaerobic digestion (AD) technologies for on-farm biogas production. They concluded that the six target countries of the project have high potential to use livestock manure to enhance their biogas production. However, they still face specific barriers.

In Greece, unused biomass and a lack of biomethane commercialisation persist due to inadequate financial incentives for biogas projects. Farmers’ limited technical know-how and awareness of biogas benefits remain a challenge in Spain. Slovakia encounters logistical barriers especially in grid infrastructure, alongside insufficient public support, and regulatory clarity for biogas operations. Italy’s biogas growth is slowing down by complex authorisation procedures and social opposition. Belgian farmers find obtaining a permit to install a biogas plant difficult. In Denmark, farmers require assistance in both business and technical aspects.

A survey of 3,000 EU citizens revealed a limited understanding of biogas production from manure. While respondents generally have positive perceptions of its environmental and economic benefits, there are misconceptions, such as concerns about health impacts and the safety of production technology. Some also believe biogas production can worsen odours and lower property values nearby.

Local ecosystems: a core element of biogas production

To address this multitude of challenges, ALFA established regional hubs in six European countries (Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Spain, Italy, and Slovakia) early in 2022 and started engaging with local stakeholders to setup regional networks as an effective mechanism for engagement and cooperation with the local ecosystems. These networks were instrumental in conducting framework analyses of the biogas sector, identifying success stories and co-designing an inclusive and responsive local-needs-approach in all biogas project activities.

Based on in-depth interviews with successful biogas and biomethane implementations, ALFA hubs came up with valuable recommendations for prospective investors:

Firstly, consider the operational and maintenance demands of running a biogas plant, factoring in initial design, operation, and maintenance plans to mitigate investment risks and secure biomass feedstock. Return on investment typically spans 6-7 years, varying by country.
Before installation, conduct 4-5 manure analyses to accurately assess biogas potential. Also, the quality of liquid manure is easier to work with than thick manure, though this may vary depending on the specific case.
Diversify feedstock and integrate renewable energy sources to broaden income streams. Prioritise biomethane plant implementation alongside biogas facilities for optimal outcomes.
Given bureaucratic challenges, having project participants knowledgeable in authorisation and implementation processes proves advantageous, especially considering significant variations across countries and regions.

In addition to the above recommendations, ALFA also created decision support tools to provide actionable knowledge and science-based information to livestock farming for leveraging the potential of biogas and fostering a fruitful environment for ideas exchange, networking, and collaboration. These resources are available through the ALFA Engagement platform and include: the Livestock Biogas Library (with various materials, including articles), a Decision Support Tool (for assessing biogas projects in terms of profitability and environmental and social benefits), an interactive map with active Biogas Cases, an online repository named Knowledge Center with useful informative materials, and a Biogas Forum serving as an open environment for nurturing novel ideas and exchanging best practices.

The ALFA project is designed to act as a catalyst of biogas production by offering demand driven support for livestock farmers to take up biogas solutions, while also providing policymakers and stakeholders insightful information on biogas market dynamics. The project will complete its journey by providing science-based information to livestock farming decision makers for the potential of biogas in the form of policy recommendations. Additionally, it aims to raise awareness of the general public on misperceptions about biogas and bioenergy and contribute to the market uptake of biogas solutions in the livestock sector by producing an easy-to-use replication guide.

About the author

George Osei Owusu – Project and Technical Officer owusu@europeanbiogas.eu , ALFA Consortium konstas@qplan-intl.gr

George Osei Owusu started working as Technical and Project Officer at EBA. He is mainly involved in EU projects on biogas and biomethane, predominantly on market research and the application of biogas in some EU countries, such as GreenMeUp, ALFA and eQATOR. George has a background in Environmental Science with a master’s degree in environmental science and engineering from JUNIA, France.

Published on 3 May 2024.

Tuesday 14 May 2024, 14:30-15:45 CEST, Online

The cooperation between all energy related sectors, from production to end-users, is crucial to reach climate neutrality in 2050 EU’s objectives as well as intermediary 2040 target.

The webinar “Industry contribution to 2040 targets strategy through reinforced sector integration” organised by ENZA will shed light on the benefits of a multi-energy and sector-integrated systems (combining power, heat and other fuels) to deliver a cost-efficient energy transition and accelerate the integration of renewables into our energy system.

The event will also highlight opportunities for European industries to mitigate their CO2 emissions and contribute to Europe’s net-zero emissions target.

This event is part of the European Sustainable Energy Week.

9 – 11 October 2024. Bologna, Italy

Fueling Tomorrow is the event dedicated to the transformation of fuels and the use of new energy vectors in the transport sector and ‘hard-to-abate’ industries, in the context of ecological transition.

The event will focus on both traditional and innovative sources of energy supply, emphasising a transition path towards a more environmentally, economically and socially sustainable energy future.

The aim is to redefine the current energy landscape, combining traditional fuels, made more environmentally friendly through innovative refining processes, with cutting-edge solutions such as green gases (ranging from hydrogen to biomethane), electric.

More information

Programme and registration.

Using biomethane to reach net-zero emissions in primary steel and dispatchable power

Biomethane as a renewable energy source can be used to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in various end use sectors. This study aims to provide insights on the abatement costs and potential of biomethane compared to other forms of renewable and low-carbon energy. It shows that biomethane can play a relevant role as a cost-effective abatement option irrespective of its sustainable production potential.

This report focuses on the abatement costs of biomethane to produce dispatchable electricity and to provide high temperature heat and carbon-rich feedstock to produce steel, as two relevant examples. Biomethane could perform well in ‘sweet spots’ in other end use sectors too. Modelling is required to obtain a more definite view on the merits of biomethane in all end use sectors.

Biomethane is produced with net-zero lifecycle emissions, if manure is used in the average feedstock mix, and no main crops. Using manure avoids methane emissions which offset the (limited) supply chain emissions from other feedstocks. The greenhouse gas emission performance of biomethane can be enhanced by applying negative emission measures. Biomethane can provide negative emissions in three ways: (1) carbon storage in the soil when growing biomass, (2) precombustion carbon capture in the production of biomethane and (3) post-combustion carbon capture when using it.

Production costs of biomethane could be €70 per MWh on average, noting that production in large installations is significantly cheaper than in smaller ones. This cost level equals a renewable hydrogen cost of just over €2 per kilogramme.

The marginal abatement cost curves presented as example case studies in this report show that biomethane is a cost-efficient abatement option in the production of dispatchable electricity and in primary steel production. The abatement potential of biomethane in both assessed sectors is capped by the supply potential that can be made available for consumption in these sectors.

In the electricity system, electricity from biomethane is the most cost-effective option to balance the electricity system in particular during ‘windless winter weeks’, making use of inexpensive storage in existing gas storages. In primary steel production, biomethane can be used in the DRI process, thereby replacing existing steel production that uses cokes coal. Most steel abatement options end up with remaining emissions. Biomethane combined with CCS is not only the most cost-effective option to achieve net zero emissions steel production, but beyond that it achieves climate positive steel.

The Biomethane Industrial Partnership (BIP), in collaboration with the Directorate-General for Energy (DG ENER), the European Biogas Association (EBA) and the European Renewable Gas Registry (ERGaR), will host the policy session “From waste to renewable energy: how biomethane can foster resilient energy communities” at the European Sustainable Energy Week (EUSEW) 2024.

Scheduled to take place on June 12^th, from 16:30 to 18:00 CEST, both in Brussels and online, the session “From waste to renewable energy: how biomethane can foster resilient energy communities” will focus on the role of biomethane in fostering resilient and effective energy communities.

The session will explore how biomethane can be a local, green, and resilient energy source, highlighting its diverse benefits, from the efficient utilisation of waste-based feedstock to the production of organic fertilisers and the mitigation of CO2 emissions. Additionally, it will examine how building biomethane energy communities can enhance citizen engagement and local leadership, addressing social acceptance concerns and the importance of sector awareness.

Projections for biomethane production by 2040 will be presented, offering insights into future energy landscapes. Lastly, best practices for timely and constructive engagement with local communities will be shared, highlighting strategies to expedite the implementation of biomethane projects and achieve the objective of the energy transition.

The session will feature different perspectives from the EU institutions, academia, industry, energy cooperatives, and gas infrastructure association operators.

To register for our session, please start by registering for EUSEW 2024. After completing your registration, navigate to the “Programme” section on the EUSEW website. Select our session “From Waste to Renewable Energy: Biomethane and Renewable Energy Communities” scheduled for June 12^th, from 16:30 to 18:00 CEST. Then, click on “Add to my agenda”.

Following the great success of the first edition, the event dedicated to biomethane is returning to Spain.

The Biomethane RNG Day II DÍA DEL BIOMETANO is organised by the Biomethane RNG Channel the first website entirely dedicated to biomethane, and will take place on May 23, 2024 , at the Alfonso XIII Hotel in Seville.

Market experts will take turns on stage, discussing the significant potential of biomethane in Spain, available technologies, and showcasing successful case studies from other countries.

According to the 2023 statistical report by the European Biogas Association, Spain ranks third in Europe with a biomethane production potential of 20 billion cubic meters per year by 2050

In 2023, biomethane production in Spain for injection into the gas network experienced a 38% increase compared to the same period in 2022.

The Biomethane RNGRNG Day agenda will cover a wide range of topics for reflection, welcoming all Day agenda will cover a wide range of topics for reflection, welcoming all those interested in learning more about this hot topic those interested in learning more about this hot topic!

Information and registration here.

Brussels 16/04/24: A new report by Guidehouse reveals that Europe (EU-27 + UK, Norway and Switzerland) could produce 111 bcm of biomethane by 2040. This amount represents over 30% of the EU gas consumption in 2022. As a renewable and domestically-produced source of gas, biomethane is gaining momentum and the industry is fast mobilising to speed up the decarbonisation of many sectors of the European economy.

Biogases will play an important role in the European Union’s (EU) ambition to achieve a net-zero future by 2050. Via the REPowerEU plan, the European Commission has set a target to produce 35 billion cubic metres (bcm) of biomethane annually in the EU by 2030, representing a ten-fold increase of biomethane production today.

Today, momentum is building to achieve the REPowerEU target of 35 bcm of biomethane and the industry is mobilising fast into an exponential growth of biomethane. Europe is today producing 4 bcm of biomethane (according to latest EBA consolidated data from 2022) thanks to newly built plants and upgrading of existing biogas units. Raw biogas production mainly used in combined heat and power plants is currently at 17 bcm.

The EU’s focus is now turning to 2040 as a mid-term milestone towards climate-neutrality. The European Commission is recommending a 90% greenhouse gas (GHG) emission savings target by 2040, relative to 1990 levels. This will require further action to decarbonise across all sectors of the economy. The accompanying Impact Assessment shows that even in a scenario with accelerated electrification across the economy, there will still be a substantial demand for gas, which can be progressively replaced by renewable gases, such as biomethane.

The 2040 biomethane potential for Europe estimated in Guidehouse report includes 75 bcm anaerobic digestion (AD) and 37 bcm thermal gasification. The biggest producers in 2040 are estimated to be Germany, France, Spain, Italy and Poland, as well as the UK.

The paper also provides a targeted update of the 2022 Gas for Climate study following the same assumptions and methodology, yet incorporating latest data and insights to review the potential estimates for 2030 and 2050. The latest analysis shows that up to 44 bcm of biomethane could be produced in Europe in 2030 and 165 bcm in 2050.

Additionally, to the biomethane potential assessment, the study gives further insights into novel feedstocks and technologies that can boost the potential for biomethane production. Realising those potentials will require a favourable and stable policy environment that gives certainty to stakeholders across the biomethane value chain, but with the right conditions, there is significant potential waiting to be unlocked.

Download report

Contact

Angela Sainz – EBA Communications Director sainz@europeanbiogas.eu

This paper provides a refresh of the 2022 Gas for Climate study, incorporating latest data and insights to update the potential estimates for 2030 and 2050, and turns the focus to 2040 to provide a realistic estimate of how the potential for biomethane production in Europe can continue to develop.

The updated estimate shows that up to 44 bcm of biomethane could be produced in Europe in 2030 and 165 bcm in 2050 (of which 40 bcm in 2030 and 150 bcm in 2050 are for the EU-27). The estimated biomethane production potentials in this study are broadly consistent with the 2022 Gas for Climate study, given that the underlying methodology and key assumptions have not fundamentally changed.

In 2040, Europe could produce 111 bcm biomethane, of which 101 bcm relates to the EU-27. This potential is made up of 74 bcm anaerobic digestion (67% of the total) and 37 bcm thermal gasification (33% of the total).

On top of this, additional potential could be unlocked from novel feedstocks such as crops grown on marginal or contaminated lands, seaweed and digestate, as well as through the application of novel technologies such as hydrothermal gasification and renewable methane. In addition, landfill gas can further increase the potential in the short to medium term. This paper provides qualitative insights on how each of these can play an important role in further contributing towards a sustainable biomethane production in 2040 and beyond.

This paper provides a scenario of what is possible when action is taken across Europe to mobilise available feedstock streams towards producing biomethane towards 2040 and beyond.

The further expansion of biogas production in Europe will see the generation of increasing amounts of digestate. Leveraging its significant advantages will yield benefits for farmers, local communities, and producers alike. The European Biogas Association is launching a comprehensive white paper exploring the potential of digestate in fostering healthy soils and advancing sustainable agricultural practices across Europe. Further work is also carried out via the FER-PLAY project, assessing multiple types of alternative fertilsers.

From reducing reliance on costly synthetic fertilisers to promoting effective soil management and restoration, digestate emerges as a key player in addressing mineral imbalances in soils and facilitating efficient carbon capture. Moreover, its utilisation aligns with ongoing developments in EU carbon farming policies, positioning it as a cornerstone in Europe’s transition to a greener, more sustainable agricultural sector.

What is digestate?

During the anaerobic digestion process, biogas is produced alongside another valuable stream, called digestate. While a portion of the organics from the raw feedstock is converted to biogas during the process, the mineral fraction remains largely intact in the digestate. This makes it an appealing organic-mineral fertiliser.

Raw feedstocks for anaerobic digestion are largely composed of biodegradable organic matter, poorly degradable or stable organic fraction and nutrients. First, about two thirds of the biodegradable organic matter is turned into biogas, heavily reducing its share in the digestate. Second, for the stable organic fraction, the same amount is present in the digestate and raw feedstock. This stable organic fraction is particularly beneficial for soils as it serves as precursor for humus material, thus improving the clay-humus complex of soils. Thirdly, as biogas is composed of methane and carbon dioxide, fertiliser elements (N,P,K) are preserved in the digestate. Moreover, some of these elements are transformed in the AD reactor to the benefit of plant growth. For example, the organic nitrogen in the substrate is partly mineralised into ammonium, a readily available source of nitrogen for plants.

Regulatory framework

Several legislations regulate the production, application, and marketing of digestate in the European Union. These policies encompass various aspects of digestate management, including its production processes, quality standards, application rates and environmental considerations. They often depend on the input used in the anaerobic digestion process. Policies governing digestate at EU level include the Waste Framework Directive, the Animal By-Products Regulation, the Fertilisers Regulation, and the Nitrates Directive and the Sewage Sludge Directive.

The framework for digestate at national level is complex and far from being harmonised across Member States. Individual member states may have their own specific regulations and guidelines pertaining to digestate management to ensure compliance with EU directives and to address local environmental and agricultural needs. The crucial aspect regarding digestate on a national scale is to have clear legislation providing legal certainty for all types of products and requirements that can be easily operationalised, thus avoiding red-tape. Additionally, providing an end-of-waste criteria for digestate at national level will have a positive impact on the public perception of digestate. As long as digestate is classified as waste, its value is diminished, hindering its broader acceptance and utilisation.

Regulatory barriers persist, limiting the application of digestate. For example, under the Nitrates directive, digestate from manure can only be applied under 170 kg of nitrogen per hectare per year, whereas synthetic fertilisers can be used above this limit to reach the nitrogen requirement for each specific crop. The lack of fertiliser or product status for digestate in national law is another major barrier as it leads to a restricted use of digestate or at least a depreciation of its value.

Positive impact on environment, climate, and soil health

Digestate has the potential to drive Europe’s agricultural sector towards regenerative practices and offers an attractive, sustainable alternative to commonly used synthetic fertilisers. The incorporation of digestate or its derivatives in EU agronomic practices contributes to the achievement of the strategic objectives for resource efficiency, the circular economy, and overall environmental stewardship. Utilising digestate enables a reduction in synthetic fertiliser usage as stipulated by the Farm to Fork strategy, has a positive impact on soil management and restoration, addresses mineral imbalances, and tackles the deficiency of organic matter in soils as outlined by the EU Soil Strategy. Moreover, it facilitates efficient carbon capture, aligning with ongoing developments in EU carbon farming policies.

About the authors

Lucile Sever – EBA Policy Officer sever@europeanbiogas.eu

Lucile Sever is the Policy Officer in charge of following the Circular Economy dossiers. She is dealing with legislation related to agriculture and environment and coordinates the EBA Working Group Circular Economy. Before joining the EBA in January 2023, Lucile worked for INRAE – the French Research Institute for Agriculture, Food and Environment – for three years implementing the advocacy strategy of the Institute and assisting researchers in the emergence of new EU projects. Previously, Lucile worked as a public and legal affairs officer in the Wine and Spirits sector.

Mieke Decorte – EBA Technical Director decorte@europeanbiogas.eu

Mieke Decorte is Technical Director at the European Biogas Association since 2021 while she joined the association in 2018. Mieke manages and coordinates the technical and project work within the EBA and supports EBA’s policy and communication work with technical knowledge and data. Her main responsibilities include coordinating EBA’s involvement in Horizon Europe and other programs and overseeing the EBA’s technical publications such as the EBA Statistical Report and the European biomethane map. Mieke has earned technical and market knowledge on the biogas sector with her work at the Flanders biogas association. She graduated in 2016 as a bioengineer at UGhent with a specialization in environmental technology.

Published on 11 April 2024

Brussels 11/04/24: The European Biogas Association (EBA) welcomes yesterday’s adoption of the European Parliament Report on the CountEmissions EU proposal, which is based on a well-to-wheel approach, but regrets the decision not to include a mechanism to account for renewable fuels in the scope of the CO₂ Emission Performance Standards for Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDVs) Regulation, as the text follows a tailpipe methodology that restrains the full accountability of biomethane in transport decarbonisation.

EBA supports the European Parliament work on the CountEmissions EU proposal, which aims to provide a uniform approach for measuring greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from both passenger and goods transportation in the EU, utilising a well-to-wheel methodology[1].

The biogas industry equally acclaims the additional request of the European Parliament to task the European Commission with the development of a more comprehensive procedure for calculating all transport modes’ GHG emissions based on a life-cycle approach[2]. Such a science-based methodology would account for all emissions across the entire transport value chain, providing a level playing field for all decarbonisation solutions.

Despite this positive step, the adoption of the CO₂ Emission Performance Standards for new HDVs, approved the same day, represents a missed opportunity to recognise biomethane’s contribution to transport decarbonisation. The tailpipe methodology[3] included in the proposal does not take into account the CO₂ emissions savings achieved thanks to the use of renewable fuels, such as biomethane, contrary to the methodology considered in the CountEmissions EU proposal.

Biomethane is a solid and readily available solution to swiftly curb transport emissions, with the potential to even achieve negative emissions depending on the feedstock used in the production process. According to the EBA Statistical Report, 8.6 TWh of biomethane was used in transport in 2022, the equivalent of over 25,000 LNG trucks or 38,000 CNG trucks fuelled with biomethane annually.

“Regardless this setback, EBA acknowledges the disposition from some MEPs to assess more carefully the negative effects of the de facto ban to the registration of new Internal Combustion Engines (ICE) vehicles as of 2040 enshrined in the HDV’s adopted text”, said Anna Venturini, EBA Policy Manager. “EBA is ready to cooperate with the European Parliament and European Commission in the preparation of the upcoming 2027 revision of the text, so that the new proposal can have a technology-neutral approach allowing for all green solutions to speed-up transport decarbonisation.”

Contact

Anna Venturini– EBA Policy Manager venturini@europeanbiogas.eu

Ángela Sainz – EBA Communications Director sainz@europeanbiogas.eu +32 24 00 10 89

[1] Well-to-Wheel Methodology (WtW) integrates the whole process of fuel production and consumption.

[2]Life Cycle Assessment Methodology (LCA) includes emissions from the manufacturing, use, maintenance, and disposal of vehicles.

[3]Tailpipe methodology addresses only the driving phase of the vehicle.

12 June 2024. Dublin, Ireland

A platform for engagement and collaboration as Ireland’s biomethane industry moves forward at pace to meet the national decarbonisation target of 5.7TWh biomethane by 2030.

Join the Farmers, Developers, Planners, Financiers, Technologists, Researchers, Regulators and Administrators, who are keen realise the decarbonisation ambition, which will also optimise wider environmental and socio-economic benefits for agriculture, industry and communities.

Over 300 delegates, sponsor exhibits and one-to-one sessions.

Meet experienced practitioners, get their insights, and learn from their stories and know-how at this all island and international event. Raise your queries and express your viewpoint in the round table discussions.

We would like to invite you to join the European Biogas Association third Dig Deep! Webinar “Biogases towards 2040 and beyond: A realistic and resilient path to climate neutrality” on Tuesday 16 April 2024, from 10h to 11h30, to explore Biomethane potential by 2040 and beyond.

In February 2024, the European Commission unveiled its evaluation for an EU 2040 climate target aimed at cutting GHG emissions by 90%. This target reinforces EU’s commitment to combatting climate change and guides our trajectory beyond 2030, with the aim of attaining climate neutrality by 2050.

The webinar will be the occasion to unveil the 2040 Biomethane potential study, discover how biomethane stands out as a cost-effective solution for GHGs reduction in multiple sectors and engage in discussions on leveraging biogases to meet 2040 climate objectives, while navigating the path towards 2050.

Programme

10.00 – 10.10 Welcome and Introduction Harmen Dekker, CEO, EBA
10h10 – 10h20 Keynote Tom Howes, Advisor, Green Energy Transition & Energy Market Regulation DG ENER, European Commission
10h20 – 10h40 The biomethane potential in 2040 and beyond Gemma Toop & Sacha Alberici, Associate Directors, Guidehouse
10h40 – 10h55 Achieving the 2040 Climate Target Economically Daan Peters, Managing Director, Common Futures
10h55 – 11h25 Q&A Session Giulia Cancian, Secretary General, EBA
11h25 – 11h30 Conclusions Giulia Cancian, Secretary General, EBA

Last February 2024, the European Commission published its Communication outlining the ambitious Climate Target for 2040, which proposes a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. This target represents a clear and necessary response to the ongoing climate crisis. In light of this crucial development, we interviewed Ari Suomilammi, the Head of Renewable Gases at Gasum, to delve into the alignment of Gasum’s activities with the EC 2040 Climate Target. In this interview, we explore Gasum’s strategies, innovations, and contributions toward achieving the shared environmental objectives set forth by the European Commission.

1) Present Gasum in brief.

Gasum is a Nordic energy company. We offer cleaner energy and energy market services for businesses and cleaner fuel solutions for road and maritime transport. We help our customers reduce their own carbon footprint as well as that of their customers.

Our areas of expertise are natural gas, liquefied natural gas (LNG), biomethane, liquefied biomethane and electricity markets. We own and operate 21 biomethane plants (17 our own plants and 4 partner plants) and an extensive network of gas filling stations in the Nordic countries.

Sustainability is central to our values and the core of our strategy. Our objective is to increase the availability of low-carbon energy products to our customers, advance the circular economy and at the same time, to minimize the environmental impact of our own operations.

Our goal is to bring 7 TWh of renewable gas annually to the market by 2027 – this means a fourfold increase in four years. When we reach this goal, we will achieve a cumulative annual carbon dioxide saving of 1.8 million tons for our customers.

2) How does Gasum’s biogas production and biogenic CO₂ utilisation align with the EC 2040 Climate Target, and what specific strategies or technologies are you employing for CO₂capture and utilisation in your biogas production process?

Gasum welcomes the European Commission’s Communication on the 2040 Climate target as it builds a long-term view of the renewable energy market and creates more security for further development of the biomethane market. We are currently investing significantly in conventional biomethane production, including new plant projects and expansion of existing capacity, and a longer-term view is welcomed in that sense.

We have conducted studies on how to utilize the biogenic CO₂from biogas production in Power-to-Gas production. Even though this would make the renewable gas volumes about 1,5 times higher, often the volumes are just too low, or the plant does not have sufficient power supply to make it financially viable. We are now focusing on CCU and CCS of biogenic CO₂ as it seems to be the most viable solution at this point.

3) RFNBOs and e-methane are becoming increasingly interesting and can diversify biomethane production pathways. How is Gasum featuring this in its portfolio?

Gasum is including into its European wide sourcing portfolio also e-methane, which will play out an important and increasingly larger part of the renewable gas portfolio. In January 2024, Gasum and the leading Nordic Power-to-Gas developer Nordic Ren-Gas signed an e-methane offtake agreement, which will initially bring annually some160 GWh of renewable e-methane to Gasum’s portfolio starting in 2026. Moreover, the volumes with additional Nordic Ren-Gas projects are planned to grow up to 800 GWh by 2028 and there will also be other potential suppliers to Gasum’s portfolio in several European locations.

4) You are planning to bring 7 terawatt hours (TWh) of renewable gas per year to the market by 2027. How will you get there?

Gasum continuously upgrades and develops new biomethane production capacity throughout the Nordics. In addition to significant investments in our existing plants, we are developing five new biogas plants, each annually producing 133 GWh of liquefied biomethane. The projects in Götene and Borlänge are already in construction, whereas projects in Hörby, Sjöbo and Kalmar are progressing through their respective planning stages.

Collectively, our investments in the Nordics and sourcing renewable gas from our trusted partners will ensure that we will reach the annual 7 TWh target by 2027.

Sourcing of biomethane from various European countries also requires the transfer of Guarantees of Origins and Proofs of Sustainability between the national registries. This has proved quite complicated and sometimes it is unclear how that is to be done properly, especially when it comes to non-EU origin or liquefied gas. This needs to be improved and we are looking forward to the implementation of European wide Database for GoOs and PoSs. However, the target date for implementation in November 2024 seems to be unrealistic considering several unclarities in UDP. We strongly urge the EU Commission to speed up the process and engage stakeholders in the development process.

The European Biogas Association is launching a comprehensive white paper exploring the potential of digestate in fostering healthy soils and advancing sustainable agricultural practices across Europe.

The paper “Exploring digestate’s contribution to healthy soils” examines the multifaceted benefits of integrating digestate into EU agronomic practices. From reducing reliance on costly synthetic fertilisers to promoting effective soil management and restoration, digestate emerges as a key player in addressing mineral imbalances in soils and facilitating efficient carbon capture. Moreover, its utilisation aligns with ongoing developments in EU carbon farming policies, positioning it as a cornerstone in Europe’s transition to a greener, more sustainable agricultural sector.

The paper dives into the production of digestate, highlighting what happens in the digester and which types of digestate exist. It also investigates the agricultural properties and application of digestate, exploring its diverse uses across Europe and innovative application methods. Additionally, the paper examines the positive environmental, climatic, and soil health impacts associated with digestate, while also considering market strategies. Finally, it concludes with a regulatory framework analysis for digestate at EU and national level.

Download report

The paper dives into the production of digestate, highlighting what happens in the digester and which types of digestate exist. It also investigates the agricultural properties and application of digestate, exploring its diverse uses across Europe and innovative application methods. Additionally, the paper examines the positive environmental, climatic, and soil health impacts associated with digestate, while also considering market strategies. Finally, it concludes with a regulatory framework analysis for digestate at EU and national level.

Programme and registration are available here.

Brussels 22/03/24 – Yesterday, Harmen Dekker, the EBA CEO, was appointed member of the bureau of the Group of Experts on Gas of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE). This group integrated by eight experts helps UNECE’s member states to deliver on key political commitments such as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Paris Agreement on climate change.

Harmen Dekker, stated: “I am honoured to have been appointed as a member of the Group of Experts on Gas at the UNECE on behalf of EBA. Sustainable biogases have an important potential to supply all countries with a secure, affordable and renewable energy carrier. Biogas and biomethane are a resource addressing several societal issues and bringing circularity and environmental benefits. I look forward to cooperating with fellow experts to drive future developments”.

This expert group enables multi-stakeholder dialogue on sustainable and clean production, distribution, and consumption of gases. The group focuses on policy dialogue and exchange of information and experiences on gas issues of regional relevance, including the role of low carbon, decarbonized, and renewable gases.

The EBA Secretary General, Giulia Cancian, attended the 11th session of UNECE’s Group of Experts on Gas at the UN Nations Palace in Geneva, where she underlined the role of biomethane for the clean energy transition and its contribution towards security- affordability and sustainability.

Contact

Angela Sainz – EBA Communications Director sainz@europeanbiogas.eu

In the context of energy transition, the evolution of gas quality standards is essential. Standards provide regulatory coherence, enable increased product safety and quality, lower transaction costs and prices, and ultimately contribute to strengthen the EU’s single market.

Traditionally, gas standards on grid injection and transport use are defined by natural gas properties. Those standards are not always 100% suited to biomethane and may vary across countries. Differentiating between natural gas and biomethane and meticulously defining parameters such as oxygen, sulphur, and carbon dioxide will facilitate biomethane uptake and cross-border trade in the coming years, enabling the sector to deploy 35 bcm by 2030.

A full analysis on the specifications of different standards related to biomethane was carried out in the framework of the GreenMeUp project. The report will be made available shortly and this article summarises its key conclusions. The study also explores the guarantees of origin and standards related to digestates as an end-use product of biomethane.

Gas Quality standard – the oxygen problem

The creation of gas quality standards EN 16726 by CEN (European Committee for Standardisation), exemplifies the collaborative effort towards regulatory alignment and market integration. The standard aims to enhance the interoperability of gas systems across EU member states by establishing technical rules such as gas pressure equipment and operation.

However, challenges persist in achieving uniformity across various countries. This is because the standard is voluntary, and countries can choose different standards if they wish (and often do). The omission of parameters like the Wobbe Index and discrepancies in permissible oxygen levels in the grid, highlight areas of contention for renewables, such as biomethane, from one country to another. For example, in Denmark, the legislation limits oxygen levels for biomethane injected into the grid to 0.5% mol/mol at entry points and transit and 0.1% at storage points. Italy has an oxygen limit up to 0.6% mol/mol for biomethane injected into the gas grid. Whiles France has lower tolerance of 0.001% mol/mol on hourly basis.

*Figure 1 Level of Oxygen tolerance in various European countries, Source. ENTSOG*

Controlling oxygen levels in the gas grid is important to avoid corrosion in both underground and above-ground facilities, as well as avoiding the formation of “black powder” in high-pressure grids. There are also risks of combustion, change in gas quality due to reaction and oxidation and possible microbial growth in the gas storage environment. But applying different level requirements creates variations in the gas quality and hampers cross-border trade of biomethane.

Increased harmonisation is expected thanks to the revised version of the standard (to be published in 2025) by incorporating normative recommendations for oxygen requirements, Wobbe Index and review the parameters present in the current standard, including hydrogen content and adapted minimum value for relative density, sulphur, and methane number.

Making biomethane the standard

While standard EN16726 defines gas quality standards for natural gas, EN1623-1 and EN1623-2 focus on injection, integration and safe utilisation of biomethane into the natural gas grid and for use in transport. It’s essential to recognise that biomethane possesses unique characteristics that may not be fully addressed by existing standards designed primarily for natural gas. Siloxanes, terpenes, amines, and other components specific to biomethane present distinct challenges that demand specialised attention, which is what both the EN16723 -1 and EN16723-2 cover to ensure a smooth uptake of biomethane.

But then again, oxygen requirements remain the biggest challenge coupled with the different requirements existing for the Wobbe Index, the calorific values and relative density of biomethane. Currently there is a working group collecting information for the revision of both EN 16723-1 and EN 16723-2 standards and will hopefully come with a different approach to address such discrepancies and enhance the easy integration of biomethane into the grid and the overall energy mix towards the deffossilissation of our economy and the achievement of climate-neutrality.

About the author

George Osei Owusu – Project and Technical Officer owusu@europeanbiogas.eu

Published on 13 March 2024

18 April 2024, Brussels

Back in March 2020, the European Commission announced its intention to develop an integrated nutrient management strategy in the Circular Economy Action Plan, “with a view to ensuring more sustainable application of nutrients and stimulating the markets for recovered nutrients”. Later on in 2021, the Communication on Sustainable Carbon Cycles was adopted, promoting green business models which take up sustainable practices, including the recycling of carbon from waste streams.

Against this background, the goal of the seminar is to discuss the drivers and barriers (from the technical, economic, social, legislative and environmental point of view) for the uptake of circular fertilisers in the market from producers’ perspective.

We would like to invite you to join the next European Biogas Association Dig Deep! Webinar “Understanding Digestate: Nutrient Cycle, Soil Quality, Energy Resilience” on Wednesday 27 March from 10h to 11h30 CET, to explore the benefits of biogas digestate and the necessary steps to unleash its potential.

The use of digestate as organic fertiliser facilitates nutrient recycling and preserves soil health. Indeed, it contains nutrients, organic matter, and provides many benefits to crops and soil that could be further valorised.

Additionally, the development of a supply of alternative fertilisers reduces dependency on fossil fertilisers and their volatile prices, as well as impact on our food security.

However, the regulatory framework to facilitate digestate uptake differs between EU Member States. EBA will present during the webinar the results of an assessment to find common policy recommendations and regulatory incentives to ensure market access for a product that is sustainably and locally produced from waste valorisation.

Programme

10.00 – 10.05 Welcome Giulia Cancian, Secretary General, EBA
10h05 – 10h20 Fertilising Products Regulation Jeremy Pinte, Policy officer for fertilising products and chemicals, DG GROW, European Commission
10h20 – 10h35 Exploring Digestate’s contribution to healthy soils Mieke Decorte, Technical Director, EBA
10h35– 10h55 Mapping Digestate policy: Challenges and opportunities Lucile Sever, Policy Officer, EBA
10h55– 11h05 Experience with the FPR Certification for Biogas Residues Ildikó Varga, Expert Biostimulant Specialist, CerTrust
11h05 – 11h30 Q&A session and wrap up Giulia Cancian, Secretary General, EBA

Injecting biomethane in gas grids today can be a cumbersome process in many European countries. This hinders market access for the main renewable gas available today. However, the current status is set to change thanks to the new Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Package. If implemented correctly, the new set of measures will soon remove barriers to injection and unlock access to markets.

The European Biogas Association (EBA), within the framework of the GreenMeUp project, has evaluated regulations regarding grid connection cost sharing, gas quality, metering systems, and injection fees in 28 European countries analysed to understand what it takes today to move biomethane from the plants to the gas pipelines.

Greening gas grids with biomethane

Biomethane plants can connect to either a grid or operate independently. According to the EBA’s database for 2022, 75% of biomethane plants today are connected to the grid (58% to distribution and 17% to transmission grids). Multiple factors are significantly impacting the injection of biomethane into the gas grid, including enabling legislative frameworks, gas quality standards, the application of injection fees, or the negotiation of cost-sharing agreements between grid operators and biomethane producers.

*Figure 1. Percentage of biomethane plants connected to the distribution and transport grids in Europe in 2022*

Regulations with respect to enabling grid connection for biomethane plants are mostly addressed at the national level, and diverse approaches exist between countries. Additionally, there are two types of gas grids in Europe: transmission grids, managed by Transmission System Operators (TSOs), and distribution grids managed by Distribution System Operators (DSOs). The transmission grid comprises high-pressure pipelines responsible for transporting gas across extensive distances. In contrast, the distribution grid is composed of low-pressure pipelines designed to supply gas to residences, commercial establishments, and industrial facilities within a localised area.

Grid injection checklist: cost-sharing, gas quality, and injection fees

Grid connection costs, referring to the cost of setting up injection stations and constructing gas pipelines from biomethane plants to the existing infrastructure of the gas network, are one of the most important factors influencing biomethane’s injection. The expense associated with grid connection is impacted by the project’s location, the plant’s size and capacity, and the existing network infrastructure. This often necessitates negotiation regarding cost-sharing to undertake such projects and varies among EU countries.

10 out of 28 (EU+UK) countries have grid connection costs shared between biomethane producers and grid operators. France and Germany, for instance, split the connection costs in percentages between the biomethane producer and the grid operator for constructing pipelines from the biomethane plant to the grid injection point. In France, the grid operator covers 60% of it, in Germany, 75%, and the biomethane producer covers the rest. In countries like the Czech Republic and Lithuania, there is no grid connection cost sharing, leading to the biomethane producer bearing the entire financial burden for connecting to the gas grid.

In addition to the cost of constructing pipelines to the injection point, some countries also charge an injection fee, which aims to cover the installation and maintenance of metering and measurement systems, grid access charges, and costs for ensuring gas quality. This fee is applicable in 11 out of the 28 countries analysed but these change depending on the country. In Sweden, the height of the injection fees is determined by the connection cost covered by the biomethane producer. If the biomethane producer covers the total cost of connecting to the gas grid, they do not pay any injection fees. In Belgium, the injection fees are approved by the relevant regulator for the TSOs and DSOs. In Latvia, an injection fee is charged by the transmission system operator to the biomethane producer.

Figure 2. Distribution of European Countries with cost-sharing (Right) and Injection fees (left)

When it comes to gas quality measurement and metering systems, we need to first draw a clear distinction between the two. Gas quality measurement is the process of determining the physical and chemical properties of biomethane, such as its composition and impurities. The metering system is responsible for accurately measuring the volume and energy content of the biomethane being injected into the gas grid. Both sets of information are used to ensure that biomethane meets the set standards of the gas networks and for billing pruposes. Grid operators are mostly responsible for this aspect of biomethane injection. Top of Form

Unlocking Europe’s energy independence through grid access optimisation

The projected growth in biomethane production offers significant potential to meet Europe’s gas demand (up to 62% by 2050 according to EBA Statistical Report 2022), while decreasing reliance on imports. Achieving this potential requires streamlining processes and regulations to facilitate smooth grid access and encourage the widespread substitution of natural gas in our energy infrastructure. Prioritising these actions can accelerate the sustainable energy transition in Europe.

About the author

George Osei Owusu – Project and Technical Officer owusu@europeanbiogas.eu

George Osei Owusu started working as Technical and Project Officer at EBA in August 2022. He is mainly involved in EU projects on biogas and biomethane, predominantly on market research and the application of biogas in some EU countries, as well as the GreenMeUp project. George has background in Environmental Science, with a Master’s degree from JUNIA in France where he specialised in Sustainable Management of Pollution.

Published on 23/02/2024

The 3rd Annual Biogas Forum is an exclusive gathering of industry pioneers and experts. The event will delve into the core topics shaping the biogas landscape, exploring innovative approaches and solutions to tackle current challenges head-on.

This forum isn’t just about discussions. It’s a great opportunity to expand your network and cultivate new business connections. Don’t miss the chance to be part of this dynamic exchange of ideas, where collaboration and expertise converge. Let’s chart the course for the future of biogas together!

EBA Policy Manager Anna Venturini will represent EBA at the Forum.

If you are interested in taking part in the event and you are an EBA member, you can obtain your discount code through the EBA Member Platform.

More information and registration here

15 March 2024, online

Join this comprehensive online workshop, exploring topics such as the utilisation of digestate substrate as an interesting fertiliser in organic agriculture, and the innovative potential of struvite to enhance phosphorus balances, opening new horizons for sustainable farming practices.

Pogramme:

10:00 – 10:10	Welcome and introduction, Werner Vogt-Kaute, Naturland e.V.
10:10 – 10:30	Presentation of FER-PLAY project, Elisa Gambuzzi, CETENMA
10:30 – 11:00	Digestate substrate – an interesting fertilizer for organic agriculture, Lucile Sever, European Biogas Association
11:00 – 11:30	Struvite – a new option for improving phosphorus balances in organic agriculture, Wim Moerman, NuReSys
11:30 – 12:00	Conclusions and next activities, Werner Vogt-Kaute, Naturland e.V.

Following ten successful editions ACI is delighted to announce the 11th edition of our Gasification Summit, taking place in Ghent, Belgium, on the 20th & 21st March 2024.

The two-day event is dedicated to advancing the knowledge and collaboration in the field of Gasification looking towards the 2030 and 2050 EU targets. Our conference brings together industry leaders, researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders from across the gasification industry to exchange insights, discuss emerging trends, and explore innovative solutions for a sustainable future.

On Tuesday, 19th March 2024, a limited group of Gasification conference attendees will have a unique opportunity to visit the BioTfueL® project in Dunkirk. There is no extra charge to join the site visit, although places are limited and allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please confirm if you wish to attend when booking for the conference to avoid disappointment.

Mieke Decorte, EBA Technical Director will represent EBA at the Gasification 2024.

18-19 June 2024. Hamburg, Germany

The European Gas Technology Conference 2024 (EGATEC 2024) brings together high-level representatives from the European gas industry, universities, companies, and many other stakeholders and provides a platform to exchange knowledge and experience on the challenges and opportunities the energy transition and decarbonization efforts delivers for the gas industry. The EGATEC 2024 will consider and discuss new strategies and innovative ideas to facilitate the gas industry’s contribution to net-zero goals and upscaling state-of-the art technologies including new gases and power-to-gas.

Organized under the auspices of MARCOGAZ and GERG, the conference is scheduled to take place on 18-19 June 2024 in Hamburg. The conference is hosted by the Danish Gas Technology Center (DGC), the German Technical and Scientific Association for Gas and Water (DVGW), Gasunie and supported by the European Research Institute for Gas and Energy Innovation (ERIG) .

More information here

Today, injecting Biomethane in gas grids can be cumbersome process in many European countries. This hinders market access for the main renewable gas available today. However, the current status is set to change thanks to the new Hydrogen Gas Package. If implemented correctly, the new set of measures will soon remove barriers to injection and unlock access to markets.

This webinar will provide guidance for Biomethane grid connection into gas grids and is particularly suited for project developers, financiers, national regulators and policymakers alike.

We will explore this issue by…

Sharing recent data on Biomethane grid injection
Providing an overview of the positive changes brought by the recently adopted Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Package
Diving into national regulations influencing Biomethane grid connection: grid connection, cost sharing, gas quality and injection fees
Pinpointing the main differences in the gas quality requirements applied today

Download the presentations

Watch the recording of the webinar

Programme:

10.00 – 10.05 Welcome Giulia Cancian, Secretary General, EBA
10h05 – 10h15 Biomethane grid connection today Mieke Decorte, Technical Director, EBA
10h15 – 10h25 Enabling Grid access : Introducing the Hydrogen and Decarbonised Gas Package Anthony Lorin, Senior Policy Analyst, EBA
10h25 – 10h35 Grid injection checklist: Cost-sharing, gas quality, and injection fees George Osei Owusu, Technical and Project Officer, EBA
10h35 – 10h50 Quality requirements for biomethane injection José Alfred Lana Calvo, Chair Working Group Gas Quality, Marcogaz
10h50 – 11h05 Optimization of Biomethane injection José Catela Pequeno Lead Subgroup Task Force 4.4, Biomethane Grid Connection Optimization, Biomethane Industrial Partnership
11h05 – 11h30 Q&A session and wrap up Giulia Cancian, Secretary General, EBA

Brussels 12/02/24 – On the 9^th of February, the COREPER adopted the political agreement on CO₂ emission performance standards for new heavy-duty vehicles (Regulation EU 2019/1242), missing the opportunity to provide the sector with a methodology able to account for the contribution of renewable fuels, such as biomethane, in the decarbonisation of the segment.

Despite the emergence of climate mitigation policies, EU road transport emissions increased over the last decades, and are projected to decrease below the targets set by the Regulation. Even with 50% sales of battery electric heavy-duty vehicles (BEV HDVs) in 2030, about 90% of the rolling fleet will use an internal combustion engine (ICE) powertrain. It is thus of paramount importance that this fleet is allowed to run on renewable fuels to drastically reduce their emissions.

A Carbon Correction Factor (CCF) and a CO₂ Neutral Fuels methodology are straightforward solutions supported by the industry to allow for the fast decarbonisation of road transport embracing all renewable vectors, including biomethane, and offering more security against market disruption, over-reliance on third countries, consumer cost increases and employment risks.

The final agreement does not provide for the right drivers to decarbonise the heavy-duty segment rapidly and cost-efficiently: while the biogas and biomethane industry is asked to significantly scale-up its production, the agreement closes the door to biomethane use in the segment. Indeed, road transport is not only one of the most important end-uses for biomethane at present, but it is also vital to the scaleup and uptake of this sustainable energy in hard to abate sectors, including maritime and aviation.

Following consultation with stakeholders, the Commission will, within a year from entry into force of this regulation, assess the role of a methodology for registering HDV exclusively running on CO2 neutral fuels, in conformity with Union law and with Union climate neutrality objective.

Giulia Laura Cancian, EBA Secretary General said: “The biomethane sector is a solid and readily available solution to swiftly curb transport emissions. Unfortunately, the current agreement does not recognise the great contribution of this sustainable vector. Nevertheless, EBA looks forward to contributing to the assessment of the role of a CCF and of methodology for registering HDVs exclusively running on CO₂ neutral fuels.”

Contact

Anna Venturini – EBA Policy Manager venturini@europeanbiogas.eu

Angela Sainz – EBA Communications Director sainz@europeanbiogas.eu

13 – 15 February 2024. Fira Valencia, Spain

At eMobility Expo World Congress, witness the latest innovations and advancements in sustainable vehicles, micro mobility solutions, logistics practices, maritime transport, air mobility, smart urban mobility systems, rail and bus networks, and clean energy technologies. Immerse yourself in a comprehensive showcase that unites these sectors under one roof, illustrating their collective impact on shaping the sustainable future of transportation of people and goods.

If you are interested in taking part in the event and you are an EBA member, you can obtain 20% discount code through the EBA Member Platform.

Information and registration here.

The seventh edition of the Biomethane Congress is coming in May 2024. This year the publisher of Magazyn Biomasa invites representatives of the biogas and biomethane sector to Earth Hall in Poznań on 21-22 May 2024. Due to the fast-growing interest in biomethane around the world, increased by the geopolitical situation and Russian aggression on Ukraine, Poland is also becoming more and more invested in this hot topic. Especially in the last months, the lawmakers seem to have noticed biomethane’s great potential and the role it can play in ensuring the country’s energy security.

During the 7th Biomethane Congress we will look closely at this fascinating subject and try to answer the question of whether a breakthrough awaits us.

This industry meeting is for:

Investors in new biogas plants
Owners of operating biogas installations
Technologists and managers of waste biogas plants and treatment plants
Owners of large farms and agri-food processors
Representatives of fuel, transport and energy-intensive industries
Technology and equipment suppliers
Energy sector representatives
Polish and European biogas associations
Representatives of state and local government administration

Information and registration here.

If you are interested in taking part in the event and you are an EBA member, you can obtain 5% discount code through the EBA Member Platform.

Why participate?

The demand for gas is very high in Spain and throughout Europe, the renewable gas sector should only worry about producing with guarantees and quality. The current situation of the fossil gas market, with prices constantly rising, uncertainty regarding the stability of supply and skyrocketing emission rights, is forcing the energy transition to be accelerated.

Industry experts predict that by the end of 2023 Spain will have 12 biomethane plants in operation and another 30 will be in proyect phase.

At present, there is a clear political commitment in Spain for these technologies that had not been manifested to date.

Spain is already working to define a stable framework to make biomethane development a reality, as required by the European Green Deal , the National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan and the draft Law on Climate Change and Energy Transition.

Information and registration here.

05 – 06 June 2024, Lithuania

Run in partnership with Klaipedos Nafta, the conference brings together senior decision makers from governments, energy providers, port and terminal operators, utilities and other key stakeholders. The event addresses the challenges and solutions for energy security, pricing, diversification of supply across the Baltic region. Join an international audience from across Eastern and Western Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia and delve into new business opportunities as new energy markets and infrastructure are built across the Baltics. Find out how harmonisation is being created across the Baltic sea region to secure long term energy provision and the adoption of decarbonised energy sources.

EBA Policy Manager Anna Venturini will represent EBA at the Forum.

If you are interested in taking part in the event and you are an EBA member, you can obtain 20% discount code through the EBA Member Platform.

Programme and registration available here.

23 – 25 April 2024. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Connect with 500+ gas professionals to find the solutions and consensus to energy security across the continent with presentations on gas and LNG projects, managing volatile costs, ensuring reliable and affordable supply, infrastructure, low carbon solutions, trading and much more.

Benefit from two days of content with 7 streams, 100+ sessions plus 2 additional summit days on the market realities for trading and global LNG supply.

EBA CEO Harmen Dekker will represent EBA at the Flame Conference.

If you are interested in taking part in the event and you are an EBA member, you can obtain 20% discount code through the EBA Member Platform.

Programme and registration available here.

25 – 26 September. Copenhagen, Denmark

The 2024 edition focuses on excellent speakers with highly sought presentations, interesting industry panel discussion, technical insights and many hours of networking.

Main topic & key points

Overview of European and national policies and regulations
Revitalizing Green Energy: The Impact of the Revised Renewable Energy Directive on Biomethane
The status of the BIP in shaping European regulations
Reflecting on the 35bcm target: Assessing progress and future directions post- RePowerEU
Securing Sustainable Growth: Financing Strategies for Biomethane Innovation
From the plan to the full scale production – how to plan and execute succesful biogas project
Role of gas infrastructure in decarbonising EU energy sector
The newest technological advancements in Biogas to Biomethane Upgrading
BioLNG production: what makes a viable case vs. grid injection
Hydrothermal gasification and 2G biomethane production production: status on technologies
Challenges and opportunities faced by biogas producers
The latest solutions ensuring the safety of biomethane production and transportation

And many more…

More information here

Biogas sector necessary to strengthen system resilience

Brussels 07/02/24 – The European Biogas Association (EBA) welcomes the European Commission’s Communication on the 2040 Climate Target, which proposes a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This target represents a clear and necessary response to the ongoing climate crisis. In particular, EBA emphasises the readiness of the biogas and biomethane sectors to contribute significantly to achieving this target.

Biogases are a crucial corner stone of a carbon-neutral and competitive European economy and, as recognised in the Communication, our sector is a “win-win solution” that must be prioritised to maintain and strengthen the EU’s competitiveness and climate mitigation agenda.

Nevertheless, EBA regrets that biogas and biomethane play a secondary role towards the 2040 target compared to other energy vectors, and their important contribution to the energy system integration and flexibility is overlooked.

Biogases are so much more than a mere sustainable energy carrier: produced and consumed in the EU, these green gases provide ready-available solutions to defossilise the EU economy (including hard to abate sectors, such as industry and transport), while contributing to the EU’s energy flexibility, resilience, and independence. They can help us make optimal use of all our resources valorising waste, supporting the development of a circular bioeconomy, and promoting the agroecological transition.

The projected potential for the sustainable production of biomethane from anaerobic digestion (AD) and gasification in Europe by 2050 is 151 bcm. Considering the declining gas consumption, biomethane can provide for the majority of the demand determining the decarbonisation of the grid while still contributing to transport decarbonisation towards 2050.

Harmen Dekker, EBA CEO, stated: “It is now the time for the EU to implement pragmatic solutions which are greatly contributing to GHG emissions reductions. Targets are at reach for our communities and citizens if we speed up action and cut red tape. The 2040 target can be the starting point to build an actionable plan towards 2040, featuring a key role for biogases as a cost-competitive and readily available solution.”

Contact

Angela Sainz – EBA Communications Director sainz@europeanbiogas.eu