Biomethane for Europe
The Challenge
Reduce emissions and replace fossil fuel
in European
road transport sector
Time frame
EU targets say:
55% reduction by 2030,
fossil free by 2050
A perfect fit
Expand the use of fossil free biomethane in all EU member states
Biomethane for Europe, a Zürich 5 Coalition initiative, suggests that, in parallel to electrification, the EU make full use of a technology that will swiftly and (cost) effectively de-fossilize the road transport sector. Biomethane has been tested and proven at large scale in existing markets such as Denmark, Sweden, the Netherlands, Finland, Germany, Italy and Switzerland, and has great potential in other markets as well. Fuelling vehicles with biomethane, a fossil free gas made in each country from local waste, will contribute to the EU’s goals to become the first climate neutral continent by 2050.
Because of the added value of biomethane, Biomethane for Europe recommends the European institutions to take on board the following policy recommendations in its negotiations on the Fit for 55 package:
Ensure coherence between different Green Deal legislative proposals
Introduce higher (EU-wide) targets for non-fossil fuels such as biomethane
Set more ambitious targets for bio-CNG/LNG refuelling infrastructure
Biomethane has a proven track record
Why biomethane?
Biomethane is the cleanest energy carrier today. It is used as a transport fuel as replacement for traditional fuels such as natural gas, gasoline or diesel. Driving on Bio-CNG or -LNG provides CO2 savings of up to 97% compared to gasoline vehicles.
Biomethane is an energy source derived from waste and is a complementary way to produce sustainable energy equal to wind, solar and hydroelectric power. It has an inherent link to the circular economy and has a positive impact on overall GHG emissions reduction.
The graphic illustrates that biomethane results in the least amount of CO2 emissions per kilometer (and even negative emissions) if counting the transport fuels’ emissions from the moment of producing the fuel/energy carrier (well-to-wheel /WTW).
How is biomethane made?
Biomethane is produced exclusively from waste.
Waste in the form of manure, sludge and domestic waste is collected in biogas plants. All sorts of organic waste like manure and plant residue at farms, runoff water from paper mills or sewage and solid kitchen waste in cities can be used to produce biomethane. In the plants, biomethane is produced via anaerobic digestion and turned into bio-CNG or -LNG.
Biomethane is converted into bio-CNG or -LNG by first upgrading the raw biogas by removing CO2 and other pollutants. This way, the methane-content is increased from ± 60% to 90% (or more, depending on which EU Member State) and has the exact characteristics as natural gas. During the second step, the biomethane is fueled into vehicles either compressed (± 250 bar pressure) “bio-CNG”, or liquified, “bio-LNG”.
When bio-LNG comes from 100% biomethane, and particularly when it is produced from liquid manure, the GHG emissions balance for bio-LNG-powered Heavy-Duty Vehicles (HDVs) comes out negative. Bio-LNG powered HDVs are for this reason a good alternative to diesel-powered vehicles when aiming for GHG emission reduction under the well-to-wheel perspective. At this time, the progress of cutting GHG emissions has been slow in the HD segment. All available solutions will therefore be needed to reduce emissions.
About the Zürich 5 Coalition
Biomethane for Europe is an initiative of the Zürich 5 Coalition.
The Zürich 5 Coalition consists of several leading businesses and associations in the bio-CNG and LNG sector across the whole supply chain, advocating for the uptake of biomethane in the road transport sector in Europe. It aims to support the EU in achieving its goals under the European Green Deal in reducing transport emissions and aims to stimulate a favorable regulatory framework for the uptake of biomethane. Current members of the Coalition are BioGem Express AG (Switzerland), GibGas (Germany) and OG Clean Fuels (The Netherlands). The current ambassadors of the Coalition are Nærenergi (Denmark) and Landwärme (Germany).
Current members / ambassadors of the coalition
What can you do?
Join the Biomethane for Europe movement!
We invite everybody to join our Biomethane for Europe movement and advocate for a bigger role of biomethane in de-fossilizing Europe’s road transport sector and achieving the European climate targets. We are happy to answer questions from European policymakers, national policymakers or anyone else, as well as to provide more information about our movement and the different ways to support us.
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