The GreenMeUp team is pleased to share the project's latest newsletter, which concludes after 36 months of hard work to build a more sustainable future and raise awareness of the incredible potential of biomethane in Europe. The project has also collaborated with Mission Innovation countries such as India, the United States, Brazil, Canada, and China.

GreenMeUp has collected information and produced a vast amount of data and reports, which will be crucial for defining future guidelines aimed at developing a stable, long-term policy vision. The entire process focused on the three main pillars on which the project was based: politics, market, and society.

This newsletter highlights the results of the latest stakeholder hub workshops held in the target countries, i.e., those with enormous potential for biomethane market expansion but still low growth rates. It also provides a brief summary of the final event held at the last EUBCE 2025 in Valencia and the latest policy workshop in Brussels.

CONTENT

1. Key insights and latest updates from GreenMeUp’s target countries: stakeholders hub workshops

1.1. Poland

1.2. Danube Region

1.3. Estonia

1.4. Czech Republic

1.5. Spain

1.6. Greece

2. GreenMeUp final event at the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 2025

3. GreenMeUp last policy workshop in Brussels

1. Key insights and latest updates from GreenMeUp’s target countries: stakeholders hub workshops

The project developed a multi-actor approach by forming three hubs in each country, focusing on policy, market, and society. These hubs acted as vital platforms, uniting stakeholders across the biomethane sector. Their purpose was to cultivate a dynamic environment where diverse perspectives could be shared and discussed.

1.1. Poland

The final GreenMeUp stakeholder meeting in Poland, held on June 5, 2025, focused on presenting project results and national stakeholder activities, notably the "Biomethane sector development program in Poland". A key message underscored the critical role of policies and support schemes for national market development. Discussions highlighted that while the situation in Poland is slowly changing with entities like Gaz System and PSG presenting maps for potential injection points, obtaining conditions for injecting biomethane into the grid remains difficult due to very long administrative procedures. The final version of the "Biomethane sector development program in Poland" was accepted for public distribution and is intended for key national actors, including the Ministry of Climate and Ministry of Agriculture. A significant takeaway for potential investors was the insight gained into aspects important for securing bank financing for biogas and biomethane projects. The workshop concluded that immediate regulatory adjustments, a focus on cost efficiency, promotion of sustainable resource management, and infrastructure development are essential for the Polish biomethane market. Practices from countries like Denmark and France, such as feed-in tariffs, shortened administrative procedures, and cost-sharing schemes, were identified as valuable inspirations.

Figure 1. Participants at last “stakeholder hub workshop” in Poland having a roundtable

1.2. Danube Region

The 6th Danube Biomethane Hub meeting, held online on May 22, 2025, aimed to update project information, explore future cooperation, and strengthen collaboration to support biomethane market uptake and local integration. Key information disseminated included a recap of the GreenMeUp project's objectives and outcomes, alongside recent policy updates such as Hungary's Biogas Action Plan and an upcoming call for proposals to support new biogas facilities with approximately 100 million euros, and Serbia's extension of feed-in tariff contracts from 12 to 20 years. Discussions emphasized that stable and supportive policies are essential for scaling biomethane, and clear regulatory mechanisms, including guarantees of origin and carbon market integration, could incentivize investment. The transport sector was identified as a promising early-use case for biomethane, though it requires targeted incentives and investment. The concept of "going local" was strongly emphasized for increasing sustainability and reducing reliance on centralized energy systems, stressing that projects must be tailored to local conditions and involve community stakeholders early. The meeting highlighted the importance of continued collaboration and knowledge exchange beyond the project lifecycle.

Figure 2. Danube region last workshop participants attending online

1.3. Estonia

Estonia's GreenMeUp hub workshop on June 10, 2025, served as an information exchange platform for gaseous renewable fuels, focusing on biomethane injection, new technologies, digestate legal amendments, and the Estonian Biogas Roadmap 2035. The GreenMeUp project provided direct input into the drafting of the Estonian Biogas Roadmap 2035 and contributed knowledge on biomethane injection to the Ministry of Climate and TSO Elering AS. A significant discussion point was the Ministry of Climate's development of a support scheme for biomethane injection points, with a budget of 3 million euros aimed at establishing at least three public injection points. A key unresolved dilemma is whether Estonia will adopt a renewable energy-based or greenhouse gas (GHG)-based approach for achieving the transport sector's renewable energy target under the RED3 directive, as stakeholders remain divided. The workshop also noted that new technologies for biogas production, digestate valorization, and CNG truck models are fostering optimism for the sector's future development. Participants expressed hope that the Biogas Roadmap 2035 will be adopted as part of Estonian legislation with practical implications for regulation and budgetary allocations.

Figure 3. Estonian speakers and participants attending online

1.4. Czech Republic

The final GreenMeUp stakeholders meeting in the Czech Republic, held on May 20, 2025, focused on legislative developments, particularly upcoming changes to operational support via an auction system, issues related to guarantees of origin for off-grid solutions, and the future balance between biomethane production and electricity from biogas. A new auction system for operational support for biomethane projects is expected to be introduced from 2026 for 15 years, and a key concern raised was that without clear indexation, the auction model could lead to financial uncertainty for projects, and producers might lose the incentive to increase emissions savings if green certificates and guarantees of origin remain with the state. There is currently no functional tool for monitoring and recognition of off-grid biomethane, which hinders its effective use in areas like transport without the possibility to apply guarantees of origin. The absence of a fixed indexation mechanism for operating aid also creates uncertainty for investors, potentially discouraging new projects. Comparing biogas efficiency, it was concluded that biomethane offers greater flexibility of use and potential for decarbonization in transport, while electricity and heat generation are more profitable for local consumption but less scalable, with the choice depending on local conditions and support schemes.

Figure 4, 5 & 6.

Up left: Jan Habart from CZ Biom presenting;

Up right: Attendees at the Czech’s stakeholder hub;

Below: Adam Moravec (CZ Biom) during his presentation

1.5. Spain

The 6th and final GreenMeUp meeting in Spain, held on May 28, 2025, specifically addressed social opportunities and the critical aspect of social acceptance, identified as a key bottleneck for the biomethane sector's development in Spain. Discussions focused on best practices to improve social acceptance, identifying areas such as improved dialogue, transparency, communication, citizen participation, and transferring benefits to the community. Key conclusions for achieving a "Social operational license" included promoting intersectoral communication, reaching out to interest groups, fostering constructive debate, creating clear dissemination mechanisms, and actively involving the community from the early stages of projects. The workshop also introduced a new tool, "SOOP - The Social Opportunities Assessment" Toolkit for Energy-related Projects, designed to help developers listen to stakeholders, assess social acceptance, and manage social risks through a collaborative platform. This tool aims to reduce uncertainty for clean energy project developers by providing project management capabilities for social impact reports and a toolbox of know-how and helpful resources.

1.6. Greece

The final GreenMeUp workshop highlighted key project outcomes and fostered discussions on advancing biomethane in Greece's energy mix. Attendees included policymakers from key ministries, energy regulators (RAAEY), market stakeholders, investors, gas network operators, and technology providers.

A major focus was on the newly adopted Law 5215/2025, which sets a comprehensive and coherent framework for biomethane production, licensing, grid injection, and incentives for upgrading biogas units. This law aims to support the country's transition to cleaner energy and partially implements EU Directive 2024/1788.

Discussions also explored financial mechanisms, quotas and mandatory obligations for consumers, certification procedures, and provisions and criteria for connecting biomethane units to the national grid - both the transmission and distribution systems.

Local biomass sources, such as livestock waste and organic by-products, were identified as key inputs, with inter-ministerial collaboration (Ministry of Environment and Energy with the Ministry of Rural Development and Food and the Ministry of Transport) deemed essential for scaling biomethane production.

According to CRES, achieving the NECP targets (1.2 TWh by 2030, rising to 4.6 TWh by 2050) could create over 1,600 jobs and generate €176.4 million in environmental benefits.

Figures 7, 8 & 9.

Up left/right: Attendees at the last “stakeholder hub meeting” in Greece

Below: Myrsini Christou and Christos Tourkolias (CRES) presenting

2. GreenMeUp final event at the European Biomass Conference and Exhibition 2025

The GreenMeUp project, featured at EUBCE 2025 in Valencia, is fundamentally designed to accelerate the widespread adoption of biomethane across the European Union. It operates through three interconnected pillars: Market, Policy, and Society, which guide its activities in various European countries, including both advanced and less-developed markets.

Figure 10. Myrsini Christou during her presentation

These three core themes, have been discussed during the final event organized at the 33rd EUBCE edition, exploring and addressing challenges, but also proposing good practices for the future for the project identified target countries.

Europe's biomethane sector is experiencing substantial growth. In 2023, the combined biogas and biomethane production reached 22 bcm, fulfilling 7% of the EU's total gas demand. Biomethane production alone hit 4.9 bcm (4.1 bcm in EU-27), marking an 18% year-over-year growth across Europe. As of 2023, there were 1,510 biomethane plants in Europe, with over 85% connected to the gas grid. The EU-27 is aggressively targeting 35 bcm of biomethane by 2030, a goal supported by 27 billion euros in planned investments.

Specific country insights revealed diverse landscapes:

• Italy boasts over 2,000 biogas plants, primarily agriculture-based, and aims for 6 billion m³/year by 2030, driven by supportive decrees.

• Spain has 12 biomethane plants, with over 50 more in development, and is recognized for its substantial potential, targeting 20 TWh by 2030. Spain sees biomethane as a key vector for decarbonization and waste management.

• Greece, despite having 86 biogas plants, lacks any operational biomethane facilities but targets 2.1 TWh by 2030 by converting existing plants and installing new ones. Challenges include the absence of a competitive biomass market and supply chain.

• The Czech Republic operates 12 biomethane plants with an installed capacity of 28.6 Mm³/year, aiming for 490 Mm³ by 2030. The country has secured substantial investment and operational support schemes.

Figures 11, 12, 13 & 14.

Up left: Guido Bezzi (Consorzio Italiano Biogas, CIB);
Up right: George Osei Owusu (European Biogas Association, EBA);
Below left: David Hernandez (Spanish Biogas Association, AEBIG);
Below right: Panel discussion with Maria Georgiadou (EC DG R&I, left), Dimitrios Kourkoumpas (CERTH, center), Alejandra Cordova Valencia (Water Technology Center, Cetaqua, right)

GreenMeUp emphasizes the market uptake of biomethane in target countries, and, in this regard, the need for coordinated policy-making across sectors (agriculture, waste management, energy, transport), continuous political support, and robust supply chains to address these issues. Stakeholder engagement was also a critical point discussed, highlighting specific policy requirements such as financial support, clear legislative roadmaps, feedstock potential assessment, and efficient permitting processes. Ultimately, biomethane is not just an energy solution; it offers multifaceted benefits for the environment, agriculture, and waste management, supporting energy independence and decarbonization goals.

3. GreenMeUp last policy workshop in Brussels

GreenMeUp recently hosted a successful Policy Workshop in Brussels on Thursday, July 3rd. This hybrid event brought together a diverse group of stakeholders, including policymakers, urban planners, researchers, and industry representatives, both in-person and online.

The workshop served as a crucial platform for presenting GreenMeUp's initial policy recommendations, derived from the project's innovative research and pilot activities. Discussions focused on integrating nature-based solutions into urban planning frameworks, fostering sustainable green infrastructure, and overcoming existing regulatory and implementation barriers.

Figure 15. Prof. Yannis Maniatis (MEP) welcoming the second session of the workshop

Participants engaged in discussions, providing valuable feedback and insights that will further refine GreenMeUp's policy proposals. Key takeaways included the need for stronger cross-sectoral collaboration, innovative financing mechanisms for green projects, and enhanced public awareness campaigns to promote the benefits of urban greening. The GreenMeUp consortium extends its gratitude to all attendees for their active participation and contributions.

Figure 16. Maria Georgiadou (EC DG R&I) during her presentation

Figure 17. From left: Maria Georgiadou (EC DG R&I), Prof Yannis Maniatis (MEP), Myrsini Christou (CRES, project coordinator), Kyriakos Maniatis (Advanced Biofuels, former EC)

The GreenMeUp project is a Horizon Europe Coordination and Support Action. It has made significant strides in promoting biomethane production and uptake across the European Union since its inception in August 2022. It is coordinated by CRES (Grece), involving a consortium of 14 partners from 10 European countries, ending in July 2025.