Biomethane ready to scale up

Driven by an ambitious public framework and a rapidly growing pipeline of projects, the French biomethane market is poised to enter a new phase. After two years of slowdown, the sector is entering a new stage of development. According to the latest publication from Les Echos Études, "The Renewal of the Biomethane Market," national production could reach between 30 and 40 TWh by 2030, compared to 14,8 TWh by mid-2025.

Green gas: France has big ambitions

The draft multi-year energy program (PPE 3) sets an ambitious target: 50 TWh of green gas production by 2030, including 44 TWh of biomethane injected into the networks. This direction confirms the central role of biomethane in France's path to carbon neutrality by 2050.

The year 2023 marked a turning point for the sector: biomethane now represents 44% of primary biogas consumption, a share equivalent to that of cogeneration. After two years of decline, projects are picking up again, and the sector is establishing itself as a permanent fixture in the French energy landscape. To maintain this momentum, production will need to increase 2,5 times by 2030, a major challenge for the industry.

The market is regaining its momentum

With 14,8 TWh of production capacity, twice as much as in 2021, France has successively overtaken the United Kingdom and Germany, establishing itself as the European champion of biomethane. The Grand Est, Hauts-de-France, and Brittany regions concentrate the majority of the capacity, while other regions, such as Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA), remain relatively under-equipped, indicating considerable development potential across much of the country. However, after a peak in grid connections in 2021, the sector has experienced a marked slowdown in recent years. Lower feed-in tariffs, the effects of the health crisis, rising interest rates, and regulatory uncertainties (delays in the Multiannual Energy Programme (PPE), unsuccessful tenders, and the implementation of the Common Performance Contracts (CPB)) have hampered the development of new projects.

However, the trough in the cycle now seems to be behind us: at the end of March 2025, 989 projects were recorded, compared to 858 a year earlier. Les Echos Études anticipates a market rebound as early as 2026, supported by the stabilization of the regulatory framework and the growing mobilization of stakeholders around renewable gases.

Challenges to overcome

This recovery, however, comes with two major challenges. The first concerns the still high cost of production, which increases the state's budgetary burden. While the implementation of biomethane production certificates (BPCs), an extra-budgetary mechanism, helps to mitigate this risk, the sustainability of public support will remain a key issue.

The second concerns the gradual decline in gas consumption. In the medium term, this trend will have only a limited impact, but in the longer term, the sector will have to prove its ability to produce competitive and sustainable biomethane, guaranteeing the economic viability of networks and suppliers.

Between 30 and 40 TWh of capacity by 2030

Despite these challenges, the outlook remains favorable. Driven by the desire to decarbonize the economy and the gradual replacement of natural gas, the biomethane sector is emerging as a key driver of the energy transition. This momentum is mobilizing the entire gas chain—from producers to infrastructure managers—who are now fully involved in the development of methanization.

According to Les Echos Études, French production could reach between 30 and 40 TWh by 2030, a level certainly lower than the PPE target, but a reflection of solid and sustainable growth.

Study Summary

Getting to the heart of the matter: study summary

Growth Engines: Powerful Drivers

Analysis of the market drivers and acceleration factors: decarbonization strategy, Multiannual Energy Programme (PPE), feed-in tariff, biogas production certificates…

The dynamism of the biomethane sector

Key figures for the biomethane market and its value: number of installations, evolution of biomethane production, types of installations: agricultural methanization, methanization at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), non-hazardous waste storage facilities (ISDNDs)...

The biomethane ecosystem in France

Analysis of the links in the sector and the forces involved: Energy companies, Pure players in renewable energies, Energy service companies, Gas infrastructure managers.