Biogases explained

In motion

A Journey into Biogases

What is biogas? It is a renewable energy source produced from organic matter such as household and industrial waste, sewage sludge, urban wastewater, and manure. This process supports the shift to circularity by turning waste into valuable energy, reducing our reliance on fossil fuels.

Biogas can provide renewable heat and power as well as green fuel. The residues from biogas production also offer significant benefits: bio-CO2 can be reused in various industries, and the nutrient-rich matter left behind in the digester is ideal for organic farming, completing the cycle of organic waste use.

Watch the video
Download Decoding Biogases 2025

How do we produce and use biogases?

What is the biogases sector?

250,000 JOBS IN 2023 70,000 direct and 170,000 indirect 500,000 JOBS IN 2030 Socio-economic impacts of biogases value chain 1.8 million JOBS IN 2050 15,000 COMPANIES Investments in the European Bioeconomy According to EBA’s investment outlook, at least 25 billion € will be invested in Europe’s biomethane by 2030. This generates an additional benefit of 12 billion € yearly to the European economy.

4.9 22 bcm of biogases produced in Europe, more than the entire inland natural gas consumption of Belgium, Denmark and Ireland combined. bcm biomethane produced in Europe in 2023, with 6.1 bcm/year of installed capacity Biogases today 25 bcm European countries are active in biomethane production 18 % increase in biomethane produced in Europe New producing countries in 2022 and 2023 Balanced distribution across end-uses: 23 in transport 17 in buildings % 13 % in industry 15 % in power generation Potential to replace 15 % of nitrogen-based feretilisers in the EU with 2022 digestate production 29 Mton of bio-CO2 produced from biogas and biomethane production

Definitions

Biogas

The primary product of AD is a methane-rich renewable gas composed of 45 – 85 vol% methane and 25 – 50 vol% carbon dioxide.

Biogenic COâ‚‚

Biogenic CO₂ is the carbon dioxide (CO₂) resulting from the decomposition, digestion, chemical reaction, or combustion of biomass-derived products. It is part of the natural short carbon cycle, where atmospheric CO₂ absorbed by biomass through photosynthesis is later returned to the atmosphere or soil depending on the type of conversion and final use of the biomass.

Unlike fossil CO₂, which adds new carbon to the atmosphere from underground reserves, biogenic CO₂ does not increase the net atmospheric CO₂ levels. It can be captured and stored or utilised in various industrial applications, contributing to zero or even negative emissions and supporting climate change mitigation efforts

Digestate

Remaining part of organic matter treated by AD, rich in nutrients and nitrogen, commonly used as an organic fertilizer in agriculture.

Syngas

The primary product of gasification is a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen, with traces of methane and carbon dioxide. It may be used directly for electricity generation, or further transformed to increase its share of methane.

Biomethanation

Is the chemical process of creating methane by combining gaseous carbon oxides with hydrogen.

Biomethane

When carbon dioxide and trace gases in biogas are removed, a methane rich renewable natural gas substitute is left in the form of biomethane. Biomethane can be injected into the gas grid, used as a vehicle fuel or used for combined heat and electricity generation.

Sequential cropping

Is an agricultural practice where two different crops are grown in sequence on a same piece of land in a same farming year. Usually, a second crop is planted after a preceding main crop has been harvested, without competition of land for food and feed, enabling the available natural resources to be preserved and more efficiently utilized.