Europe’s biomethane (aka renewable natural gas - RNG) sector has crossed a new milestone, adding more than 1 billion cubic metre (bcm) of annual production capacity in just one year and surpassing 8 bcm for the first time. Yet despite growing investor confidence and rising political attention to energy security, growth falls well short of its true acceleration potential, according to the European Biomethane Map and the Biomethane Investment Outlook, two publications released by the European Biogas Association (EBA).
Installed biomethane production capacity reached 8.2 bcm per year by the end of Q2 2026, up 17 percent compared to 2025, according to the European Biomethane Map, developed in cooperation with Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).
Biomethane is becoming a strategic pillar of Europe’s energy transition. By making full use of existing gas infrastructure, we can connect production with demand across borders, strengthen Europe’s energy security and unlock the full potential of renewable gases, said Lucie Boost, Secretary General, GIE.
Investor appetite also remains strong, with investment commitments reaching €36 billion, a significant increase from last year’s reported investments (€28 billion), according to the Biomethane Investment Outlook.
This growing investor confidence underscores the sector’s significant acceleration potential, provided the right regulatory conditions are in place.
If fully realised, these investments are expected to deliver 9 bcm/year of additional biomethane production capacity by 2030, strengthening Europe’s domestic energy supply and contributing to the EU’s decarbonisation objectives.
Uneven growth
The Biomethane Map shows that the number of plants in Europe increased from 1,678 to 1,975 between the 2025 and 2026 data collection periods.
During that time, 327 new plants entered operation. As some plants also closed during the same period, the net increase is lower than the total number of new plants commissioned. Nonetheless, figures point to continued momentum across the sector.
However, growth remains uneven across the bloc. While national biomethane production is expected to rise significantly by 2030 in line with Member States’ targets, just five countries currently account for 95 percent of European biomethane production.
The concentration of production highlights both the success of leading markets and the untapped potential in Europe.
According to a 2026 Guidehouse study, the EU-27’s potential stands at 31–32 bcm for 2030 and is projected to reach 163–184 bcm by 2050.
The average biomethane plant size in Europe is 472 Nm³/h, though there is wide variation across the continent. France, despite its leadership in plant numbers, maintains smaller installations averaging 212 Nm³/h.
In contrast, Italy (667 Nm³/h) and Germany (607 Nm³/h) operate larger facilities, contributing more to total capacity. Denmark (1528 Nm³/h) also features fewer but significantly larger plants.
Coherent policies and regulatory certainty needed
The findings underscore the need for clear and coherent policy frameworks to accelerate deployment across all Member States.
Industry stakeholders are calling for regulatory certainty and dedicated strategies for biomethane to help translate investment ambitions into operational projects.
As Europe continues to address energy security challenges, geopolitical uncertainty and dependence on imported fossil fuels, biomethane is increasingly recognised as a strategic renewable energy source.
Produced domestically and integrated into existing energy systems, it can contribute to both energy security and climate objectives.
With sustainable feedstocks available across Europe, existing gas infrastructure ready for integration, and valuable co-products supporting circular economy objectives, the conditions are in place for further biomethane deployment.
The sector’s continued growth reflects its increasing role in Europe’s energy transition.
Biomethane is increasingly viewed as a key pillar of Europe’s efforts to enhance energy security and accelerate defossilisation. However, uncertainty and regulatory complexity continue to hold the sector back from reaching its full potential. One of the simplest measures we can take is to allow existing plants to produce at higher capacity (currently averaging 70 percent). This, alongside reducing complexity in access to feedstock, facilitating grid connections and accelerating permitting, would enable the sector to scale much more rapidly, explained Harmen Dekker, CEO, EBA.
