Newsletter April 2026
English version
Welcome to the latest issue of the biogaspartner newsletter - an information service from the German Energy Agency (dena) covering all aspects of biomethane. This newsletter provides information on topics such as the biomethane industry’s published assessment regarding the amendment to the Energy Economy Act (EnWG), the completion of one of Europe’s first bio-LNG bunkering operations by Anew Climate and Avenir, and the new industry commentary from agriportance providing an interim assessment of the FuelEU Maritime Regulation.
Further information on the biogas partnership project and our partners can be found at www.biogaspartner.de
INDUSTRY COMMENTARY
agriportance - FuelEU Maritime following the first reporting period: Interim assessment of the bio-LNG market
According to an analysis by agriportance, one year after the FuelEU Maritime Regulation came into force, bio-LNG has established itself as the dominant compliance fuel, with the European Commission confirming the eligibility of subsidised volumes and thereby providing legal certainty for the use of more cost-effective certificates. Whilst prices for trading surplus emission credits remain stable at €170 to €190 per tonne of CO₂-eq, 1 May 2026 is drawing nearer as the deadline for the first penalty payments following the completion of the regulatory review phase by the German Emissions Trading Authority (DEHSt) and the Dutch NEa. The example of the Zeebrugge terminal, where the share of bio-LNG in bunkering reached 37% as early as 2025, illustrates massive market growth, which is being further fuelled by the tightening of the target from the current 2% to 6% from 2030 and the expansion of the liquefaction infrastructure.
GENERATION
Biomethane industry warns against the BMWE’s new amendment to the Energy Economy Act
According to the Bioenergy Capital Office, the Cabinet’s decision on the amendment to the Energy Economy Act (EnWG) of 25 March 2026 threatens to bring new biomethane projects to a de facto halt, as the proposed cap period for grid connection costs for new plants is merely ten years. Whilst existing plants are protected by a 20-year period, the short timeframe for new projects prevents their economic payback and thus jeopardises around 300 plants already in the planning stage. This regulation contradicts the government’s targets for a green gas quota and building modernisation, which is why the industry is calling for a uniform 20-year period to safeguard investments. As a result, the transformation of the gas supply in Germany remains severely hampered, despite theoretically high potential.
Read more (D)
TWS announces the start of construction of a new biomethane plant in Horgenzell
In Horgenzell, a municipality in the Ravensburg district of Baden-Württemberg, the ground-breaking ceremony for a new biogas processing plant operated by Naturenergie Rotachtal GmbH took place on 13 April; from 2027, the plant will feed renewable biomethane into the TWS Netz grid. Due to the end of the 20-year EEG subsidy, the plant is being converted from electricity generation to gas supply and will, via a direct marketing contract, cover around 20% of the gas requirements of the pharmaceutical services provider Vetter in future. At the same time, TWS Netz is optimising its grid infrastructure in the Ravensburg area to ensure year-round consumption by industrial and commercial customers and to efficiently distribute summer surpluses.
Read more (D)
MOBILITY
EnviTec believes it is well positioned with its bio-LNG subsidiary LIQVIS in light of the energy crisis in the transport sector
EnviTec subsidiary LIQVIS is driving the decarbonisation of long-distance freight transport through its current network of 15 refuelling stations, which supply bio-LNG enabling lorries to travel up to 1,700 km. By utilising local waste materials, the fuel remains stable at a net price of less than one euro per kilogram and is unaffected by volatile global gas price indices. Supply is ensured by around 100 European production sites as well as Germany’s largest integrated liquefaction plant at the BioEnergie Park Güstrow. With this model, EnviTec closes the value chain from production to the fuel pump and is already planning further expansion of the infrastructure.
In light of the energy crisis, Reichhart Logistik is turning to biomethane-powered vehicles
The escalation of the Iran conflict in late February 2026 and the threat of oil prices exceeding $100 are putting the logistics sector under massive cost pressure. The Gilching-based transport company Reichhart Logistik is responding to this development by increasing its use of biomethane lorries. As biomethane is produced largely independently of global oil price fluctuations, it offers a stable basis for costing with ranges of around 1,000 km and ensures economic resilience against fossil fuel price shocks. This strategy is complemented by digital efficiency measures, e-mobility in local transport and HVO100 to minimise empty runs and further reduce dependence on diesel. This mix of alternative propulsion systems transforms the current crisis into an opportunity for a sustainable and crisis-proof reorganisation of the entire fleet structure.
Read more (D)
INTERNATIONAL
EU | The Joint Biomethane Declaration calls for the decisive expansion of biomethane and bio-LNG capacity
Leading European industry associations are calling for a massive expansion of biomethane to strengthen energy independence and support sectors that are difficult to decarbonise, such as the chemical and shipping industries. To achieve the REPowerEU target of 35 billion m³ by 2030, the signatories are calling for the removal of administrative barriers to cross-border trade and the recognition of guarantees of origin in carbon accounting. Key proposals include the introduction of a ‘Biomethane Bank’ for long-term purchase agreements – known as Biomethane Purchasing Agreements (BPAs) – and accelerated approval procedures for grid access. Through harmonised EU funding and integrated infrastructure planning, the aim is to close the cost gap with fossil gas and secure the industrial transition.
CH | New study identifies huge potential for energy independence in biomethane
A study by the Paul Scherrer Institute (PSI) shows that Switzerland can significantly reduce its dependence on fossil gas imports by using waste materials such as wood, sewage sludge and green waste for energy. As future gas demand is expected to fall by a factor of three to five as a result of the switch to efficient electrical technologies, domestic biomethane sources could cover 25% to 50% of this remaining demand in Switzerland in the future. To maximise system efficiency, the analysis recommends prioritising the use of biomass for industrial high-temperature processes or as a backup during periods of low sunlight and low wind, rather than using it for simple heating applications. The technological maturity of gasification and methanation processes is already high, meaning that biomethane can be fed into the grid via the existing infrastructure to shield the economy from volatile global market prices.
NL | Port of Rotterdam reports rising bio-LNG turnover amid falling bunker sales
In the first quarter of 2026, bunker sales in Rotterdam fell by 25% year-on-year, with fossil fuel oils recording the sharpest declines, ranging from -25% to -44%. In contrast, sales of (bio-)LNG and (bio-)methanol rose by 6.4%, with over 15,000 m³ of bio-blended LNG being delivered for the first time in significant quantities. Price drivers such as the implementation of RED III in the Netherlands and market volatility characterised this quarter, whilst the effects of the conflict in the Strait of Hormuz are not expected until the following quarter.
UK | GMT secures £195 million in project financing for biomethane expansion
The British biomethane plant developer and operator GMT has secured project financing of £195 million from ING Bank, comprising a fixed tranche of £80 million and an extension option of £115 million. With this capital, the company plans to produce over 700 GWh of carbon-negative biomethane and is aiming for a total target of 1 TWh by 2030. The business model relies on scalable ‘plug-flow’ technology and diversified revenue streams through the additional extraction of biogenic CO₂ and bio-fertilisers. The targeted capacity is intended to replace around 15% of the UK’s gas imports from Qatar in 2024 and mark the transition to a resilient, domestic energy system.
IT | The municipality of St. Lorenzen is turning to biomethane
The Bioenergy Cooperative in St. Lorenzen is expanding its biogas plant at a cost of around €7.7 million to process 150 to 200 tonnes of agricultural waste into biomethane every day and feed it into the Südtirolgas network. Under a multi-year agreement, Dolomites Milk (Loacker) will use the gas to decarbonise its supply chain, whilst the plant simultaneously enables low-emission slurry spreading for local farmers. The project is a central pillar of the South Tyrol Climate Plan 2040 and demonstrates the transformation of regional gas infrastructure towards a sustainable circular economy.
Read more (D)
IT | Fiamma Verde takes over biomethane project in Lombardy
The Italian biomethane plant developer and operator Fiamma Verde has acquired a biomethane project in Lombardy that is ready for construction by purchasing 100% of the shares; the project is already approved for the Italian national electricity regulator’s (GSE) biomethane auctions. The acquisition of this fully approved project secures access to government support schemes and serves to strategically expand the company’s Italian biomethane platform. In doing so, the company is strengthening its portfolio in the bioenergy market and contributing to the implementation of national energy transition targets.
IT | €113 million for Bionext: Italy’s biomethane platform on course for expansion
The Italian infrastructure investment platform Bionext Infrastructure has secured a financing package of €113 million from a consortium of banks to fund the conversion of its 15 existing facilities to fully renewable biomethane production. The projects in central and northern Italy benefit from a stable 15-year funding commitment and mark a milestone for the growth strategy of the Aberdeen infrastructure fund ASCI III. Through the planned expansion, the Milan-based company is making a significant contribution to achieving Italian and European biomethane production targets.
LT | Anew Climate and Avenir launch their first joint bio-LNG bunkering project in Europe
Anew Climate, a leading global provider of diverse climate solutions, and the LNG bunkering company Avenir carried out their first European bio-LNG bunkering operation in Klaipėda, Lithuania, by supplying certified, waste-based biomethane to the Swedish ferry operator Destination Gotland via the 7,500 m³ bunkering vessel Avenir Ascension. As the fuel is compatible with existing LNG infrastructure without the need for technical modifications, it enables immediate compliance with regulatory requirements such as FuelEU Maritime, RED III and the EU ETS. Destination Gotland is already planning to expand its procurement in 2026 in order to efficiently implement decarbonisation targets in passenger transport using the specialised Avenir fleet.
PL | €422 million in funding for biomethane projects expected in 2026
In 2026, Poland will allocate around €422 million through its national environmental fund to massively expand domestic biogas and biomethane production. Whilst €234 million will be channelled specifically into CHP plants of 1 MW or more to produce 40 million m³ of biogas annually by 2030, a second programme worth €187 million will support biomethane processing and grid access, covering up to 45% of investment costs. The aim of these initiatives is to provide at least 80 million m³ of biomethane annually in order to strengthen national energy security through the utilisation of biomass and waste.
SK | EnviTec hands over second biogas treatment plant in Slovakia
EnviTec Biogas AG has completed its second Slovakian project in Ožďany for CITA VIA s.r.o., which currently uses membrane technology to convert 750 Nm³/h of biogas (with a target capacity of 1,300 Nm³/h) into 417 Nm³/h of biomethane. The operator primarily uses cattle and poultry manure for processing and plans to switch entirely to waste materials, whilst Slovakia aims to utilise the conversion potential of a total of 34 plants with €103 million in EU funding. In addition, the Czech Republic is aiming for around 100 plants by 2035 to utilise a waste-to-biomethane potential of 700 million m³ per year for the decarbonisation of the heat supply.
CZ | EU Commission approves €3.7 billion aid programme for biomethane expansion
The European Commission has approved a Czech state aid scheme worth €3.7 billion to promote the annual production of 350 million m³ of sustainable biomethane by 2030 through new construction and retrofitting. The support will be provided over 15 years through competitively awarded Contracts for Difference (CfDs), which will ensure price stability for agricultural SMEs in the transport, heating and industrial sectors. This two-way mechanism will offset differences between market and target prices to accelerate decarbonisation under the Clean Industrial Deal.
JP | “K” LINE continues to rely on bio-LNG as part of its decarbonisation strategy
The Japanese shipping company “K” LINE has secured a long-term supply contract for ISCC-EU-certified bio-LNG and is already using it to decarbonise its LNG-powered car carriers. By using fuel derived from organic waste, the company is reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by around 60,800 tonnes annually without having to make any technical modifications to its fleet. This initiative is a key component of the “Environmental Vision 2050”, through which the shipping company aims to achieve net-zero emissions by the middle of the century.
US | Sojitz enters the US biomethane market with the acquisition of Fidem
The Japanese diversified technology group Sojitz Corporation is expanding into the US biomethane market through a strategic stake in the plant engineering firm Fidem Energy LLC, with a view to tapping into the potential of the landfill gas sector in the south-east of the US. The joint venture will utilise existing production facilities in Tennessee and further development rights to meet US demand, which rose by 24% year-on-year in 2025, and to realise long-term exports to Japan and Asia. The investment is a key component of Sojitz’s “Medium-term Management Plan 2026” to promote the green transition and complements the Group’s existing biomethane activities in India.