Newsletter September 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 new decision by the Federal Network Agency in the ‘GeLi Gas 3.0’ pricing procedure, the signing of a contract between Shell and Hapag Lloyd for the purchase of biomethane, and the ongoing implementation of biomethane projects by EnviTec Biogas AG.
Further information on the biogas partnership project and our partners can be found at www.biogaspartner.de
GENERATION
BNetzA reaches decision in the ‘GeLi Gas 3.0’ determination procedure
On 12 September 2025, the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) adopted the ‘GeLi Gas 3.0’ determination procedure and expanded the GeLi rules to include key points: Distribution network operators must offer standardised supplier framework agreements, supplier switching may only be subject to clearly defined conditions, and data exchange must be carried out electronically with signatures/encryption in accordance with uniform formats; transport customer associations must be involved in format development. Newly developed, standardised metering point operator framework agreements, unambiguous data formats and clearly regulated switching processes, including nationally harmonised IT security, will make it easier for biomethane feeders and suppliers to integrate into the market, process transactions and settle accounts in the gas network.
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European Commission approves biomass package – industry calls for improvements
On 18 September 2025, the EU Commission approved the German biomass package under state aid law, paving the way for higher tender volumes of up to 1,300 MW and better flexibility premiums of €100/kW in the EEG. The industry sees this as an important step towards securing and expanding around 3 GW of flexible biogas capacity, but is calling for improvements in grid connections, a long-term tendering perspective and a transitional arrangement for old plants with expiring remuneration. The October tender will now be implemented with 813 MW. The decision is crucial for biomethane, as it secures the economic basis for many feed-in plants and supports the market ramp-up of flexible bioenergy plants.
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HBB submits position paper with proposals for strengthening biomethane and bio-LNG
A recent position paper by the industry association Hauptstadtbüro Biomethan (HBB) calls for biomethane and bio-LNG to be more strongly integrated into political strategies, infrastructure planning and energy tax law. Specifically, it calls for a successor regulation to the Gas Network Access Ordinance, simplified certification procedures, tax relief and support measures for filling stations and vehicles. Biomethane should be recognised as an eligible fuel in the Renewable Energy Sources Act (EEG) and given equal regulatory treatment to hydrogen. This is crucial for biomethane in order to secure its role as a storable, climate-friendly energy source in the electricity, heating and transport sectors.
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badenova sells biomethane business to Avrio Energie
badenovaWÄRMEPLUS, a subsidiary of energy supplier badenova, is selling its biogas plants in Eschbach and Neuried to plant operator Avrio Energie in order to focus strategically on wind power, photovoltaics, geothermal energy and green district heating. With this acquisition, Avrio Energie is doubling its biomethane capacity to over 200 GWh per year and plans to invest in efficiency and expansion. The plant in Eschbach already feeds up to 60 GWh into the grid, while the plant in Neuried is to be converted to biomethane. For biomethane, the transaction means a strengthening of specialised structures and the expansion of regional production in southern Germany.
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Verbio anticipates significant recovery in the coming financial year following slump in profits
Biofuel producer Verbio produced a total of 1,190 GWh of biomethane in the 2024/25 financial year – a new record, driven primarily by the ramp-up of the plant in Nevada (USA). Despite strong production growth, low GHG quota prices and market distortions weighed on earnings, causing EBITDA to fall to €14.2 million. Verbio expects a significant improvement in earnings for 2025/26 and intends to further expand the role of biomethane beyond the transport sector – for example, in shipping and industry. Biomethane is thus a central component of the company's international growth strategy.
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MOBILITY
Hapag-Lloyd and Shell sign multi-year contract for the supply of bio-LNG
Energy company Shell and shipping company Hapag-Lloyd have signed a multi-year supply agreement for liquefied, waste-based biomethane (bio-LNG), which has recently become available at 22 locations via Shell's global LNG bunker network. The ISCC EU-certified biomethane enables Hapag-Lloyd's dual-fuel ships to operate with low emissions without technical retrofitting and supports the goal of climate-neutral fleet operations by 2045. The partnership ensures security of supply and strengthens confidence in scalable, renewable marine fuels. This is another market breakthrough for biomethane, particularly in international maritime transport.
AIDA Cruises makes progress in the use of bio-LNG for its cruise fleet
In the first half of 2025, AIDA Cruises purchased over 3,300 tonnes of ISCC EU-certified bio-LNG for the AIDAnova, which originated from European biogas plants and was liquefied in Belgium. The company is thus continuing its decarbonisation strategy and demonstrating the practical use of biomethane in cruising. In the long term, all LNG ships in the fleet are prepared for the use of biofuels and e-fuels, and the new ships will even be equipped with multi-fuel technology from 2030 onwards. The use of bio-LNG demonstrates the potential of biomethane for GHG reduction in the maritime sector as well.
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HEAT
Bayernwerk Natur converts heating plant at Bundeswehr site in Hammelburg to biomethane CHP plant
Regional energy supplier Bayernwerk Natur GmbH is modernising the heating system at the Hammelburg site on behalf of the German Armed Forces and converting heat generation to renewable energies. Two new pellet boilers and a combined heat and power plant powered by locally produced biogas are largely replacing the previous use of gas and oil. Biomethane is also being used, while existing gas boilers are being retained as an emergency reserve. The project strengthens the role of biomethane as a flexible component in the resilient and climate-friendly heat supply of security-relevant infrastructures.
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INTERNATIONAL
NL | Anthony Veder and Gasum deepen partnership to comply with FuelEU Maritime regulation for bio-LNG
The Dutch gas transport shipping company Anthony Veder, with its extensive LNG tanker fleet, and the integrated gas group Gasum have announced an expansion of their partnership to meet the new requirements of the EU FuelEU Maritime Regulation. Two of Anthony Veder's LNG tankers, Coral Energy and Coral EnergICE, will be powered by bio-LNG in future, thereby providing emission credits for Gasum's compliance pool. Pooling makes it possible to flexibly transfer emission reductions to other ships, thus efficiently meeting regulatory requirements. For bio-LNG, this represents an important impetus for scaling up in the maritime sector – with up to 90% fewer greenhouse gases over the life cycle compared to fossil fuels.
SN | EnviTec announces start of construction of a biomethane plant for 70 GWh of bio-LNG in Vara
Construction is starting in Vara (Sweden) on Biogas Västra Skaraborg AB's first combined biogas and gas processing plant, which is expected to produce up to 70 GWh of bio-LNG annually from around 370,000 tonnes of regional manure and slurry. The plant, built by EnviTec Biogas AG, uses five fermenters with a volume of 32,000 m³ and heat recovery for high efficiency and a low carbon footprint. The biomethane, which is 98% purified, is further purified and liquefied by Nordsol using patented technology. Funded by the Klimatklivet programme, the project strengthens the Swedish biomethane and bio-LNG market and makes the fuel available throughout Northern Europe.
FR | Commissioning of the 40th EnviThan biomethane plant in France
With the commissioning of its 40th EnviThan gas processing plant in Premierfait (Département Aube), EnviTec Biogas has reached an important milestone in the French biomethane market. The plant processes 100 tonnes of agricultural residues per day and feeds around 400 Nm³/h of biomethane into the gas grid via the network operator NaTran (formerly GRTgaz) – compressed on site to 70 bar. For the first time, EnviTec was responsible for the complete automation and electrical engineering of the plant itself. Further projects are already planned in France, including a new biogas plant in Montans for the recycling of organic waste from 2026.
FR | Industrial group Air Liquide considers selling its biomethane division
According to insider sources, industrial gas manufacturer Air Liquide is considering selling its global biomethane business and is working with JPMorgan as an advisor. The sale of the 29 plants, located in Europe, China and the US, among other places, could generate up to EUR 500 million, including debt. The French company wants to focus more on its core business of industrial and medical gases in the future. Air Liquide's withdrawal would be a significant signal for the biomethane market, as the group has been one of the leading players in the industry to date.
UK | Acorn Bioenergy commissions first biomethane plant in Three Maids Hill
Plant operator Acorn Bioenergy has opened its first biomethane plant in Winchester, called ‘Three Maids’, which produces over 120 GWh of renewable gas annually – enough to heat more than 9,000 households. The plant processes around 83,600 tonnes of agricultural waste, saving around 30,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year. It is part of a larger strategy by the investment and management platform Qualitas Energy to establish a national network of biogas plants through portfolio companies such as Acorn Bioenergy, which is expected to feed over 1.5 TWh of biomethane per year into the British grid in the future. The project thus makes an important contribution to the decarbonisation of the heating sector and to securing regional energy supplies.
ES | Barcelona operates bus fleet with bio-CNG based on treated sewage gas
A public bus powered by biomethane from wastewater has been operating in Barcelona for five years – the result of the LIFE-NIMBUS project, which is unique in Europe. The biogas produced from sewage sludge is processed into almost pure biomethane at the Baix Llobregat plant using power-to-gas technology, saving around 80% CO₂ compared to fossil fuels. The vehicle covers over 14,000 km annually and demonstrates the potential of biomethane for low-emission public transport and freight transport. The EU-funded follow-up project SEMPRE-BIO aims to extend the technology to other bus routes and optimise it economically.
ES | Moeve and ID Energy Group enter into partnership to build biomethane plants
Spanish project developer ID Energy Group and Moeve, a Spanish industrial company specialising in decarbonisation solutions, have entered into a partnership to develop biomethane plants with a production capacity of up to 1 TWh per year – around 8% of the national biomethane target according to PNIEC by 2030. The aim is to recycle 3.1 million tonnes of agricultural residues annually and use them to produce green hydrogen and decarbonise industrial processes. Moeve contributes industrial expertise, while ID Energy has experience with over 65 biomethane projects across Europe. The cooperation strengthens energy independence, the circular economy and rural development.
ES | Grupo Toysal and CycleØ commission new biomethane plant in Galicia
Spanish waste management company Toysal and biomethane specialist CycleØ are jointly building a new biomethane plant in Porriño, Galicia, which is expected to produce 45 GWh of biomethane annually from around 22,000 tonnes of organic waste. The ‘Ecogalia’ project will process the biogas using its own technology and feed it into the gas grid, avoiding around 6,000 tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually. The plant will strengthen the regional circular economy, create new jobs and contribute to achieving Spain's biomethane target of 20 TWh/year by 2030. This is CycleØ's second industrial waste project and part of a plan to operate up to 30 plants on the Iberian Peninsula.
PT | Ferbgás Renováveis invests EUR 20 million in new 40 GWh biomethane plant
Portuguese biomethane producer Ferbgás Renováveis is investing €20 million in the construction of a biomethane plant in Benavente (Portugal), which is expected to produce around 40 GWh of biomethane per year from agricultural waste such as manure and slurry from early 2027 onwards – enough to supply around 8,000 households. The Benavente Bioenergy plant will not only supply renewable gas for industry and agriculture, but also produce biofertiliser for the regional circular economy. The project will create 10-15 direct and over 30 indirect jobs. It is part of a larger project: by 2030, Ferbgás plans to invest over EUR 200 million in the construction of ten biomethane plants in Portugal and a first international project in Spain.
PL | Südzucker connects a 45 MW biomethane plant to the Polish gas grid
Sugar producer Südzucker Polska has successfully connected Poland's first biomethane plant with a capacity of 45 MW to the gas grid. The plant processes sugar beet residues at the Strzelin site and produces over 9,000 Nm³/h of biomethane, part of which is fed into the grid. This represents an important step towards energy self-sufficiency for Europe's largest sugar producer and advances the decarbonisation of its production.
US | Mars plans to convert all European factories to renewable energy production using biomethane
The conglomerate Mars recently began operating all ten of its European confectionery factories – including sites in Germany, France and Poland – entirely with renewable electricity and biomethane. Certificates of origin for biomethane were purchased to cover natural gas requirements, which cover direct consumption in production. This means that around 900,000 tonnes of confectionery are produced in a climate-friendly manner every year. The use of biomethane is a central component of Mars' decarbonisation strategy on the path to net-zero emissions by 2050.
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