Biomethane grid deliveries are rising, but still represent only a fraction of Czech potential

Biomethane deliveries to distribution grids in Czechia are gradually increasing, but they still account for only a fraction of the country’s potential. Nearly seven million cubic metres of biomethane were delivered to the grids last year, more than double the previous year’s figure. According to estimates, deliveries are expected to more than double again this year. Overall, however, they account for less than one percent of consumption. Earlier government plans envisaged biomethane replacing more than a tenth of current natural gas consumption. This is according to information from distributors and EFG, the largest biogas producer.

Twelve facilities currently supply biomethane to the gas grid in the Czech Republic. Most are biogas plants: there are ten across the country, alongside two wastewater treatment plants. As recently as 2022, there was only one biogas plant operating in the country, in Rapotín.

Despite the faster pace of biogas plant development in Czechia, it is unclear whether domestic capacity will be sufficient to meet previously announced targets. Under the currently approved action plan, domestic biomethane production is expected to reach 500 million cubic metres a year by 2030. According to EFG, current monthly production of around 1.2 million cubic metres would therefore have to increase almost 35-fold, and at least 100 new plants would need to be built by 2029. The company also says the gap between installed capacity, which amounts to nearly 28 million cubic metres of biomethane, and actual production remains unclear. Estimates suggest the latter could rise to 15 million cubic metres this year.

"At new biogas plants in particular, this may be due to the gradual stabilisation of biological processes in the digesters, and the resulting gradual increase in biogas production. Most biogas plants also still have a combined heat and power unit, so biomethane and electricity production can be adjusted according to the day-ahead market prices for these commodities, allowing the plant to produce whichever one is most profitable at any given time," said Tomáš Voltr, EFG’s executive director.

He noted that the feedstock mix used at new biomethane plants is also crucial to the sector’s further development. There are nearly 600 biogas plants in Czechia, and according to Voltr, up to a quarter of them could be converted to produce biomethane.

At the beginning of the year, the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MPO) began allocating support for setting up biomethane production and use in Czechia. Fifteen projects applied. Together, applicants requested grants totalling 600 million crowns. The state will continue to fund further projects with European money, with up to one billion crowns earmarked for them.