Biomethane production in Europe is growing and offers significant potential for transforming the energy sector as a local alternative to natural gas. According to a recent analysis by Guidehouse, Europe could produce up to 111 bcm of this green gas by 2040, representing more than 30% of the EU’s gas consumption in 2022.
Biomethane will be essential for the decarbonisation of the European energy sector in the future. Within just two years of the REPowerEU plan, the European Union has already seen an increase in production, which is expected to take it to 35 billion cubic metres per year by 2030. This represents a tenfold increase of current production.
The European Union is currently targeting 2040 as a medium-term milestone on the road to zero emissions by 2050, which will require the development of decarbonisation measures in all sectors of the economy. In its recent analysis, Guidehouse estimated that biomethane production in Europe could reach 111 billion cubic metres within 15 years. By 2040, France, Germany, Spain, Italy and Poland are expected to be the largest producers of green gas.
“The development of biomethane production can also be facilitated by proper management of biodegradable waste. By sorting waste instead of landfilling it and then processing it into green gas, electricity and heat, approximately 1,000 GWh of biomethane could be produced annually in the Czech Republic alone,” said Tomáš Voltr, CEO of Energy financial group.
The use of biogas and biomethane, especially when obtained from organic or agricultural waste without the addition of purpose-grown biomass, reduces not only CO2 emissions from fossil fuel combustion, but also methane emissions from waste management. Green gas thus becomes a catalyst for energy transformation and strengthens not only energy security but also economic growth and climate protection measures.
