Newsletter March 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 the DBFZ's new pilot plant, the establishment of a Bio-CNG fleet in Edeka NST's lorry fleet and the strategic partnership between Refuels and Foresight to strengthen the European Bio-CNG infrastructure.
Further information on the biogas partnership project and our partners can be found at www.biogaspartner.de
GENERATION
New DBFZ pilot plant for biomethane production from compost and agricultural by-products
A new pilot plant for the production of biomethane and e-methane from agricultural by-products and compost has been inaugurated at the German Biomass Research Centre (DBFZ) in Leipzig. The aim is to produce up to 99% pure methane through fermentation and subsequent methanisation with green hydrogen. The 6 million EUR plant is testing different reactor types and aims to contribute to the production of renewable LNG in the long term. A particular focus is on the utilisation of non-competing biomass and the reduction of greenhouse gas avoidance costs.
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Benc plans to start producing biomethane from waste and residual materials
Benc Bioenergiecentrum from Mertingen is planning to expand its existing biogas plant by autumn 2025 in order to also produce biomethane as a green gas in future. Every year, the family-run company processes 55,000 tonnes of biowaste into electricity and heat, saving around 10,000 tonnes of CO₂ in the process. In addition, landscaping material is converted into humus and natural wood is converted into heat through carbonisation. Benc was honoured by the Bavarian Environmental Pact for its voluntary environmental achievements.
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MOBILITY
Bioenergie Velen GmbH starts plant operation
Bioenergie Velen GmbH has started trial operation of its modernised biogas plant and will soon be feeding biomethane into the Thyssengas natural gas network. Up to 200,000 tonnes of slurry and manure are to be fermented each year, primarily to supply the fuel market with bio-CNG and bio-LNG. The plant was converted at a cost of around 20 million EUR and, together with the AGRAVIS subsidiary Terrasol in Dorsten, will supply around 200 GWh of biomethane per year in future. The aim is to contribute to the decarbonisation of the transport sector.
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Pioneer Point Partners new majority shareholder in OG Clean Fuels
OG Clean Fuels has gained a new majority owner in Pioneer Point Partners, which has acquired the shares of ABN AMRO SIF and Meewind. With over 325 locations in Europe and a planned investment of more than 150 million EUR over the next five years, OG intends to further expand its network for bio-CNG, bio-LNG, electricity, HVO100 and hydrogen. The current managing directors Marcel Borger and Jeroen Meiberg will remain involved in the company and will accompany the new growth phase. The aim is to develop OG into the leading platform for sustainable road transport infrastructure in Europe.
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Edeka Region Nordbayern to rely on bio-CNG fleet in future
Edeka Nordbayern-Sachsen-Thüringen (NST) is building a new fleet of CNG-powered lorries to supply around 900 stores in an almost climate-neutral way. The expansion will initially start in Marktredwitz with 5 vehicles and is set to grow to 25 lorries by the end of 2025 - with a view to 150 by 2030. The bio-CNG will be supplied by OG Clean Fuels, which is also expanding existing filling stations and building new ones. After examining all the alternatives, Edeka made a conscious decision in favour of bio-CNG - primarily because of the immediate CO₂ savings, proven technology and good cost-effectiveness.
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HEAT
Municipality of Weißenburg wants to use existing gas network for biomethane
A feasibility study shows how old biogas plants can continue to be operated economically by feeding biomethane into the existing natural gas grid - even without EEG remuneration. In Weißenburg (Bavaria), this model is to be implemented in future in order to supply the town centre in a climate-friendly way and without costly grid expansion.
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INTERNATIONAL
IT | ETW Energietechnik builds biomethane plant for processing landfill gas
ETW Energietechnik has supplied a biomethane plant for the treatment of landfill gas in the Apulian city of Taranto for the first time in Italy. The plant processes up to 4,400 Nm³ of landfill gas per hour and achieves a methane recovery rate of over 95%. It combines ETW Smartcycle PSA technology with a nitrogen reduction unit (NRU) to efficiently process even highly fluctuating gas qualities with a nitrogen content of up to 25%. The installation was completed in just four months in six standardised containers.
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IT | Eni receives non-binding offers for 49% sale of Enibioch4in
The Italian energy group Eni is currently reviewing four non-binding offers for the sale of 49% of its biomethane division Enibioch4in in order to find a financial partner for further development. The interested parties include Vauban, Vesper, Kingston Capital and Hitec Vision. Enibioch4in currently operates 21 biogas plants and one biomethane plant with the aim of feeding over 50 million Nm³ of biomethane into the grid each year. The partial sale is part of Eni's ‘satellite model’, which is aimed at strategic partnerships and possible IPOs to support the energy transition.
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ES | Naturgy signs off-take agreement for 20 GWh of biomethane with Aena for its airports
Naturgy will supply around 83 GWh of gas to Spanish airport operator Aena over the next two years, of which at least 20 GWh will be biomethane. The green gas comes from waste and will be used to heat airport terminals, helping Aena to decarbonise its infrastructure. Naturgy currently operates three biomethane plants in Spain and plans to build up to 30 more plants with an annual capacity of 2.5 TWh with partners by 2030.
ES | CyclØ invests 200 billion euros in Spanish biogas production
The Spanish plant developer and operator CycleØ is investing 200 million EUR in the expansion of biogas production in Spain and plans to build up to 30 biomethane plants with a total output of 800 GWh per year. In doing so, the company aims to help close the existing gap between current and targeted renewable gas production in Spain, which is expected to reach 10.4 TWh by 2030. In addition to operating its own plants, CycleØ is also involved in the EU-funded ALFA project to educate Spanish farmers about the benefits of biogas.
FR | TotalEnergies commissions 153 GWh biomethane plant in Normandy
TotalEnergies has commissioned its second largest biomethane plant in France, BioNorrois, in Fontaine-le-Dun (Normandy). The plant produces 153 GWh of biomethane per year - enough for around 30,000 inhabitants - and uses 185,000 tonnes of organic material, up to 80% of which is sugar beet residue from its partner Cristal Union. In addition, 150,000 tonnes of fertiliser are produced annually, which is used in regional agriculture, saving 5,500 tonnes of chemical fertiliser and avoiding 30,000 tonnes of CO₂. With BioNorrois, TotalEnergies' biomethane capacity in France increases to over 800 GWh.
UK | AstraZeneca opens biomethane plant as part of national decarbonisation strategy
AstraZeneca has opened a new biomethane plant in Lincolnshire (UK) that will provide 100 GWh of renewable energy from organic waste each year. The plant will be operated through a 15-year partnership with Future Biogas and will meet the entire energy needs of the UK research and manufacturing sites - around 20% of the company's global gas consumption. This continues AstraZeneca's strategy to power all of its sites worldwide with 100% renewable energy by the end of 2024. The measure is part of the plan to reduce direct emissions by 98% by 2026 compared to 2015 and to reach net zero by 2045.
UK | ReFuels and Foresight enter into strategic partnership to strengthen European Bio-CNG infrastructure
ReFuels and the Foresight Group are joining forces to build a leading bio-CNG infrastructure platform in the UK through their subsidiary CNG Fuels. Foresight will contribute 15 CNG refuelling stations in return for 60% of the shares in CNG Fuels, while ReFuels will retain 40% and transfer its stake to RTFS. The aim is to double the daily refuelling capacity to 20,000 trucks by 2028 and supply 780 million kg of bio-CNG annually. The existing infrastructure already serves major customers such as Amazon and DHL and avoids around 195,000 tonnes of CO₂ every year.
NO | Furetank completes first bunkering of bio-LNG on tankers
The Swedish shipping company Furetank has for the first time bunkered 200 tonnes of ISCC-certified Bio-LNG in the port of Mongstadt, Norway - in cooperation with STX Group and Molgas. The liquefied natural gas was supplied using the mass balance method and meets the requirements of the new FuelEU Maritime Regulation, which stipulates a 2% reduction in greenhouse gas intensity from 2025. The supply to the tanker Fure Viken marks a milestone for the use of bio-LNG in shipping. The partners see this as an important step towards decarbonising the sector and are calling for political support to promote renewable fuels.
SE | St1Biokraft acquires Södra Hallands Kraft Biogas AB
On 28 February 2025, St1 Biokraft took over the biogas plant of Södra Hallands Kraft Biogas AB in Hov near Laholm and will operate under the name St1 Biokraft Laholm AB in future. The acquisition increases the company's own production capacity by 25 GWh to around 575 GWh of biomethane per year. The plant was built in 1992 to reduce eutrophication in Laholm Bay and has been supplying processed biomethane for the transport sector since 2000. St1 Biokraft is aiming to produce 3 TWh by 2030 and is strengthening its market position and commitment to the regional circular economy with the purchase.
EE | Elenger organises first cross-border biomethane trade with the Czech Republic
Elenger has sourced biomethane from the Czech Republic for a Latvian company in the BLRT Group for the first time, organising the first cross-border biomethane trade transaction in the region. The Estonian company successfully tested the regulatory framework and network operators in various countries and is now planning further imports to meet the growing demand. Elenger already operates several biomethane plants in Estonia and sells the gas there as a fuel, but also sees great potential for use in the heating sector.
JP | Asahi Kasei launches biogas upgrading pilot plant in the city of Kurashiki
Asahi Kasei, together with the city of Kurashiki in Japan, has opened a pilot biogas upgrading plant that separates CO₂ from methane using its proprietary PVSA technology. The plant uses zeolite as an adsorbent to produce high-purity biomethane with a high recovery rate from biogas. The biogas used comes from sewage sludge from the local wastewater treatment plant and is used to generate electricity as part of a demonstration project. The aim is to further develop the technology internationally and contribute to decarbonisation.
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