The hidden power in food waste: biomethane could serve as alternative of Russian gas

By: Trademagazin editor Date: 2022. 08. 12. 18:44

Biological waste found at every step of the food chain can replace a fifth of Russian gas imports. According to the European Biogas Association (EBA), by 2050 the amount of gas extracted from biomethane can potentially equal what the EU imported from Russia in 2021.

By 2030, Denmark plans to source the totality of its gas from biomethanes

The EU plans to increase its biomethane production tenfold by 2030, which EBA estimates will take building 1,000 biomass plants and an investment of €40 billion (US$41.18 billion). The waste to create biomethane can be extracted from any crop, which would also help boost farmers’ incomes.

Denmark the model

Biomethane already covers a quarter of Denmark’s gas consumption, up 4% in 2021 compared to 2020.

Industry estimates eye 2034 as the year biogas production is expected to meet the totality of the Danish demand. However, due to the war in Ukraine, efforts to boost production have moved forward the target to as soon as 2030.

The Danish government is optimistic this target can be reached and has already announced it wants to phase out natural gas entirely by that year. Furthermore, to make life easy for biomethane producers, Denmark is exempting them from its new carbon tax.

Marc Cervera / Food Ingredients First