07-2026 Newsletter Task 37
Newsletter IEA Bioenergy Task 37: 07/2026
Biogas and Biomethane expansion
Topics:
- Anaergia in JV to supply $22 Million Technology Package to Ora Biogas Project
- Stand-alone food waste digesters
- Biomethane plant for residues from the beer and whiskey industry in Ireland
- Renera: Secures 1 TWh of Spanish biogas for the Swiss market
- Gasgrid is studying expansion of natural gas network to Western Finland
- India accelerates biogas ambitions with major investment
- UNDP plans biogas digesters at Solomon Islands pig farms
- Costs and operation of bio-CNG and LNG trucks
- OG Clean Fuels revolutionizes the market by offering low-cost Bio-CNG
- Osaka Gas Strikes Deal to Procure US-Produced Biomethane
- Ukraine exported 11.2M m3 of biomethane in 2025
- Norwegian airport gets liquid biogas for power and heating
- Estonia to back construction of biomethane injection point into national gas network
- Engie Commits to New UK Biomethane Plant with PepsiCo Partnership
- Taurus Canada RNG Secured $10 Million for Integrated AD and CCS Facility
- Kanadevia Inova breaks ground on Minnesota AD plant
- Future Biogas and AstraZeneca launch UK’s first unsubsidized biomethane plant
- Community biogas plant for the digestion of farm manure
- 2025 yielded record-high annual facility growth for RNG
- Asterion to invest €1.5 bn into its European biomethane platform ABIO
- Biomethane share of Danish gas intake falls to 5-yr low
Anaergia in JV to supply $22 Million Technology Package to Ora Biogas Project
Anaergia Inc. through its subsidiary, Anaergia S.r.l., entered into a joint venture with Tozzi Sud and Isolmec Group, each a significant participant in the construction sector in Italy, to build a new anaerobic digestion facility for BioHold in Basilicata, southern Italy. The Ora Biogas facility is expected to process a variety of agricultural residues to produce renewable gas. Once operational, it is projected to generate over 47,000 MWh annually of biomethane, which will be injected into Italy’s gas distribution network. The facility is expected to begin operations by June 2026.
Stand-alone food waste digesters
As of October 2025, the American Biogas Council (ABC) reports 118 stand-alone “biogas capture” digester facilities in the U.S. utilizing food waste as the primary feedstock. Almost two-thirds of these are in the food production sector. There are currently 43 facilities accepting retail and postconsumer food waste, according to ABC’s data. Four new stand-alone food waste AD facilities started operating in 2025. An additional 18 are listed as under construction and scheduled for commissioning by the end of 2026. 32 of the facilities are located in California. ABC currently estimates total U.S. biogas capture at stand-alone food waste facilities at 24 billion cubic feet (0.7bcm) per year, representing 3.2% of national capacity. The majority of this biogas is still used for electricity generation or heat production, but there has been a significant swing towards renewable natural gas (RNG) production in recent years, with 12 of the 17 new biogas capture facilities going into operation since 2021 upgrading their biogas output to RNG.
Biomethane plant for residues from the beer and whiskey industry in Ireland
German manufacturer Weltec Biopower is currently building a biomethane plant for Irish company Evergreen Agricultural Enterprises. The plant is scheduled to go into operation in mid-2026 after a total construction period of 11 months. The €50 million project comprises four fermenters and one stainless steel post-fermenter, each with a volume of 4,900 cubic meters. These will mainly be used to ferment production residues and by-products from the Irish beer and whiskey industry. The materials are readily available and do not compete with feed production, as they are unsuitable for animal feed. Three additional tanks are used to store liquid substrates. The plant, with an annual processing capacity of 165,000 tons, will produce 1,300 m3 of biomethane per hour.
More (in German)
Renera: Secures 1 TWh of Spanish biogas for the Swiss market
Renera procures over 1 TWh of biogas from Spain. Following Renera’s entry into the Italian biogas market, this marks another milestone and contributes to the company’s growing pan-European portfolio. The long-term agreements cover the purchase of biogas from various Spanish plants. Deliveries have already begun and include both the ecological added value and the purchase of the physical gas. The volumes that Renera is securing for Swiss customers meet Swiss sustainability requirements and are produced exclusively from substrates that cannot be used as food or feed. With 1 TWh, almost 45,000 households can be supplied with renewable energy for a year and around 180,000 tons of CO₂ can be saved compared to fossil natural gas.
More (in German)
Gasgrid is studying expansion of natural gas network to Western Finland
Gas transmission company Gasgrid is studying an expansion of the Finnish gas transmission network in Western Finland. There is a growing need in the region for natural gas produced from renewable energy sources, and studies indicate significant entry potential. According to Gasgrid’s current estimates, the renewable gas entry capacity in the planned expansion area could increase to approximately 3–4 TWh, which corresponds to 25% of Finland’s present gas consumption. The expansion being studied would be approximately 250-350 kilometres long. Plans are underway to build e-methane plants in Pori and Rauma, which, if implemented, would benefit from a flexible gas transmission infrastructure. In addition, connecting the LNG terminal in Tahkoluoto, Pori, which stores liquefied natural gas, to the gas transmission network would improve security of supply.
India accelerates biogas ambitions with major investment
India’s biogas sector is gaining significant momentum as Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) announces this week a substantial ₹20 billion ($231 million) investment to develop 24 compressed biogas (CBG, also known as biomethane or renewable natural gas) plants over the next two to three years. This move underscores India’s intensifying commitment to decarbonising its energy mix and expanding the role of bioenergy in transport and industry. Each of the planned HPCL plants is expected to generate between 10 and 15 metric tonnes of CBG per day, drawing from abundant organic feedstocks such as agricultural residue, cattle dung, and sewage water. This scale of development reflects a broader national push under the National Bioenergy Programme, which aims to strengthen India’s renewable energy infrastructure through support for small- and medium-scale biogas facilities.
UNDP plans biogas digesters at Solomon Islands pig farms
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is launching the $1.58 million Sustainable Energy from Biogas for the Solomon Islands (SENBIOSIS) project from 2026–2028 to install 10 biogas digesters at commercial pig farms and rural households in Guadalcanal and Malaita Provinces. Funded by Italy, this initiative aims to convert pig waste into cooking gas and electricity, reducing reliance on firewood and improving waste management.
Costs and operation of bio-CNG and LNG trucks
For transport companies considering switching to alternative energy and operating trucks powered by gas, the French National Road Committee offers a 20-page document that can be downloaded free of charge from its website. This monograph provides an overview of the situation, ultimately leading to the question: Are LNG and CNG heavy goods vehicles profitable compared to diesel models. The first pages of the CNR study are devoted to basic knowledge, including the characteristics and environmental impacts that differentiate (bio-)LNG, CNG, and bioCNG. A significant portion of the study concerns taxation and NGV pricing. At the end of 2025, the pre-tax retail price at refueling stations ranged between €1.25 and €1.55 per kilo for both gas-based fuels. Since January 1, 2020, the excise duty on natural gas has been set at €5.23 per megawatt hour. This is about eight times lower than the rate applied to diesel, or six times lower when compared to the specific rate for road freight transport professionals. In 2026, with the gradual introduction of the incentive to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels (IRICC), which will replace the current system, bioNGV will stand out from conventional NGV.
More (in French)
OG Clean Fuels revolutionizes the market by offering low-cost Bio-CNG
OG Clean fuel’s mission is clear: to contribute to sustainable mobility in Europe by offering clean fuels for transport and making them affordable and accessible for everyone. Starting January 1, 2026, driving with sustainable Bio-CNG is not only cleaner, but also more economical than diesel. OG Clean Fuels is structurally reducing the national recommended retail price at the pump from €1.85 to €1.49 per kilogram. This is not a temporary discount, but a stable price that provides stability in a market where diesel is increasingly unpredictable. For carriers with long-term contracts, the price can be even lower. With this measure, OG Clean Fuels offers the transport sector exactly what it needs: lower costs, predictable fuel prices, and a significant reduction in CO2 emissions. This makes Bio-CNG not only a cleaner alternative, but also a more economically attractive alternative to diesel.
Osaka Gas Strikes Deal to Procure US-Produced Biomethane
Japan-based Osaka Gas Trading and Export, a subsidiary of Osaka Gas USA Corporation and wholly owned by Osaka Gas Co., Ltd., has signed an agreement to procure biomethane produced in the United States by Archaea Energy, a bp company. Under the terms of the deal, OGTX will purchase around 26,000 Nm³ of biomethane derived from landfill gas at Archaea Energy’s US facilities.
The biomethane will be liquefied at the Freeport LNG terminal on the Gulf Coast before being shipped to Osaka Gas’ LNG terminals in Japan’s Kansai region. Both the biomethane and its associated environmental attributes will be delivered via the pipeline network to customers for use at their facilities in Kansai.
Ukraine exported 11.2M m3 of biomethane in 2025
Ukrainian private companies exported more than 11.2 million cubic meters of biomethane gaseous biomethane in 2025, according to ExPro estimates. Biomethane exports began in February 2025, when the first Ukrainian company (Vitagro) exported 67,500 cubic meters of biomethane of its own production by the gas transmission system to Slovakia. In 2025, three Ukrainian companies exported gaseous biomethane. The largest number was exported by MHP Holding – about 8.7 million cubic meters or 77% of total exports. Vitagro Group in second place in terms of exports of Ukrainian biomethane is about 2.5 million cubic meters.
Norwegian airport gets liquid biogas for power and heating
In Norway, a new biogas plant at Svalbard Airport, Longyear, was brought online on January 12. With liquid biogas (LBG) as an energy carrier, the airport will have a fossil-free solution for both electricity and heat. The plant consists of three micro gas turbines for power production, combined with heat recovery and a biogas boiler for efficient production of thermal energy for heating. The modular plant can be easily moved. The operator Avinor sees the solution as partly temporary.
Estonia to back construction of biomethane injection point into national gas network
Estonia is set to support the development of a new biomethane injection point that will allow renewable gas to be fed directly into the country’s gas transmission network. The Ministry of Energy and the Environment has approved a regulation that will provide financial support for the establishment of at least one public injection point. The facility is expected to enable the annual injection of a minimum of 33 GWh of biomethane into the gas network. Biomethane production in the country has increased sevenfold over the past six years and is currently used mainly in the transport sector. However, future plans include supplying new gas-fired power plants that can provide flexible, dispatchable energy. Biomethane production in Estonia began in 2018 with output of 39 GWh. By 2024, this had grown to around 275 GWh.
Engie Commits to New UK Biomethane Plant with PepsiCo Partnership
Engie, one of Europe’s largest French energy companies, is set to invest up to £70 million in a new biomethane facility in the UK. This initiative in partnership with PepsiCo promises annual 60 GWh renewable energy supply. It underscores the strategic importance of renewable natural gas (RNG) and will cut PepsiCo’s emission by 10,900 metric tons of CO2eq.
Taurus Canada RNG Secured $10 Million for Integrated AD and CCS Facility
Taurus Canada Renewable Natural Gas Corp. secured $10 million through Alberta’s Technology Innovation and Emissions Reduction program to develop a fully integrated anaerobic digestion and carbon sequestration facility. The project will produce renewable natural gas exclusively from livestock manure in partnership with KCL Cattle Company and Kasko Cattle Co. The facility will transform 130,000 tons of manure per year into 360,000 GJ of RNG (and a nutrient-rich digestate that serves as a sustainable fertilizer) while simultaneously capturing and sequestering biogenic CO2.
Kanadevia Inova breaks ground on Minnesota AD plant
Kanadevia Inova, a global leader in waste-to-energy and renewable gas solutions, announced the official groundbreaking of the Louisville Township Renewable Gas Project. This cutting-edge facility will convert the organic fraction of municipal waste from surrounding counties into renewable energy through anaerobic digestion, biogas upgrading, and advanced gasification. In addition to biomethane, it will be the first facility of its kind to produce biochar, a carbon-sequestering byproduct that reduces the plant’s carbon intensity and creates valuable applications for agriculture and industry. The Dem-Con HZI (DCHZI) BioEnergy facility will process up to 75,000 tons of organic materials per year and convert them into valuable renewable resources. The plant is expected to produce approximately 200,000 MMBtu (58.6 GWh) of renewable natural gas (RNG) annually, while also generating around 8,000 tons of biochar each year. By diverting organic waste from disposal, the project will reduce landfill volumes.
Future Biogas and AstraZeneca launch UK’s first unsubsidized biomethane plant
In the UK, Future Biogas and AstraZeneca recently announced that the UK’s first unsubsidized biomethane plant dedicated to fuelling the life sciences sector is operational. Located in Gonerby Moor, Lincolnshire, the plant will provide clean heat for all of AstraZeneca’s R&D and manufacturing in the UK, supporting sustainable production of medicines. The Moor Bioenergy plant in Lincolnshire will supply 100 GWh of renewable energy annually to AstraZeneca UK, equivalent to 20% of the Company’s total global gas consumption, displacing approximately 18,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) emissions per year from fossil gas. The plant will generate enough biomethane to heat the equivalent of over 8,000 homes a year.
Community biogas plant for the digestion of farm manure
The Heek community biomethane plant in the Münsterland region of Germany serves as a remarkable flagship project. It demonstrates that many farms with relatively small volumes of liquid manure, solid manure, and other byproducts can jointly operate a facility and become suppliers of renewable fuels. Key to high acceptance: participation of 45 local farms with an average catchment area for raw materials of only 5 km. The plant digests 135,000 tons per year of liquid and solid animal waste. Approximately 600 cubic meters of biomethane are fed into the natural gas grid by the plant every hour and marketed as fuel. In addition, liquid carbon dioxide is recovered, which can be used in the food industry, for dry ice production, or for e-fuels, among other applications. The digestate is separated into a solid and a liquid phase and can thus be specifically used as high-quality fertilizer in crop production. Overall, the biomethane plant reduces carbon dioxide emissions by approximately 50,000 tons annually.
More (in German)
2025 yielded record-high annual facility growth for RNG
In March, RNG COALITION highlighted data indicating the North American RNG industry achieved historic growth in 2025, with 130 new operational facilities added to the North American RNG portfolio. This marks a second consecutive annual record-high for facility growth, after a then-record 114 facilities were added in 2024. Strong growth in 2025 was propelled by historic development in food waste-RNG facilities, with technological development and landfill diversion programs taking root across North America. Other segmental growth figures included: Operational food waste facilities grew by 54%; wastewater facilities grew by 4%; agricultural facilities grew by 31%; and MSW grew by 26%.
Asterion to invest €1.5 bn into its European biomethane platform ABIO
The investment includes €800 million of equity and €400 million in co-investment commitments from existing investors. ABIO is rapidly scaling its European footprint, with six operational biomethane plants, six under construction, and a target of 20 operational facilities by the end of 2026. A significant portion of the capital has already been deployed to grow ABIO’s European footprint. ABIO has established a presence in five key European markets—Iberia, Italy, Germany, Benelux and the United Kingdom— with a strategy tailored to local market conditions. With this funding and a strong development pipeline, ABIO is expected to achieve a biomethane production capacity of approximately 3 TWh within the next three to four years. In more mature markets in Central and Northern Europe, growth is driven by the acquisition and transformation of existing assets, while in Southern Europe the focus is on greenfield developments.
Biomethane share of Danish gas intake falls to 5-yr low
Denmark’s biogas sector supplied more than 40 per cent of the country’s gas consumption last year, yet industry leaders warn the pace of expansion is failing to match the nation’s growing energy needs. New figures from Energinet reveal biogas has become a cornerstone of Danish energy infrastructure, but Lars Kaspersen, chief executive of Biogas Denmark, said the sector’s growth trajectory falls dangerously short of what’s required. Yet despite covering a substantial portion of gas consumption, Denmark’s biogas potential remains largely untapped. According to Biogas Denmark, the country possesses sufficient bio-resources to more than double current production levels simply by better utilizing existing residual biomass.