European biomethane production grew by 17 percent over the past year. At the end of June 2026, installed capacity stood at 8,2 billion cubic meters per year, more than 1 billion cubic meters higher than a year earlier. This is evident from the European Biomethane Map, an annual survey by the European Biogas Association (EBA) and Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE).
The number of biomethane plants in Europe rose from 1.678 to 1.975. 327 new plants were added, although net growth is lower because plants also closed during the same period. An average plant produces 472 cubic meters per hour, but differences between countries are significant. Denmark has relatively few but large plants, with an average of 1.528 cubic meters per hour. France has the most plants, which, at an average of 212 cubic meters per hour, are actually on the small side. Italy and Germany fall in between, with averages of 667 and 607 cubic meters per hour, respectively.
Five countries dominate the market
Despite the growth, the sector remains highly concentrated. Five countries together account for 95 percent of European biomethane production, reports the EBA. A 2026 study by Guidehouse estimates the biomethane potential of the EU-27 at 31 to 32 billion cubic meters in 2030, rising to 184 billion cubic meters in 2050. Consequently, there is still a considerable gap between what is technically feasible and what is actually in place.
Investment commitments for the sector have meanwhile risen to 36 billion euros, compared to 28 billion euros a year earlier. If all these plans go ahead, according to the EBA, this should yield an additional 9 billion cubic meters of production capacity by 2030.
Harmen Dekker, Director of the EBA, points to regulations as the main brake on further growth. Existing installations are currently operating at an average of 70 percent of their capacity. Dekker sees a relatively simple gain there: if existing factories were allowed to produce more, and access to raw materials, grid connections, and permits became less complicated, the sector could scale up much faster, according to him.
Lucie Boost, Secretary General of GIE, emphasizes that the existing gas network is ready to connect biomethane production and demand across borders, which would also benefit European energy security.
Source: bioenergy-news.com
Photo: ShDrohnenFly, Adobe Stock
