Ukraine War: EU Commission Launches Biomethane Offensive

The European Commission has announced a target as part of its REPowerEU plan to produce 35 billion cubic meters (m³) of biomethane in the EU by 2030, reports truck manufacturer Iveco adding. The biomethane value chain welcomes this target, which represents a historic step forward and demonstrates the EU's leadership role. This target would replace 20 percent of natural gas imports from Russia with a sustainable, cheaper, and locally produced alternative. Biomethane also helps reduce dependence on volatility in food prices, as digestates—a byproduct of biomethane production—replace currently expensive synthetic fertilizers.

30 Companies - One Goal

This involves a group of around 30 companies and organizations coordinated by the European Biogas Association and Common Futures. Last December, they published a biomethane declaration. In this declaration, the companies called for an expansion of biomethane to 350 TWh by 2030, which is approximately 35 billion m³. As part of the 35 billion m³ target, the Commission aims to double the amount of biomethane in the EU by 2022. This requires urgent and immediate action. Furthermore, the biomethane target should be included in the EU Renewable Energy Directive and other legislation. All companies are very interested in continuing to work with the European Commission and member states to achieve the new target.

The goal can largely be achieved on the basis of waste and residues. Sustainable plants that are produced in crop rotation farming programs without competing with food and feed production can also play a role.

80 billion euros investment needed

Today, the EU produces 3 billion m³ of biomethane. Increasing this to 35 billion m³ requires the mobilization of sustainable biomass raw materials, mainly waste and residues, as well as the construction of about 5000 new biomethane plants. From a technical perspective, this is feasible within the next eight years. And it is also cost-efficient. Investments of approximately 80 billion euros would be required, European money that would flow into the domestic economy. This would enable the production of biomethane at costs significantly lower than the natural gas prices of recent months, even without the CO₂ price. In addition to the construction of new integrated biogas-biomethane plants, it would also be possible to cost-effectively expand existing biogas plants with methanization units. We also call for the rapid commercialization of gasification technology, which enables the production of biomethane from wood waste.