European industry groups are calling on EU leaders to expedite the deployment of biomethane.

Leading European industry groups have urged EU policymakers to prioritize biomethane in the bloc's strategies for reindustrialization, energy security, and decarbonization, cautioning that ongoing regulatory shortcomings hinder progress.

The Joint Biomethane Declaration, released in Brussels on March 24, 2026, outlines ten key actions to enhance the sector's development. It highlights the increasing pressure on European industries from soaring energy costs and escalating carbon prices, with some sectors already experiencing production reductions and shutdowns.

Currently, Europe produces about 22 billion cubic meters of biogas and biomethane each year. The signatories contend that this fuel provides immediate and scalable support for energy-intensive and difficult-to-decarbonize sectors, including chemicals, metals, pulp and paper, maritime, and fertilizers. Additionally, as a domestically produced fuel, biomethane has the potential to lessen Europe's reliance on imported gas, particularly as the EU still depends on foreign sources for around 90% of its gas supply.

The declaration underscores biomethane's significance beyond energy, positioning it as a fundamental element of Europe's circular economy. Approximately 25 million tons of digestate are generated each year from European biogas facilities, and the sector captures 1.17 million tons of biogenic CO₂ — about 14% of Europe's demand for merchant liquid and solid CO₂. The signatories point out that ammonia production, a major CO₂ source for merchant markets, is at risk due to ongoing instability in the Middle East, which affects natural gas imports.

The declaration lists priority actions such as acknowledging biomethane's role in achieving EU climate objectives, including the REPowerEU goal of 35 billion cubic meters by 2030, eliminating administrative hurdles related to certification and trading, aligning national support frameworks, and enhancing infrastructure access through simplified permitting and cohesive grid planning.

The signatories urged European and national policymakers to collaborate with the industry to "turn this potential into reality," characterizing the scaling up of biomethane as both a collective duty and a significant opportunity for Europe.