Turning Waste Into Industrial Might

Eleven top industry groups urge the EU to prioritize biomethane to secure energy independence and fuel a cleaner industrial future

23 Apr 2026

Eleven major European industry associations issued a joint call on Tuesday for policymakers to prioritize biomethane as a central pillar of the Continent’s industrial and energy security strategies. The declaration, released in Brussels, outlines 10 regulatory priorities intended to accelerate the deployment of the renewable gas across a variety of economic sectors.

The signatories represent a broad cross-section of the European economy, including the chemical, fertilizer, paper, maritime, and agricultural industries. These sectors increasingly face the dual pressures of volatile energy prices and rising carbon costs. The coalition warned that existing regulatory gaps and administrative hurdles, particularly regarding certification and cross-border trade, are currently obstructing the use of a fuel that is already produced at scale.

While Europe currently produces 22 billion cubic meters of combined biogas and biomethane annually, it remains dependent on imports for approximately 90 percent of its gas needs. Supporters of the initiative argued that domestically produced biomethane, which utilizes existing pipeline infrastructure, could significantly reduce this strategic vulnerability. This transition is seen as particularly vital for hard-to-abate industries, such as metals and fertilizer manufacturing, where electrification remains technically or economically challenging.

Despite the industry’s optimism, biomethane has remained largely on the periphery of recent major policy frameworks like the European Union’s Clean Industrial Deal. Critics and some analysts have previously raised concerns regarding the scalability of feedstock and the long-term cost competitiveness of biomethane compared to other renewable alternatives. The declaration aims to address these uncertainties by calling for formal recognition of the fuel’s role in meeting climate targets, including a production goal of 35 billion cubic meters by 2030.

Beyond energy, the associations highlighted the sector’s role in the circular economy, noting that biogas plants produce 25 million tonnes of digestate annually. They also pointed to the capture of 1.17 million tonnes of biogenic carbon dioxide, a volume representing roughly 14 percent of the region’s merchant liquid CO2 demand. As European officials weigh future energy legislation, the unified stance of these 11 associations suggests that the regulatory treatment of biomethane will remain a focal point of industrial policy.