/ Publications / Energy security meets the circular economy : a stronger case for sustainable biomethane production in the EU
Gas | Other
Energy security meets the circular economy : a stronger case for sustainable biomethane production in the EU
29 April 2022
Authors: OLCZAK, Maria; PIEBALGS, Andris
The outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war has revived discussions on the EU’s dependence on fossil fuel imports from Russia. To ensure gas diversification, the EU Commission has suggested over a tenfold increase in EU biomethane production from the current ~3 billion cubic meters (bcm) to 35 bcm by 2030. While higher gas prices could provide some incentive for biomethane production in the short term, additional measures will be necessary to reach the 2030 target. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has suggested that putting a value on methane emissions (which would otherwise be emitted from the decomposition of organic waste in the agriculture and waste sectors) avoided could support biomethane production while reducing this potent GHG. This could be an interesting option for the EU to support achievement of its Global Methane Pledge commitment. The EU circular economy framework could help boost biomethane production by alleviating energy security concerns, but it requires better policy coordination. This policy brief identifies four focus areas: (a) measurement, reporting and verification of methane emissions from the agriculture and waste sectors; (b) continual improvement of best practices to mitigate methane emissions; (c) sustainable production of biomethane; and (d) responsible operation of biomethane plants.
In December 2024, in her mission letter to Commissioner Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President von der Leyen encouraged drafting a plan for an ambitious European High-Speed Rail Network to help connect EU [...]
In this article, we contribute to the legal scholarship on the interaction between EU data governance and electricity legislation, analysing the impact the Data Act could have on the sharing [...]
On 14 July 2021, the European Commission adopted a series of legislative proposals implementing its plan to achieve climate neutrality in the EU by 2050. These included an intermediate target [...]
Join our community
To meet, discuss and learn in the channel that suits you best.
We use cookies to help personalise content and provide a better experience. By clicking Accept all, you agree to this, as outlined in our Cookie Policy. To change preferences or withdraw consent, please update your Cookie Preferences.