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Biomethane, also called renewable gas, is the purified form of raw biogas derived from the recovery of organic matter. It has properties similar to natural gas (E high-methane gas containing over 95 percent of methane), which is produced in the process of biogas upgrading, which involves the removal of sulphur compounds and carbon dioxide.

Biogas used to produce biomethane is derived from anaerobic digestion of various biodegradable materials such as agricultural biomass (by-products, waste, livestock manure), agro-food industry biomass (food and industrial waste) or the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, as well as organic waste from wastewater treatment plants.

Biomethane is renewable gas which can take two forms:

bioLNG (liquefied biomethane)

bioCNG (compressed biomethane –  a mixture of compressed hydrocarbons, produced from biomass)

According to the amendments to the act on renewable energy sources, the proposed legal definition of biomethane is: a gas derived from biogas or agricultural biogas with a heat value of not less than 34.0 MJ/m3.

Biomethane – just like biogas it is produced from– is considered to be a renewable resource because its production-and-use cycle is continuous, and it generates no net carbon dioxide. As the organic material grows, it is converted and used. It then regrows in a continually repeating cycle. From a carbon perspective, as much carbon dioxide is absorbed from the atmosphere in the growth of the primary bio-resource as is released, when the material is ultimately converted to energy. For this reason, Biomethane is considered to be net-zero carbon emissions natural gas substitute.

Biomethane has the same chemical composition and energetic properties as fossil-based natural gas, and thus can be injected directly into utility grids. As a renewable source, it can be used for heating purposes, as fuel for vehicles or can be blended with conventional fuels (gasoline, diesel, bioLPG). It can also be used for electricity production.

Biomethane can make a significant contribution to enhancing energy security and effectively decarbonizing the energy systems, while simultaneously delivering growth benefits to local regions and optimizing agricultural production. The use of a natural raw material “produced” based on domestic resources makes the state independent of external supplies. The current geopolitical situation underlines the need for diversified gas supplies as well as for alternatives to Russian gas. As a renewable gas, biomethane can be a crucial resource for the present and future of rural areas as its production can sustainably help rural communities to develop and grow.

Biomethane is a truly renewable fuel taking circular economy to its extreme. It is derived from biomass and biogas, i.e. such natural resources as municipal and agricultural waste, food residues and organic waste from wastewater treatment plants amongst others. The biomethane production, distribution and use cycle is waste free. Biomethane is a carbon-neutral energy source, because burning biomethane releases carbon dioxide (CO2) previously captured by the plants and animals that are the source of biomethane for energy.

Digestate, which is a physical output of the anaerobic digestion, is a valuable organic fertiliser rich in nutrients, offering an excellent alternative compared with energy-intensive mineral fertilisers, while reducing water and soil pollution.

As one of the leading agricultural countries in the European Union, Poland has an estimated annual potential to produce nearly 7.8 billion cubic metres (bcm) of biogas that can be obtained from agricultural residues and municipal biowaste. Biomethane production needs to reach 1 bcm per year by 2030, which corresponds to approx. 500 installations with an annual biomethane output of 2 million cubic meters. According to Government Plenipotentiary for Renewable Energy and Deputy Climate Minister Ireneusz Zyska: “The potential of biogas production from waste amounts to nearly 13-15 bcm per year, which corresponds to equivalent to approx. 8 bcm of biomethane per year. In the coming years, we can expect an increase in the collection of biodegradable waste, which will have to be processed also by industrial biogas plants.”

Although there are over 300 biogas plants including agricultural in Poland, there was not a single biomethane plant operating in Poland as of end of 2022. Some of them, such as the installation in Jeżewo acquired by Orlen Południe, produce energy from biogas with a high biomethane content. Wastewater treatment plants also have adequate potential for biomethane production. Currently, legislative work is underway to allow the establishment of biogas plants and facilities for upgrading biogas to biomethane. By the end of 2022, there were 1,067 biomethane installations running n in Europe.

One of the main barriers to the development of the biomethane sector in Poland has been the price of biomethane in comparison with natural gas pricing. Until recently, biomethane was about four times more expensive than natural gas. Today, the natural gas price stands at a similar level as biomethane. Until 2021, natural gas was significantly cheaper, making biomethane production unprofitable. Soaring gas prices amid geopolitical developments and global energy supply crisis, have boosted biomethane’s competitive edge as a cheaper and sustainable gas.

Biogas plays an important role for the European Union. Both the key strategic documents defining EU’s climate and energy objectives as well as new regulation proposals include a number of possible actions to unlock the potential of biogas and biomethane across all EU countries.

As a carbon neutral energy source, biomethane can help achieve the goal of the European Green Deal, which aims to set the EU, including Poland, on the path to a green transition, with the ultimate goal of reaching climate neutrality by 2050. Fossil fuels, such as coal, will be replaced by renewable energy sources such as biogas and biomethane.

A successful deployment of biomethane in Poland requires the creation of a favourable legal environment and a stable regulatory framework covering the overall value chain of biomethane (from production to end uses and by-products). According to the Polish Biomethane Organization, one of the key issues is the introduction of the “biomethane” definition, which will make it possible to define its physical and technical characteristics and enable its injection into the gas transmission and gas distribution systems.

Given that the average lifespan of a biomethane plant is approximately 20 years, it is essential that a regulatory and legal framework includes support schemes for the production and use of biomethane. In addition, there is an urgent need for integration of biomethane into gas network and physical injection of biomethane into the gas grid. To this end, measures should be taken to support the development and expansion of gas networks using investment support programs for the implementation of this type of public purpose investments. Another key issue is the facilitation of  investment and construction processes of biomethane installations and introduction of norms to ease and accelerate various project stages (including environmental decision, construction and occupancy permit). The Polish Biomethane Organization advocates that biomethane investments are granted a public purpose status. The use of biomethane in conventional fuel production processes should also be initiated. In addition to legislative support, public acceptance for the development of the biomethane market and support of local communities for biomethane projects, is equally important.