The first edition of the European Biomethane Week, organised by EBA, an ALFA Partner, and themed “Countdown to 2030: from targets to action,” concluded with great success in Brussels on October 27, 2023. This dedicated week, supported by the European Commission and the Biomethane Industrial Partnership, highlighted the advancements in biogas and biomethane across Europe. The comprehensive program included a two-day European Biogas Conference in Brussels and ten side events in different European countries.
One year after the REPowerEU plan to save energy and reduce reliance on Russian fossil fuels, the biogas industry is accelerating its efforts to enhance energy security and meet climate objectives in the European Union, while 2023 is the first year that more electricity was produced from renewable energy resources than gas, setting a milestone to a clean and green energy transition in Europe
The event brought together 650 participants and 49 speakers, including policymakers, industry figures, academics, and civil society representatives who convened to discuss the transition to sustainable energy. European Commissioner for Energy, Kadri Simson, highlighted the role of biomethane in achieving climate objectives, promoting a circular bioeconomy, and bolstering energy security, particularly in remote or challenging-to-electrify regions.
The European Biogas Conference aimed to reach the 35 billion cubic meters (bcm) biomethane target and support decarbonization across various sectors. The conference explored the value of biogases in advancing the European bioeconomy, including the utilization of biogenic CO2, innovative agricultural practices, and sustainable soil management.
The European Biomethane Week marked the launch of the European Biogas Association’s “Biogases 8-points plan for a resilient and climate-neutral EU,” emphasizing energy security, renewable energy, emissions reduction, waste management, and more.
The EBA Awards ceremony in 2023 recognized the following individuals and projects for their contributions to the energy transition and renewables: biomethane RNG Channel team (Biogas Booster Award), REGATRACE project (Biogas Groundbreaker Award), Air Liquide (Energy Efficiency Champion), Lucy Hopwood (Women Leading the way to Climate Neutrality Award) and Micropyros biology team (Top Biogas Young Talent Award). Furthermore, the ALFA project was present at the conference, offering valuable perspectives on the adoption of biogas through the utilization of livestock manure.
In summary, the event demonstrated the biogas industry’s dedication to achieving the 35 bcm biomethane target by 2030 and its role in promoting sustainable energy in Europe.