European industries release urgent call for EU leaders for fast biomethane rollout as a driver of competitiveness, energy security and defossilisation

Brussels, 24 March 2026 — The signatories of the Joint Biomethane Declaration, leading European industry associations, are calling for biomethane to become a central building block of the EU’s reindustrialisation, energy security, and transition to climate neutrality.  The Declaration sends a clear signal of strong industrial demand for biomethane, essential to keep EU industry competitive while enabling defossilisation and more circular production processes.

European industry is under mounting pressure from high energy prices and rising carbon costs, with some sectors already facing production cuts and closures. With 22 bcm of combined biogas and biomethane produced in Europe today, sustainable biomethane offers immediate, scalable relief, integrating seamlessly into existing energy systems and gas infrastructure. Produced domestically, it strengthens energy independence and reduces Europe’s exposure to global gas market volatility, at a time when the EU still imports around 90% of its gas.

Biomethane is a cost-effective solution already being used for industrial defossilisation. It delivers immediate emissions reductions and secure supply, particularly in energy-intensive sectors such as chemicals, metals, pulp and paper, maritime, and fertilisers. Beyond energy use, biomethane is a cornerstone of Europe’s circular economy, providing critical feedstocks and co-products, including digestate and biogenic CO₂, for industrial and agricultural applications.

Around 25 Mt of digestate per year are already produced in Europe today from biogas production and upgrading processes. Nevertheless, synthetic fertiliser imports in the EU amounted to 24.2 Mt in 2024. Likewise, the sector is already capturing 1.17 Mt of bio-CO_2, equivalent to around 14% of Europe’s merchant liquid and solid CO₂ demand. This is especially relevant considering that ammonia production in Europe, which is the main source of CO₂ for current merchant markets, is expected to be disrupted due to the ongoing Middle East crisis, as fossil CO₂ plants depend on natural gas imports.

While the enabling framework is gradually taking shape, persistent gaps and delays are limiting market deployment. The declaration outlines 10 priority actions to accelerate biomethane rollout, including:

• Recognising biomethane’s role in achieving EU climate and energy targets, such as the 35 bcm production target by 2030 included in the REPowerEU.
• Removing administrative barriers to certification, trading, and corporate purchasing agreements.
• Supporting economies of scale through incentives, funding mechanisms, and long-term purchasing agreements, prioritising energy-intensive and hard-to-abate sectors.
• Harmonising national support schemes to facilitate cross-border deployment.
• Improving infrastructure access through integrated grid planning and streamlined permitting processes.

The signatories stress that unlocking biomethane at scale is both a shared responsibility and a major opportunity for Europe. With a robust enabling framework, biomethane can deliver immediate emissions reductions, strengthen energy independence, and accelerate the carbon-neutral transformation of European industry and society. “We stand ready to work with European and national policymakers, regulators, and stakeholders to turn this potential into reality,” the Declaration states.

MORE INFORMATION: FULL JOINT DECLARATION

Contact: Ángela Sainz Arnau, EBA Communications Director sainz@europeanbiogas.eu

Note for editors

About the signatories
The joint declaration brings together associations across the European industrial, energy, and agricultural sectors, representing representing 8 European industry associations in support of sustainable biomethane as a driver of Europe’s climate and industrial transition.

About biogas and biomethane (biogases): Biogas is produced from the decomposition of organic materials. These residues are placed in a biogas digester in the absence of oxygen. With the help of a range of bacteria, organic matter breaks down, releasing a blend of gases: 45 – 85 vol% methane (CH4) and 25 – 50 vol% carbon dioxide (CO2). The output is a renewable gas which can be used for multiple applications. Biomethane – purified biogas – is a renewable alternative to natural gas. Its multiple applications include heat and power supply for our buildings and industries, and renewable fuel production for the transport sector.

Impact of biogases beyond energy: Beyond energy, biogas plants operate as modern biorefineries, transforming waste into high-value products that directly strengthen the EU bioeconomy. Biomethane can be converted into hydrogen, methanol, or syngas for bio-based chemicals and plastics, reducing reliance on imported fossil fuels. Digestate, as a nutrient-rich co-product, can be processed into bio-fertilisers, improving soil health, supporting food security, and replacing fossil-based alternatives. Likewise, biogenic CO₂ can be captured for industrial uses, including e-fuels, greenhouses, food and beverage production. By generating multiple circular products alongside renewable energy, biogas systems create a low-carbon, resource-efficient value chain that boosts industrial competitiveness and advances Europe’s circular bioeconomy.