EBA Statistical report 2018

The EBA Secretariat is proud to present to you the EBA Statistical Report 2018, which offers the most up-to-date, Europe-wide market information and data available (reflecting figures up to end 2017 and developments into the present), as well as in-depth analysis of the national and European biogas and biomethane markets.

Thanks to the support and efforts of both EBA Members and the Secretariat, the EBA Statistical Report has become an important point of reference for the European biogas and biomethane sectors, consulted by EU institutions and by numerous industrial stakeholders worldwide. This eighth edition of the EBA Statistical Report builds on the structure of the previous issue to provide a unique European overview, compiling first-hand information from national biogas associations. This edition includes newly developed European maps and per capita analyses that present the national markets in a new and unique light and is published in new professional design, thanks to the support of its sponsors. Additionally, 26 Country Profiles consider the evolution of the national biogas and biomethane markets in detail. We would like to express our gratitude to all contributors who made this report possible.

The number of European biogas plants has increased continuously over the past decade, showing that national biogas markets are well established and strong enough to overcome the political uncertainty which has affected certain countries. The development of new trends and more advanced technologies in the last year, has resulted in higher plant efficiency, cheaper digesters, and cheaper upgrading units for the conversion of raw biogas to biomethane of natural gas grade. The EBA is working at several levels to support the better integration of biomethane into the existing gas market. Collaborations between the EBA and the international gas industry, and participation in several circular economy projects, have helped to emphasise the importance of biomethane and digestate use for the necessary energy transition, and to establish anaerobic digestion technology as an integral part of the European bioeconomy.

The Gas for Climate initiative presents the role of renewable gas in a low-emission energy system by 2050. The European Biomethane Map 2018 was published in collaboration with Gas Infrastructure Europe (GIE). This comprehensive map locates and lists biomethane installations operating in Europe (as of the first quarter of 2017), providing specific details about each biomethane plant. In collaboration with the European Renewable Gas Registry (ERGaR), the cross-border administration of sustainable biomethane certificates has been further developed, leading to its likely implementation in 2019. Under the auspices of the Biorefine Cluster Europe, the EBA and the University of Ghent are actively pushing for technological advance, and for European legislation to help realise the full potential of digestate across Europe.

The EBA has many interesting initiatives and projects ahead for the year and the decade to come, especially as it enters its tenth anniversary year in 2019.

We wish you an inspiring read!