Newsletter January 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 informationon topics such as the new legal opinion on the amendment to the Energy Industry Act (EnWG), the conversion of the entire EDEKA Minden-Hannover truck fleet to bio-LNG, and the agreement between ENGIE and PepsiCo UK to build a biomethane plant.
Further information on the biogas partnership project and our partners can be found at www.biogaspartner.de
NEWS
Event tip: Free online workshop BioM0876 at Ingolstadt University of Technology on February 2, 2026, from 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
In the BioM0876 research project, the Institute for New Energy Systems (InES) and its project partners are addressing issues relating to highly flexible biomethane CHP plants and the problems arising in connection with the EEG tender.
The first part of the two-part workshop focuses on the legal framework and the resulting challenges for practical application.
GENERATION
Biogas industry warns: Without amendment to Energy Industry Act, industry faces standstill
The German biogas industry is warning of an investment freeze if the amendment to the Energy Industry Act is not passed in time. With the Gas Network Access Ordinance expiring in June 2026, there will otherwise be a regulatory vacuum for feeding biomethane into the natural gas grid. Industry representatives are calling for clear connection guarantees to ensure planning security and new projects. The coming weeks could be decisive for the future of the domestic biomethane market.
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Legal opinion on the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) commissioned by DAH Energie GmbH and others
In a legal opinion for the DAH Group and other companies, the law firm Geiersberger Glas & Partner examined whether the draft bill by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy for the implementation of the EU Gas and Hydrogen Internal Market Package complies with European law. The result is clear: key requirements for securing market access and network infrastructure for green gases such as biomethane are missing. This means that the full effectiveness of the EU Gas and Hydrogen Internal Market Package is not guaranteed. If the draft were to be implemented with its current regulations, they would not be in line with European law.
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Biomethane project in Steinfeld on the brink of collapse – focus on opportunities and concerns
After four years of planning, the municipality of Steinfeld (Vechta district) has put an end to the planned biomethane project by Shell subsidiary Nature Energy. The aim was to produce renewable gas from agricultural waste – a project with potential, but one that was met with skepticism in the municipality. Local farmers and residents feared increased traffic and additional use of liquid manure. Now it is clear that the project will not be pursued further, either legally or in terms of planning.
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Bundling biogas – study examines biomethane potential in southeastern Bavaria
Bavaria is conducting a new feasibility study to examine the opportunities for a regional biogas cluster in the districts of Altötting, Mühldorf, and Rottal-Inn. The aim is to connect existing biogas plants and evaluate the potential for processing biogas into biomethane and feeding it into the gas grid. The project aims to show how regional energy production can be strengthened and biomethane can be used in a more targeted manner in the future. The results are expected to be available by March 2026.
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Farmer from Reken plans biomethane storage power plant to supply electricity and heat
The Benning farming family from Reken is planning a biomethane storage power plant that will supply electricity and heat to the municipality's 15,000 residents from June 2026. At the heart of the plant are two combined heat and power units with a total output of 6 MW, which will step in during power shortages and thus contribute to grid stability. Around 8.3 kilometers of pipes will be laid for the project.
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EnviTec kicks off the new 2026 fiscal year with its market entry in Lithuania
EnviTec Biogas is starting the 2026 financial year with three new plant construction contracts and an imminent market entry in Lithuania, but sees itself being held back by political uncertainties in Germany. Criticism is directed in particular at the current draft of the Energy Industry Act (EnWG) and the implementation of RED III, which, according to EnviTec, are leading to a loss of confidence, market distortions, and a decline in investment. While regulatory hurdles are rising in Germany, the company sees great growth opportunities for biomethane in countries such as Sweden, Spain, and the Benelux countries. EnviTec also expects new impetus from the LIQVIS LNG filling station network, which covers the entire value chain from biogas to green fuel.
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MOBILITY
EDEKA Minden-Hannover converts truck fleet to bio-LNG
EDEKA Minden-Hannover is gradually converting its entire truck fleet to bio-LNG, sending a clear signal for climate-friendly logistics in the German food industry. The approximately 650 vehicles are powered by bio-LNG from green hydrogen and biomethane from certified waste processes, saving around 45,000 t of CO₂ annually. At the same time, the company is expanding its own bio-LNG filling stations at all logistics centers. In addition to existing locations, further facilities will follow by 2026, so that the entire supply will be covered internally with bio-LNG.
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HEAT
RhönEnergie supplies heating network near Fulda with biomethane plant based on waste
RhönEnergie's biothane plant on the Finkenberg near Fulda produces biomethane for around 2,400 households entirely from waste and was named “Biogas Plant of the Month” for this achievement. It processes around 55,000 tons of organic waste per year, including food scraps and biowaste, into high-quality biomethane with a methane content of over 96%, which is fed directly into the gas grid. The plant saves 7,500 tons of CO₂ per year and is considered a pioneering project for purely waste-based biomethane production. A similar project is planned for 2029 in the Wiesbaden area.
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INTERNATIONAL
AT | Netz Burgenland calls for action plan for continued use of gas networks after natural gas phase-out
From April 2026, a plant in Parndorf will feed biomethane into the Burgenland gas grid, an important step towards decarbonizing the region's energy supply. Netz Burgenland emphasizes that climate-neutral biomethane must be used specifically where sufficient production volumes are available and industry and commerce are dependent on gas-based energy. For such regions, targeted grid expansion is necessary, while in other areas, dismantling should take place. A clear political framework, such as the Renewable Gases Act, is crucial to enable investment in biomethane.
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SE | Sweden's largest biogas plant uses CO₂ utilization (CCU) for the first time
In Linköping, the municipal company Tekniska verken has expanded its biogas plant, making it the largest in the country—and the first to capture and recycle biogenic CO₂. At the same time, the production of liquefied biomethane (bio-LNG) has been doubled to around 200 GWh per year. In the future, the captured CO₂ will be used for food, cooling, beverage production, and other purposes. The project is considered a milestone for the circular bioeconomy and shows how climate protection and resource efficiency can work together.
UK | Engie and Pepsi sign groundbreaking 10-year contract for biomethane plant
ENGIE has signed a groundbreaking 10-year contract with British beverage producer PepsiCo UK to supply 60 GWh of biomethane per year, the first of its kind in the UK food and beverage sector. The biomethane will come from a new ENGIE plant in northern England starting in 2027 and will save PepsiCo UK over 10,900 tons of CO₂ emissions annually. The plant, which cost over EUR 80 million, will be fed by locally produced, sustainable substrates and integrated into the national gas grid without the need for technical modifications. ENGIE already operates 42 biomethane plants in Europe and plans to increase production to 10 TWh by 2030.
IR | Ireland and seven other EU member states selected for BIOMAPE
Ireland is one of eight EU member states receiving funding under the EU's BIOMAPE project, which aims to promote the rapid and sustainable expansion of biomethane. Coordinated by Renewable Gas Forum Ireland, the project aims to remove technical, regulatory, and social barriers and create marketable conditions for biomethane. The project was officially launched in Dublin, with a focus on certification, long-term market strategies, cross-border learning, and practical modeling tools. BIOMAPE is intended to complement Ireland's national biomethane strategy and support market ramp-up with experience from other countries such as Austria and Slovenia.
ES | Asterion plans to invest EUR 1.5 billion in European biomethane infrastructure
The independent European investment company Asterion Industrial Partners is investing a total of EUR 1.5 billion in the expansion of European biomethane production through its biomethane platform ABIO, including EUR 800 million in equity capital. ABIO currently operates six plants, with six more under construction; by the end of 2026, around 20 biomethane plants are expected to be in operation, reaching a production capacity of around 3 TWh in the medium term. Activities span five core markets—including Germany, Italy, and Benelux—with the goal of realizing up to 40 plants and 3.5 TWh of biomethane per year by 2030.
ES | Moeve signs agreement with Pretium Renovables to build six biomethane plants
Spanish energy company Moeve has signed an agreement with Spanish biomethane plant developer Pretium Renovables to build four to six biomethane plants, each with an annual production capacity of 60 GWh. The focus is on Andalusia, where each plant is expected to save around 14,600 tons of CO₂ annually. Moeve's goal is to manage around 4 TWh of biomethane by 2030 to replace fossil natural gas in industry, mobility, and hydrogen production. The project supports the circular economy, utilizes agricultural waste, and promotes energy supply in rural regions.
ES | Naturgy and Enagás form partnership to build and operate a bunker ship for bio-LNG
The two Spanish gas suppliers Naturgy and Enagás are planning to build the bunker ship “Mistral LNG,” which will supply LNG and bio-LNG to ships in the Iberian Peninsula and the Atlantic Ocean starting in 2028. The 138.8 m long vessel with a cargo capacity of 18,900 m³ will go into construction in 2026 and will be operated by the joint subsidiary Scale Green Energy. Seven terminals in Spain are already equipped for LNG bunkering, four of which already supply bio-LNG. In 2024, the number of new orders for LNG and bio-LNG ships doubled compared to the previous year.
GR | Hengas invests over EUR 30 million in gas networks to upgrade them for biomethane
As part of its 2026–2030 development program, Greek company Hengas plans to invest over EUR 30 million in expanding the natural gas distribution network in 14 municipalities. The plans include 173 kilometers of low-pressure and 16.5 kilometers of medium-pressure pipelines, as well as the installation of 16,250 meters. Particularly relevant for the energy transition: Hengas is already integrating the technical preparations for the future feed-in of biomethane and green hydrogen. The first grid connections for biomethane plants are planned for 2029.
PL | ARP TFI presents investment plans worth EUR 95 million for biomethane program
Zum Jahreswechsel hat die polnische Fondsgesellschaft ARP TFI mit dem Polish Green Fund (PZF) ein Investmentprogramm für den Bau von neun landwirtschaftlichen Biomethan-Anlagen in Polen gestartet, bei der jede Anlage mit einer Erzeugungskapazität von 0,99 MW ausgelegt ist. Das Programm hat ein Volumen von knapp 95 Mio. EUR, wovon der PZF 14 Mio. EUR beisteuert; nach Fertigstellung ist der Verkauf der Anlagen vorgesehen. Projektentwickler ist Green Gas Energy (GGE), die dafür gemeinsam mit ARP TFI eine Holdingstruktur für die Umsetzung der einzelnen Standorte aufsetzt.
UA | Ukraine makes a successful start to biomethane exports
In 2025, Ukraine became an exporter of biomethane for the first time, supplying over 11 million m³ of gaseous fuel to EU markets. Three companies dominated the market entry, led by the agricultural holding company MHP with a share of around 77 percent. In addition to biomethane, liquefied biomethane (bio-LNG) was also exported abroad for the first time. The Ukrainian energy sector is thus sending an important signal for the expansion of renewable gas exports to Europe.
US | WAGA Energy builds biomethane plant in Wicomico County
In the US state of Maryland, WAGA Energy is building a biomethane processing plant at the Newland Park site in Salisbury on behalf of Wicomico County. Using patented WAGABOX® technology, the plant will generate over 62 GWh of biomethane from landfill gas annually and feed it directly into the gas grid. The plant will reduce CO₂ emissions by around 12,200 tons per year and meet new environmental requirements for methane emission control.