The benefits of biogas as a means of energy production are obvious to many: it can be used as an alternative to fossil fuel without the carbon footprint, and it is easier to access.
Its growth has not been inevitable, however, with much depending on a changing relationship between food and biofuel. In the past, there were concerns about the consequences of growing crops specifically for biofuel, as this used agricultural land that would otherwise be used for food crops, thus posing major food supply concerns.
However, the focus has shifted away from an approach that risks food supplies and instead concentrates on food waste and agricultural by-products, making use of a resource that would otherwise be squandered.
The industry is now set to grow massively over the next few years, according to new research, not only generating more energy from green sources, but also increasing demand for equipment such as breather valves and tanks.
Massive Growth Projected
According to the Biogas Market Report 2025 from Research and Markets, the global revenues generated by the sector are set to soar from US$4.64 billion this year to $7.05 billion (£5.44 billion) by 2030. This adds to an increase from $4.2 billion in 2024 and represents a compound annual growth rate of 11 per cent.
The reports stated that major growth factors up to now have included favourable regulatory changes, work to improve urban waste management, pioneering uses of biogas, local initiatives and the growth of public awareness and knowledge.
Going forward over the period from now to 2030, the chief factors underlying the projected increase in output have been listed as including urban infrastructure schemes, “circular economy strategies”, an improved focus on waste management and better integration with agriculture (the latter being an obvious source of waste that can be used as biofuel).
Positive trends anticipated by the report to have an impact in raising demand for and production of biogas include increased demand for renewable energy, plus government policies aimed at supporting the industry, protecting the environment and developing rural economies. All this will also be aided by technological developments.
This highly positive outlook will be heartening to anyone who is involved in the sector or keen to invest in it. What may be of interest to some is what specific developments might help expand the sector, such as means of turning waste into fuel that previously could not be converted.
Innovation In Brazil
For example, Bioenergy News has highlighted a report arising from Brazil on the development by the Brazilian oil company Petrobras of a refinery that can turn eucalyptus biomass into biofuel. This includes marine fuel, liquid natural gas, fuel gas and elements of gasoline.
Speaking to Argus, Petrobas director of technology, engineering and innovation Renata Baruzzi said: “The test reveals the possibility of using wood and other forestry residues as feedstocks for products usually coming from a fossil origin.”
Of course, there is much concern around the world about Brazil depleting its forests, although this instance is in the temperate south of the country, not the tropical Amazon. However, this is about using what would otherwise be waste products arising from existing forestry production.
Also in Brazil, the French-owned Louis Dreyfus Company has just established the world’s largest plant for converting citrus effluent waste into biogas, which is located next to a major processing plant for the fruit, demonstrating how the waste from food production can be easily and conveniently turned into biofuel.
Growth Potential In The UK
Of course, the UK will not be doing anything like this with citrus or any other fruit grown in warmer climates, unless vertical farming in which microclimates are used to grow tropical fruit become a major feature of the UK agricultural sector in the years ahead.
However, as the UK produces fruit, vegetables and other crops in turn that will only grow in temperate climates, there is plenty of waste produced here that is also usable for conversion to biogas.
At the same time, there will be an ongoing use of a secondary source of waste, not from production but retail, with unsold food that would otherwise go to waste continuing to be sent to anaerobic digestion plants. Several major UK supermarket retailers have arrangements like this in place to deal with their waste.
A potential means of extending this might include some of the local initiatives contained in the Biogas Plant Market Report, with government-backed local initiatives enabling smaller food retailers to take advantage of a local service that could collect food waste from them and take it to the nearest bioenergy plant.
By such means, the growth of biogas production could continue to surge, not just between now and 2030, but beyond.
