Biomethane production in Europe rose 20% year on year

According to the European Biogas Association, the increase in biomethane production was unprecedented in 2022, with production in Europe rising by 20% year on year. It is used primarily for heating. The European Biogas Association reported this.

The European Biogas Association (EBA) published its annual statistical report this week, which also reports a 20% increase in biomethane production in Europe. The EU’s dependence on natural gas imports increased from 83% in 2021 to 97% in 2022, EBA reported.

"As dependence on natural gas imports grows, alongside the urgent need to address climate change, sustainable biogases have gained considerable strategic importance in Europe: every euro invested in biogases will stay in the European economy and provide an additional 50% in value by 2030," says Harmen Dekker, CEO of EBA.

Denmark has the highest share of gas supplies covered by biogas

European biogas production (that is, the combined production of biogas and biomethane) reached 21 billion m3 in 2022. This is more than Poland’s entire domestic demand for natural gas and represents 6% of EU natural gas consumption in 2022. Biomethane production alone rose from 3.5 billion m3 in 2021 to 4.2 billion m3 in 2022. In Denmark, for example, biomethane’s share of the gas network was close to 40%, and the Danes plan to increase production so that it meets 100% of gas demand by 2030.

Most biomethane is used for heating

The distribution of biomethane among end uses is fairly balanced: 22% was used in buildings in 2022, another 14% in industry, 19% in transport and 15% for electricity generation. EBA says biomethane is a versatile renewable resource capable of replacing natural gas, as well as producing renewable electricity or hydrogen. E

European biomethane can reduce Europe’s dependence on imports of energy commodities, as well as fertilisers. Residues from biogas production can be used as biofertiliser. According to EBA data, Europe produced 31 million tonnes of digestate in 2022 and could already meet 15% of EU demand for nitrogen fertilisers.

The largest biomethane producers by volume were Germany (13.03 TWh), France (6.97 TWh), the United Kingdom (6.9 TWh) and Denmark (6.5 TWh). France has by far recorded the largest annual increase in new biomethane plants since 2019. According to the statistical report, Czechia has six plants, and 12 GWh of biomethane was produced in 2022.