Commenting on the European Commission's newly presented Bioeconomy Strategy, the European Biogas Association (EBA) says that it welcomes the "recognition of biogases and their co-products as a core pillar of Europe’s sustainable bioeconomy."
The European Commission proposal, announced on November 27, 2025, aims to boost circularity, climate neutrality, and competitiveness across the EU. It also acknowledges the role of bioenergies and biofuels, as well as the need for flexibility when assessing efficient biomass-use pathways.
This, the EBA says, is essential for the recognition of biogas plants as biorefineries that produce not only renewable energy, but also two co-products – digestate and biogenic carbon dioxide (bioCO2) – and innovative derivatives from these streams such as electro-fuels (e-fuels), syngas, green hydrogen, biobased plastics, chemicals and fertilisers, polymers, etc.
This delivers exponential benefits across multiple sectors: renewable energy production, industry defossilisation, sustainable agriculture and environmental sustainability.
Need to expand feedstock recognition
According to EBA, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy’s recognition of biowaste’s potential for biogas production is a welcome step forward.
However, other sustainable biomass streams, such as manure and intermediate crops, must also be recognised as they hold significant untapped potential and will further strengthen Europe’s circular bioeconomy.
EBA looks forward to their further promotion in the forthcoming Circular Economy Act.
Biobased fertiliser focus welcomed
The Strategy’s focus on biobased fertilisers as a lead market is another positive step.
Current production of biogases in Europe – 22 billion m3 (bcm) – generates 3 million tonnes of home-grown, nitrogen-based organic fertiliser, covering around 17 percent of the EU’s current nitrogen fertiliser demand.
These materials can reduce reliance on synthetic inputs – 24.2 million tonnes of fertilisers were imported into the EU in 2024, of which 11.2 million tonnes were nitrogen-based – support soil health, enable circular value chains, and provide practical solutions for farms.
While regulatory barriers still affect uptake, EBA is ready to contribute to overcoming these challenges and scaling the adoption of biobased fertilisers across Europe.
Valorising bioCO2
As highlighted in the Strategy, with the current revision of the Product Environmental Footprint (PEF) methodology, bioCO2 can now be properly accounted for, and biogenic carbon is recognised for permanent removals.
Today, 127 plants are already valorising bioCO2, supplying 1.17 million tonnes of that co-product and meeting approximately 14 percent of Europe’s demand for merchant liquid and solid CO2.
Recognising biogases and their co-products in the EU Bioeconomy Strategy highlights one of the most practical and immediate ways to deliver a circular, low-carbon, and competitive bioeconomy. It enhances industrial competitiveness and food security, reduces dependency on imports, and builds resilience through smart resource management and innovation. EBA stands ready to work with the European Commission to advance a circular, regenerative, and competitive bioeconomy powered by biogases, said Harmen Dekker, CEO at EBA.
