BIOMETHAVERSE: The fourth newsletter of the project

21/10/2024
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Here you will find the latest news from the biomethane, biogas and renewable energy sector. Download the Fourth International Newsletter of the BIOMETHAVERSE project.

BIOMETHAVERSE (Demonstrating and Connecting Production Innovations in the Biomethane Universe) sets out to diversify the technology basis for biomethane production in Europe, increase its cost-effectiveness and contribute to the uptake of biomethane technologies.

To this aim, 5 innovative biomethane production pathways will be demonstrated in five European countries: France, Greece, Italy, Sweden and Ukraine.

The newsletter contains information about the project activities and ideas of the BIOMETHAVERSE research group, as well as news of the project itself, and is also available in two languages: Ukrainian and English.

We advise you to read the newsletter, in which you will find information about the assessment of e-methane deployment in Europe, increasing biomethane capacity in the EU, research on the future of biomethane, project news and the main areas of activity of BIOMETHAVERSE.

Main points from the fourth newsletter

The European Biogas Association, in collaboration with experts in biogas and methanation technologies, has launched the first assessment of the rollout of synthetic methane (e-methane) production in Europe.

According to the white paper Mapping e-methane plants and technologies, e-methane production in Europe is expanding rapidly. There are currently 35 operational plants, 33 of which are fully renewable. Germany leads the way with 14 facilities. Additionally, 20 new e-methane plants are either planned or under construction in Europe, indicating further growth in the sector.

According to the European Biomethane Map, Europe has reached an installed capacity of 6.4 bcm of biomethane per year. The EU-27 countries’ growth has reached 37%, while the capacity of the non-EU countries analysed grew by 20% compared to the 2022-2023 dataset.

The map features 1,548 biomethane plants. This represents a 32% growth in the number of plants in Europe compared to the previous edition, which featured 1,174 units

BIOMETHAVERSE joins the EBA in designing effective European research and innovation investments for biogas production scale-up.

In June 2024, a 3-day BIOMETHAVERSE event was held in Thessaloniki to discuss the project’s progress and continue its exploration of key industry developments and innovations in biomethane production.

The release of the 11th International Conference on Renewable Energy Gas Technology — REGATEC 2025

News from Ukraine

The impact of the war on the Ukrainian biogas sector

Since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, 17 GW of Ukrainian power generation remained occupied. Starting from March 2024, another 9 GW were damaged or completely destroyed on the controlled territory of Ukraine, including:

90% of coal and gas power plants,
70% of wind farms,
50% of hydropower plants,
30% of solar PV plants,
5% of biogas and biomass plants.

Ukraine: biomethane export unblocked

In September 2024, the Ministry of Finance of Ukraine published an order defining the procedure for customs clearance of biomethane transported by pipeline. Effectively, this allows the export of biomethane to begin.

Ukraine is one of the project’s strategic partners and a demonstration site. The importance of replacing natural gas and production of renewable gases, primarily biomethane, increased with the russian invasion of Ukraine. As a result, on February 2, 2023, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Kyiv between the European Union and Ukraine on strategic partnership regarding biomethane, hydrogen and other synthetic gases. This partnership should focus on the green transition and decarbonisation of energy sectors. In particular, it should facilitate the production, trade, transportation, storage and use of biomethane.

The project involves the company MHP Eco Energy, on the basis of which research will be conducted, as well as the team of the Bioenergy Association of Ukraine, whose experts will accompany the project. The biogas plant of MHP Eco Energy has an installed electrical capacity of 12 MW, produces biogas from 330 t/d of chicken manure and other agricultural waste, producing 85,000,000 kWh of electricity per year. Today, the demonstration site has already started its work.