Newsletter August 2025
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 informs you, among other things, about proposed solutions for more efficient biomethane feed-in from the BDEW, a growing range of “biogas” tariffs from gas suppliers, and the takeover of Bio Energie Holwerd by ReFuels.
Further information on the biogas partnership project and our partners can be found at www.biogaspartner.de
GENERATION
BDEW presents position paper with proposed solutions for more efficient biomethane feed-in
In a recent position paper, the BDEW calls for a swift and legally regulated successor solution for the grid connection of biogas processing plants, as the current Gas Grid Access Ordinance (GasNZV) expires on December 31, 2025. In the future, the association believes that only economically efficient connection costs should be recoverable. A threshold value should be defined for this purpose: if the connection costs are below this threshold, the network operator will bear a proportion of the costs; any investments exceeding this threshold will be borne by the plant operator. In addition, the option of on-site power generation should be retained and flexible models with combined feed-in should be possible.
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Biogas Association calls for revision of GasNZV for biomethane and amendment to EEG
With 21 new feed-in plants in 2024, Germany will achieve its highest expansion in a decade – a total of 272 plants will now feed around 1.4 billion Nm³ of biomethane into the gas grid annually. Nevertheless, the German Biogas Association warns that Germany is in danger of falling behind compared to the ambitious plans of other EU countries. The reasons for this are a lack of investment prospects after the GasNZV expires at the end of 2025, unstable GHG quota trading, and a lack of political support. The association is therefore calling for a permanent successor regulation, a reform of the EEG, and higher minimum quotas for advanced fuels.
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Biogasrat+ joins call for legal safeguards for biomethane gas network connections
The Biogasrat+ e. V. considers the draft bill on the further development of the greenhouse gas reduction quota to be insufficient for climate targets and investment security in the transport sector. Among other things, it calls for the double crediting of advanced biofuels to be maintained until 2033, an increase in the sub-quota for these fuels to up to 9% from 2040, and a gradual increase in the GHG quota to 40% by 2030 and 53% by 2045. In addition, the association advocates clear fraud prevention, a level playing field for charging current from biogas and biomethane, and the eligibility of biogenic hydrogen.
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VNG AG and CVC DIF finalize acquisition of BALANCE
With the entry of CVC DIF, a global investment manager for investments in the infrastructure sector, which is acquiring 49% of the shares, gas supplier VNG AG and the infrastructure investor are sealing their strategic partnership for the further development of BALANCE Erneuerbare Energien GmbH. The aim is to expand BALANCE as one of Germany's largest biogas platforms and to actively shape the energy transition. BALANCE operates over 40 biogas plants with an installed capacity of around 197 MW – enough to supply over 180,000 households with green energy every year.
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EnviTec commissions two new Envithan processing plants for Loick Bioenergie GmbH
Loick Bioenergie GmbH is expanding its plant portfolio with two new EnviThan gas processing plants from EnviTec Biogas in Heiligengrabe (360 Nm³/h) and Hennstedt (397 Nm³/h). The plant in Heiligengrabe is already in operation and feeds biomethane from manure and chicken manure into the gas grid. In Hennstedt, commissioning will take place in the fall. The biomethane will be used in the affiliated CHP plant, and the separated CO₂ will also be used in a nearby greenhouse.
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Municipal utilities sector welcomes Bavarian BioMeth initiative
With the new BioMeth Bayern funding program, the Free State of Bavaria is providing ten million euros to support the expansion of biomethane feed-in to the natural gas grid. Among other things, biogas processing plants and pipelines are being funded, with the climate benefits being measured in terms of CO₂ savings, as already reported in the July issue of this newsletter. The municipal utilities sector has now issued a statement on the Bavarian funding program, expressly welcoming it and seeing it as a model for other federal states. However, a nationwide regulation is being sought to ensure long-term funding security.
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MOBILITY
Bio-LNG dominates German filling station market in heavy goods transport
In the first half of 2025, 98% of LNG sales at German filling stations came from bio-LNG, enabling savings of over 230,000 tons of CO₂ equivalents – a significant contribution to the decarbonization of heavy-duty transport. Despite over 190 available gas stations and a high willingness to invest on the part of the industry, sales are stagnating at around 86,000 tons due to a lack of political framework conditions. The German Gas and Hydrogen Industry Association is particularly critical of the lack of toll exemptions for virtually emission-free bio-LNG trucks, the lack of tax incentives, and the one-sided EU fleet regulation. It is calling for a technology-neutral policy and long-term support in order to fully exploit the potential of domestic biofuels.
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HEAT
Growing range of “biogas” tariffs offered by gas suppliers – with higher prices compared to natural gas
According to the comparison portal Verivox, biogas tariffs with a biomethane content of 65% cost an average of 15 cents/kWh and are therefore more expensive than conventional natural gas tariffs, which makes heat pumps more economically attractive when deciding on heating systems. While the number of biogas tariffs has almost doubled since 2023, the higher purchase costs of a heat pump pay for themselves after just six to 15 years, depending on the usage scenario. The price differences are considerable: cheap natural gas tariffs cost on average only around 9 pence/kWh, while biogas tariffs with a high biomethane content cost up to 20 pence/kWh.
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INTERNATIONAL
EU | European Commission launches approval process for biomass package
On 18 August, the EU Commission initiated the notification procedure for the German biomass package, which is intended to enable renewed support for existing biomass plants. Without this approval, there is a risk of a slump in the next tender in October – up to 1 GW of secured capacity and investments worth billions are affected. According to bioenergy associations, the package, which was already approved in January, could mobilise 3,000 MW of flexible renewable capacity. The package is crucial for the biomethane industry, as many of its biomethane plants can only continue to operate economically with subsidies in order to feed into the gas grid.
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NL | ReFuels acquires Bio Energie Holwerd, including its biomethane plant
British biomethane producer and bio-CNG filling station operator ReFuels has acquired Dutch company Bio Energie Holwerd through its subsidiary RTFS, thereby strengthening its position as an integrated supplier of renewable biomethane (bio-CNG) for heavy goods transport. The associated plant produces 13 GWh of biomethane from waste annually, which is fed into the gas grid. With this acquisition, ReFuels is expanding its security of supply and supporting its goal of supplying 20,000 trucks in the UK with bio-CNG every day by 2028.
FR | WELTEC BIOPOWER builds biomethane plant for slaughterhouse waste from the Elivia Group
German biomethane plant designer WELTEC BIOPOWER is working with AGRIPOWER France to build a biomethane plant for beef producer Elivia in western France, which will feed 1.7 million Nm³ of biomethane into the gas grid annually from November 2025. Around 26,000 tonnes of slaughterhouse waste and sewage sludge will be used to generate 17 GWh of renewable energy – enough for around 1,600 households. The €6 million investment is part of Elivia's CO₂ reduction strategy and underlines the growing importance of biomethane in France's energy transition.
UK | EAG Bioenergy acquires Rockscape Energy biomethane plant in Lincolnshire
British biomethane plant operator and constructor EAG Bioenergy has acquired the Rockscape Energy biomethane plant in North Lincolnshire, which generates over 40 GWh annually from around 65,000 tonnes of organic waste. The acquisition strengthens EAG's position as the leading independent platform for biogas and biomethane in the UK and Ireland. EAG plans to significantly expand the plant's capacity. The measure contributes to local decarbonisation and energy supply and is part of an overarching growth strategy that focuses on both acquisitions and organic development.
IT | Quercus and Elionia secure financing for three biomethane plants in northern Italy
The two European investment companies Quercus Real Assets and Elionia have secured €76 million in project financing for the construction of three biomethane plants in northern Italy, with 50% of the sum guaranteed by the Italian development bank SACE. The plants are to be built within the next ten months and will be powered by agricultural residues and manure. They mark the start of a larger portfolio with over 20 projects planned in the region.
ES | First bio-LNG refuelling for Tui Group cruise ship in Barcelona
At the end of July 2025, the cruise division TUI Cruises, part of the tourism group of the same name, refuelled the new cruise ship ‘Mein Schiff Relax’ with 1,875 m³ of bio-LNG for the first time in Barcelona – an important milestone on the road to climate-neutral cruising. The fully ISCC EU-certified biofuel comes from organic waste and was produced locally at the Enagás plant. The new InTUItion class exemplifies TUI Cruises' climate strategy, which focuses on alternative fuels, green shore power, efficiency technologies and sustainable travel planning.
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ES | Anaergia verkündet Vereinbarung zur Unterstützung für den Bau neuer Biomethananlagen
Canadian biomethane company Anaergia S.r.l. has signed a contract with a leading Spanish company to supply technology and infrastructure for more than 15 new biomethane plants in Spain. The project includes the company's proprietary Triton™ digestion technology and advanced mixing systems. All projects are expected to be fully operational and integrated into the Spanish gas pipeline network within 48 months. Anaergia expects this to generate revenues of 184 million Canadian dollars – the largest capital disposal in the company's history. The contract strengthens the company's position in the European renewable energy market.
RO | Bilfinger secures contract for BSOG Energy biomethane plant
German process industry service provider Bilfinger is taking on the conceptual and basic planning for the first biomethane plant of the company BSOGE in Alba, Romania. The plant is to serve as a model project for further large-scale biomethane projects and is part of BSOGE's strategy to promote renewable energies and strengthen Romania's energy independence.
ID | Unilever plans to recycle palm oil waste into biomethane
The global consumer goods company Unilever is the first company in Indonesia to use biomethane on an industrial scale, utilising palm oil waste from nearby mills to supply energy to its plant in North Sumatra – currently the largest emitter of greenhouse gases within the group. Through its partnership with biogas supplier KIS Group, it plans to purchase over 234 GWh of biomethane annually by 2030, covering around a quarter of its energy needs. However, the question remains unanswered as to how sustainable this project actually is, especially in light of recent cases of fraud involving fake certificates for palm oil imports from China.
BR | São Paulo region invests €2 million in biomethane distribution network
Brazil's first urban distribution network for biomethane is being built in Presidente Prudente in the state of São Paulo, financed with 12 million Brazilian real (2 million euros) by the company Nécta Gás Natural. The 40 km long network is expected to supply around 5,000 people and 58 companies with biogas from sugar cane waste from the nearby Cocal plant from 2025 onwards. The project is considered a model for the whole of Brazil and could make a significant contribution to reducing methane emissions and promoting the energy transition.
NO | NIBIO develops process for transforming CO2 into biomethane using biofilms
A team of researchers led by Lu Feng from the Norwegian Institute NIBIO has shown that CO₂ and CO can be converted into biomethane with a purity of over 96% with the help of microbial biofilms. The method is based on thin layers of specialised microorganisms that work stably in biofilm reactors even under difficult conditions such as high ammonia or hydrogen sulphide content. The technology is also suitable for substrates that are difficult to degrade, such as plastic or wood waste, thus opening up new ways of utilising previously untapped resources. Biofilm processes could make an important contribution to reducing emissions and generating renewable energy in the future.
JP | Asahi Kasei successfully tests production of biomethane from organic waste
The Japanese technology group Asahi Kasei has successfully tested an innovative biogas processing system using zeolites in Kurashiki, producing biomethane with a yield of over 99.5% and a purity of more than 97%. The technology is based on a combination of zeolite adsorbers and pressure swing adsorption (PVSA) and is to be licensed worldwide from 2027. The aim is to use biomethane cost-effectively as a sustainable energy source by utilising existing gas infrastructures.