Biogas: A Key Player in a Sustainable Energy Future

BRT PhD student and junior researcher Antoine Bercy recently wrote a think piece about the role of biogas in sustainable energy. Enjoy reading! 

When comparing renewable energies, it is important not to fall into the mental trap of trying to figure out which one is “best.” This is not a competitive race to find the next game-changing technology, but rather a humble collaboration to make our world as sustainable as possible. A better approach is to compare energy systems to nature itself. In a closed-loop sustainable system, every component -animal or plant, small or large—has its own role to play. The disappearance of even a seemingly minor part could destabilize the whole system, as a crucial cog would be missing. At the same time, nature shows significant redundancy, where some parts can take over if conditions worsen for others, creating a robust ecosystem.

Renewable energies should be viewed in the same way. When there is no wind, solar panels can take over; in the worst case, backup energy storage can step in. Biogas’s role is not to compete with wind and solar for the crown of energy production. Both of these technologies are rapidly scalable and relatively low-cost. Biogas, on the other hand, depends on biological matter, making it slower and more costly, while also relying on the availability of organic waste.

This does not mean biogas lacks a place in the energy mix - it has unique benefits that cannot be overlooked. Its reliance on organic waste is also an advantage, as it contributes to waste management by reducing the amount of organic waste produced. Farms and industries can treat their waste in a biogas reactor, simultaneously producing energy and high-quality fertilizer, supporting the creation of a circular economy. Biogas is, in concept, a local and decentralized energy source that does not require precious materials to produce. It can also be stored for later use and, with recent advances, purified into methane gas that can be directly used in existing natural gas infrastructure. Additionally, biogas can help decarbonize sectors such as heavy transport and industry, which are heavily reliant on fossil fuels and cannot be easily electrified.

To put this into perspective, within the European Union, the largest share of renewable energy (around 60%) currently comes from biomass. Biogas accounts for roughly 9% of renewable energy production and represents 7% of natural gas consumption. With technological expansion, this share could increase significantly. No single renewable energy source can meet all our needs, but together, renewables already cover 40% of Europe’s energy usage, keeping the EU on track for its 2050 climate neutrality goal.

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