About Biogas and Biomethane
Renewable gases, including biogas and biomethane, can play a decisive role in achieving the EU’s climate neutrality target by 2050 and can contribute significantly to reducing dependence on external energy supplies.
Turning molecules into energy
Biogas is produced through the decomposition of biomass or organic residues and waste. These materials are placed in biogas reactors, where, in the absence of oxygen and with the help of bacteria, the organic matter breaks down and releases a mixture of gases: 45 to 85 vol% methane (CH₄) and 25 to 50 vol% carbon dioxide (CO₂). The result is a renewable gas that can be used in a wide range of applications.
Through the upgrading of biogas, biomethane is produced. This purified form of biogas can be used as a substitute for natural gas. During biomethane production, CO₂, H₂O, H₂S and other impurities are removed, leaving a clean gas with a high calorific value, equivalent in composition and value to natural gas.
Affordable, sustainable and secure energy for Europe
Biogas and biomethane are renewable gases that help reduce emissions across the entire production chain. Their use is essential if we are to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions across many sectors, including industry, transport, buildings and agriculture.
Replacing fossil fuels through biomethane production does not require additional investment in new infrastructure. The existing natural gas infrastructure is ready to accommodate biomethane. This makes it a key factor in accelerating decarbonisation and ensuring affordable renewable energy for consumers.
In addition, biomethane can be easily stored and produced at a stable rate. It therefore helps balance energy supply from variable renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. It can also be produced and distributed within Europe, strengthening the EU’s security of supply and helping avoid dependence on external suppliers.
Biogas and biomethane are already available and cost-competitive. Europe is currently the world’s largest producer of biogas and biomethane. However, scaling up the production of these renewable gases is essential in order to meet renewable energy demand by 2030 and achieve climate targets by 2050.
Preventing greenhouse gas emissions
Biogas and biomethane prevent greenhouse gas emissions across the entire value chain in three ways.
- First, they prevent emissions that would otherwise occur naturally. Organic residues are transferred to the controlled environment of biogas plants, preventing emissions generated by the decomposition of organic matter from being released into the atmosphere.
- Second, the biogas and biomethane produced replace fossil fuels as energy sources.
- Third, by using the digestate obtained through the biogas production process as biofertiliser, organic carbon is returned to the soil. At the same time, demand is reduced for the production of mineral fertilisers, which have a high carbon footprint.
Renewable heat and power
Combined heat and power generation, or CHP, is a common practice for the utilisation of biogas in Europe. The principle behind this practice is that the combined production of electricity and heat is more efficient than producing them separately.
Depending on the design of the biogas plant, part of the heat produced can be used by the plant itself to support the fermentation process. For example, biogas reactors often require heat in order to maintain the correct temperature. The electricity produced is mainly fed into the power grid, while any surplus heat can be made available for local heating applications.
Clean mobility
Recent studies show that biomethane is an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the transport sector, which is responsible for 25% of total emissions in the EU.[1]
Biomethane is used as a biofuel in the form of a substitute for CNG or LNG, known as bio-CNG or bio-LNG. In mobility applications, biomethane delivers strong performance in reducing greenhouse gas emissions when the full carbon footprint of vehicles is taken into account on a Well-to-Wheel basis.
Depending on the feedstock used, biomethane can even achieve negative emissions, meaning that CO₂ is effectively removed from the atmosphere. Liquefied biomethane can be used, for example, in heavy-duty road transport and shipping. These are two sectors that are difficult to electrify.
Waste recycling
Biogas and biomethane are produced from different types of organic residues, transforming waste into a valuable resource. This is a core principle of an effective circular economy.
Food waste or wastewater can be recovered from our cities and used to produce renewable energy, supporting the development of a local bioeconomy. In rural areas, livestock residues or agricultural biomass can be upgraded by converting them into energy, while the digestate can be used as an organic fertiliser.
This creates additional business models in the agricultural sector, making it more competitive and promoting sustainable farming.
Agroecological transition
In rural areas, agriculture is one of the main economic activities. Agriculture also makes a significant contribution to renewable energy production, including biogas.
Combining agricultural activity with renewable energy production through biogas offers multiple benefits. It helps farmers manage their waste effectively, reduces emissions from agriculture, and improves soil quality and biodiversity on farmland.
In these healthy ecosystems, plants absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and act as carbon sinks. Digestate used as organic fertiliser returns nutrients to the soil, while methane emissions from livestock are transferred to the controlled environment of a biogas plant instead of being released into the atmosphere. The use of sequential crops protects the soil and increases biodiversity.
Promoting sustainable and efficient agricultural practices is an important driver of rural development, making agriculture more sustainable and cost-competitive.
Closing the carbon cycle
Carbon dioxide is a byproduct of the purification of biogas into biomethane. This carbon dioxide can be used in the food industry, as well as to maximise photosynthetic potential in greenhouses.
This is the final step of the so-called “short carbon cycle”. The process begins with the use of carbon contained in organic residues for the production of biogas, which is partly composed of carbon molecules.
The short carbon cycle continues with the reuse of the carbon contained in the digestate. When digestate is used as organic fertiliser, carbon is returned to the soil.
Completing the full carbon cycle through the utilisation of carbon dioxide after biomethane production ensures that carbon is removed from the atmosphere.
[1] European Union, Renewable energy in EU agriculture EPRS | European Parliamentary Research Service
[2] Eurostat – SHARES (Renewables)
[3] Panagos et al. have assessed the beneficial effect of cover crops in preventing soil erosion. They conclude that extending cover crops to 35% of European arable land would reduce the risk of soil erosion by 40%.
Panagos et al. (2015), Estimating the soil erosion cover-management factor at the European scale
[4] Navigant estimates that with the help of sequential crops, European biomethane production could reach 41 bcm.
