The Biomethane Market in France Is Characterised By Its Rapid Growth

A growing market

“In recent years, the production of biomethane in Europe has increased significantly, from 20 TWh in 2017 to 44 TWh in 2022. At the same time, biogas production has increased by an average of only 2% per year, from 164 TWh to 179 TWh. This decline in interest in biogas in favour of biomethane can be explained in particular by the emergence of alternative, more efficient solutions for generating heat and electricity, such as heat pumps, photovoltaics and wind energy”, explains Florian Revellat, Partner at Eight Advisory,

In France, the biomethane market is growing rapidly and is outperforming all other European markets in this sector.

Biomethane production in France increased by 61% to 7.0 TWh between 2021 and 2022, surpassing biogas production. This growth must continue in order to meet the government’s targets of 24 to 32 TWh by 2028, with an annual growth rate of 20 to 30%.

Accelerating the energy transition

Biomethane is crucial for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and energy dependency. It is recognised by the European Union as one of the most important levers and the RePowerEU plan aims to generate 360 TWh per year by 2030. In France, the energy multi-annual programming (PPE – Programmation Pluri-annuelle d’Énergie) includes measures to promote the production and use of biomethane.

The main challenges for the sector include project standardisation, securing raw materials and optimising profitability. Clear regulations and effective cooperation between stakeholders are essential for the sustainable development of the sector.

Read the full interview published in Le Monde de l’énergie on May 14, 2024.

For more information, see our latest insights:

Harnessing the power of biogas. Biomethane’s role in delivering RePowerEU objectives

Decarbonising the agri-food sector