July 2, 2026. The European Biogas Association (EBA) unveils two major publications: the European Biomethane Map, developed in cooperation with Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE), and the Biomethane Investment Outlook. Together, they show a sector that continues to grow rapidly and attract investment, while also highlighting the significant untapped potential for further acceleration across Europe.
Europe’s biomethane sector has crossed a new milestone, adding more than 1 billion cubic metre (bcm) of annual production capacity in just one year and surpassing 8 bcm for the first time. Yet despite growing investor confidence and rising political attention on energy security, the growth falls well behind its true acceleration potential. Installed biomethane production capacity reached 8.2 bcm per year by the end of Q2 2026, up 17% compared to 2025, according to the European Biomethane Map, released by EBA and GIE.
“Biomethane is becoming a strategic pillar of Europe’s energy transition. By making full use of existing gas infrastructure, we can connect production with demand across borders, strengthen Europe’s energy security and unlock the full potential of renewable gases,” said Lucie Boost, Secretary General of Gas Infrastructure Europe.
Investor appetite also remains strong, with investment commitments reaching €36 billion, a significant increase from last year’s reported investments (€28 billion), according to the Biomethane Investment Outlook. This growing investment confidence underlines the sector’s significant acceleration potential, provided that the right regulatory conditions are put in place. If fully realised, these investments are expected to deliver 9 bcm/year of additional biomethane production capacity by 2030, strengthening Europe’s domestic energy supply and contributing to the EU’s decarbonisation objectives.
The Biomethane Map shows that the number of plants in Europe increased from 1,678 to 1,975 between the 2025 and 2026 data collection periods. During that time, 327 new plants entered operation. As some plants also closed during the same period, the net increase is lower than the total number of new plants commissioned. Nevertheless, the figures point to continued momentum across the sector.
However, growth remains uneven across the bloc. While national production is expected to rise significantly by 2030 in line with Member States’ targets, just five countries currently account for 95% of European biomethane production. The concentration of production highlights both the success of leading markets and the untapped potential in Europe. According to a 2026 Guidehouse study, the EU-27’s potential stands at 31–32 bcm for 2030 and is projected to reach 163–184 bcm by 2050.
The findings underscore the need for clear and coherent policy frameworks to accelerate deployment across all Member States. Industry stakeholders are calling for regulatory certainty and dedicated strategies for biomethane to help translate investment ambitions into operational projects.
“Biomethane is increasingly viewed as a key pillar of Europe’s efforts to enhance energy security and accelerate defossilisation. However, uncertainty and regulatory complexity continue to hold the sector back from reaching its full potential. One of the simplest measures we can take is to allow existing plants to produce at higher capacity (currently averaging 70%). This, alongside reducing complexity in access to feedstock, facilitating grid connections and accelerating permitting, would enable the sector to scale much more rapidly,” explained Harmen Dekker, EBA’s CEO.
