German biogas isn't expanding fast enough: industry association

There is significant demand for biogas in Germany, but the pace of growth in supply is slow, industry association Fachverband Biogas eV said in a report published last week.

Last year 152 new biogas plants were commissioned in the country while 14 were closed down, meaning that the overall number of active plants in Germany increased by 138 to 9,770. The number is expected to increase by only 109 in 2022.

In a press conference, association president Horst Seide said the speed of the sector's development was too slow, and that this highlighted uncertainties in the industry about legal requirements and the political landscape. A clear commitment to support biogas is needed from politicians, he said.

The president went on to call for greater support for biogas in Germany's renewable energy act (EEG), which was amended during the summer. EEG was amended with the aim of rapidly expanding renewable energies in Germany, to bolster domestic energy supply in the face of disruptions in Russian gas deliveries. But bioenergy and farmers' associations have said it ignores the value of biogas, including by failing to provide an economic incentive for plants already in service once the existing remuneration period ends.