Combined biogas and biomethane production in Europe in 2023 amounted to 22 billion cubic metres (bcm) of gas, according to the latest edition of the Annual Statistical Report published by the European Biogas Association (EBA).
According to the EBA Statistical Report 2024, the 14th annual report, 22 bcm is more than the entire inland fossil gas demand of Belgium, Denmark, and Ireland combined. It represents 7 percent of the fossil gas consumption of the European Union (EU) in 2023.
Considering the current biogas and biomethane production rates, Europe could avoid 106 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually, provide renewable energy to 19 million European households year-round, and fuel 533,000 LNG-powered trucks annually.
The rollout of biogases will be key to bolstering the EU’s competitiveness and leadership on clean technologies in the coming years while improving the resilience of the EU’s energy system.
Reduce dependence on imports
According to Eurostat, 98 percent of the EU’s fossil gas demand in 2022 was covered by imports. Considering this significant reliance on external energy supplies and the dependency on third parties, investing in biogases remains vital.
Despite the figures confirming the growth of the sector and its role in reaching climate goals and energy independence, a greater focus on the optimization of market and regulatory conditions, including coherent planning of biomethane potential and faster permitting procedures, will be essential to ensure sustained growth in the coming years.
Europe’s greatest resource for reducing reliance on outside energy providers is a combination of all renewable energy sources, including biogases. Biogases are a key contributor to renewable energy provision and not only in volume terms. Thanks to their flexibility, energy storage capacity, and ability to generate dispatchable power, biogases support and facilitate growth in other renewables, explained Harmen Dekker, CEO of EBA.
Largest increase in biomethane to date
Production of biomethane aka renewable natural gas (RNG) alone grew to 4.9 bcm in 2023 with an installed capacity of 6.4 bcm per year by the first quarter of 2024.
This represents the biggest increase in biomethane production thus far, with a higher year-on-year production rise concentrated in the EU area (21 percent).
In terms of end-uses, biomethane consumption concentrates in the sectors with the highest energy consumption, supporting their swift decarbonization.
In 2023, 23 percent of the biomethane produced in Europe was used for transport, 17 percent for buildings, 15 percent for power generation, and 13 percent for industry.
Untapped potential for biogenic carbon dioxide
Additionally, the biogas and biomethane industries can supply an important source of biogenic CO2, produced as a co-product.
Biogenic CO2 can be used for the sustainable production of, for example, electro-fuels (eFuels), sustainable chemical products, and carbon capture and storage (CCS), which is still unexploited today.
Based on the volume of biogas and biomethane produced in 2023 (22 bcm), Europe could have utilized 29 million tonnes of biogenic CO2.
According to the EBA report, this amount of biogenic CO2 corresponds to 71 percent of the 2022 CO2 demand in the EU.
With adequate support, over the next six years up to 2030, the number of jobs in the sector can grow towards 500,000 and generate an additional benefit of EUR 12 billion per annum to the European bioeconomy, considering that at least EUR 25 billion will be invested in Europe’s biomethane sector by 2030.
