Global biomethane production reached 10 billion cubic metres in 2024. The growth was mainly driven by the United States, France and optimistic forecasts for Brazil and India.
In 2024, global biomethane production grew by more than 15% to around 10 billion cubic metres, seven times more than in 2014. Stronger policies, tighter emission standards and well-designed support mechanisms contributed to the biomethane boom: the pace of growth more than doubled in the last five years.
Source: Global LNG Hub.
United States
The United States became the world’s largest renewable natural gas producer in 2019, and has been rapidly increasing its biomethane market since then, primarily supported by the transport sector.
Preliminary data shows that in the first nine months of 2024, biomethane production in the United States increased by more than 20% compared to the same period last year.
Low carbon fuel standards and EPA’s renewable fuel standard program are the key driving forces behind this staggering growth.
Europe
In Europe, the biomethane landscape was for a long time dominated by Germany and Denmark. This has been changing in the last few years, with France increasing its biomethane output by near 70% since 2022.
France is now expected to become Europe’s largest biomethane producer in 2025, ahead of Germany and Denmark. Italy, the Netherlands and Czechia are also pushing on the biomethane button.
Brazil and India
Besides Europe and the US, there is an immense growth potential in Brazil and India.
In Brazil, biomethane is expected to more than quadruple by 2027, making the country the world’s sixth largest biomethane producer.
In the case of India, the newly adopted blending obligations for compressed bio-gos are expected to boost CBG by more than tenfold over the medium-term.
Source: Global LNG Hub, citing Greg Molnar.