A groundbreaking report by Guidehouse has unveiled Europe's potential to generate 111 billion cubic meters (bcm) of biomethane by 2040, a figure surpassing 30% of the gas consumption recorded in the European Union (EU) in 2022.
Highlighting the pivotal role of biogases in the EU's journey towards achieving a net-zero future by 2050, the European Biogas Association (EBA) emphasized the significance of biomethane in the continent's renewable energy landscape.
The European Commission's REPowerEU plan aims to ramp up biomethane production to 35 bcm annually by 2030, representing a ten-fold increase from current levels and signaling a surge in momentum within the industry towards exponential growth.
“Today, momentum is building to achieve the REPowerEU target of 35 bcm of biomethane, and the industry is mobilizing fast into an exponential growth of biomethane,” stated the association.
Europe currently produces 4 bcm of biomethane, thanks to the establishment of new plants and the upgrading of existing biogas units. Additionally, raw biogas production utilized primarily in combined heat and power plants currently stands at 17 bcm.
Looking towards 2040 as a mid-term milestone on the path to climate neutrality, the European Commission advocates for a 90% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2040, necessitating further decarbonization efforts across all sectors.
The report estimates Europe's biomethane potential by 2040 to be 75 bcm from anaerobic digestion (AD) and 37 bcm from thermal gasification, with leading producers including Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Poland, and the UK.
Incorporating the latest data and insights, the report also revisits the Gas for Climate study's potential estimates for 2030 and 2050, projecting biomethane production to reach up to 44 bcm by 2030 and 165 bcm by 2050.
Furthermore, the study delves into novel feedstocks and technologies that could augment biomethane production, underscoring the vast potential awaiting realization in Europe's renewable energy landscape.
Realizing these potentials hinges upon a conducive and stable policy environment that offers certainty to stakeholders across the biomethane value chain. With the right conditions in place, significant potential awaits unlocking, affirmed the EBA.
