According to the European Biogas association (EBA), biomethane production in Europe grew by almost 20% in 2022 compared to the previous year.
In the same period, according to data from a new EBA Statistical Report quoted by industry collective Sea-LNG, the EU dependency on natural gas imports went from 83% in 2021 to 97% in 2022.
Harmen Dekker, EBA CEO said: “With gas import dependency on the rise together with the pressing climate emergencies, sustainable biogases production in Europe is of strategic importance: each Euro invested in biogases will remain in the European economy and provide an additional value of 50% before 2030 that will also stay within our economy.”
Europe’s biogases production (combined biogas and biomethane) in 2022 amounted to 21bn m3, representing 6% of the EU’s natural gas consumption in 2022. Biomethane production alone grew from 3.5bn in 2021 to 4.2 bn m3 in 2022.
The versatility of biomethane as a renewable energy source is reflected in its balanced distribution pattern across end-uses, with 19% for transport.
Giulia Cancian, EBA Secretary General said: “It is imperative to think how to clear out our dependence on fossil fuels and energy imports by accelerating deployment of renewable energies made in Europe, rather than locking in other dependencies.”
Mieke Decorte, EBA Technical and Project Manager added: “Reaching the [target of] 35 bn m3 of biomethane production requires a sustained annual growth rate of around 30% in biomethane production capacity. Such a level of growth is achievable, but needs to be supported by optimal market conditions. Coherent planning of biomethane potential and faster permissions processes are the first steps to encouraging market and project developers to operate at a significantly faster pace.”
