While Germany is by far the largest producer of biomethane in Europe, the BDEW points to the renewable resource being underutilised and underexploited domestically - at around 10 TWh a year in recent times; the BDEW has offered a ten-point plan to bridge this ten-fold gap.

The 100 TWh by 2030 potential given by BDEW is higher than that given in the recently published 

 (8.1 bcm, slightly less than 80 TWh). However, the figure is still below the high-end 2050 estimate for Germany given by the GfC report (approximately 200 TWh), which suggests some of the longer-term measures considered by GfC, including utilisation of a wider range of feedstocks, have been brought forward by the German industry group.

BDEW proposed initiatives

Increasing the limits on electricity generated via biomethane should result in immediate gains in utilisation and potentially increases in biomethane production, although this will likely affect biogas production and direct utilisation to a greater extent.

In any case, a limit change would free up natural gas supplies, already under stress due to a 

, which might otherwise be used for power generation in lieu of biomethane and biogas. The BDEW have put this savings estimate at 2 to 3 TWh of natural gas within a few months, given a 20% uplift on current capacity limits on biogas/biomethane.


Without direct compensation, it is difficult to foresee the proliferation of biomethane plants in Germany. Biomethane capacity has remained largely stagnant in Germany since 2014, with annual production falling within an 8-10 TWh range.

It is possible that more favourable conditions for biomethane given in initiatives (promoting usage in various applications, and also promoting biomass in general) could stimulate production growth. A Carbon Contracts for Difference (CCfD) scheme would likely have the largest impact. Such a scheme could secure cashflows for the marginal cost of green gas production which will entice further investment.

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The German Association of Energy and Water Industries (BDEW) believes that national biomethane production could reach 100 TWh by 2030 as highlighted in a recently publish position paper. The potential annual production represents about one-fifth of Russian natural gas imports to Germany, and about 7% of the total imports to the EU.

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BDEW consortium sets out plan for increasing biomethane output in Germany

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