On the road to climate neutrality, the decarbonisation of the electricity sector has advanced steadily thanks to photovoltaics and wind power. The great outstanding challenge, however, is still the thermal sector. Many industries depend on combustion processes that require high temperatures, where electrification is not technically viable or is economically prohibitive. This is where biogas and biomethane cease to be a promise for the future and become the most effective tool for immediate action.
An under-used resource with strategic potential
Spain is in a privileged position. We are the third country in the European Union with the greatest biomethane production potential, thanks to the strength of our agricultural and livestock sector and our agri-food industry. Until recently, biogas was seen mainly as an in situ waste management solution. Today the perspective has changed: it is an energy asset that makes it possible to close the loop of the circular economy.
The move from biogas (normally used in cogeneration engines) to biomethane (purified biogas, or upgrading, which can be injected into the natural gas grid) is what is transforming the sector in 2026. This renewable gas is fully interchangeable with fossil natural gas, allowing industry to decarbonise without having to change its boilers, furnaces or transport infrastructure.
The incentive framework: Certificates and Guarantees of Origin
The definitive push behind this technology comes not only from the technology, but from the market. The Guarantees of Origin (GdO) system for renewable gases, now fully operational, allows companies to certify that the gas they consume is of renewable origin.
In addition, the pressure of the Renewable Energy Directive (RED III) and the price of CO2 emission allowances (ETS) are making biomethane increasingly competitive. For an industrial company, consuming biomethane is not only a matter of corporate responsibility; it is a strategy of protection against the volatility of fossil markets and a way of complying with today’s demanding environmental audits.
From theory to practice: Engineering challenges
Moving from potential to action requires precision engineering. Not all waste is the same and not all purification processes (upgrading) are optimal for every location. At auma, we identify three critical pillars for the success of a renewable gas project:
- Supply stability (feedstock): The key to the profitability of a biogas plant is guaranteeing a constant, homogeneous supply of organic matter (slurry, slaughterhouse waste, plant residues or sewage sludge).
- Efficiency of the digestion process: Optimising the anaerobic digesters to maximise methane production and reduce retention times.
- Injection or self-consumption logistics: Analysing whether the plant has access to the gas grid or whether the best strategy is direct thermal self-consumption in nearby industrial processes, avoiding compression and transport costs.
Beyond energy: The biofertiliser
One aspect often forgotten in climate action is the by-product of biogas: digestate. In a context where chemical fertilisers carry a high energy and environmental cost, digestate positions itself as a high-quality organic fertiliser. Industrial action on biogas therefore contributes to food sovereignty and to soil regeneration, genuinely closing the organic matter cycle.
auma’s role in the roll-out of biomethane
The complexity of a biogas project is not only technical, but also administrative and environmental. The permitting required to obtain integrated environmental permits, waste management and the certification of guarantees of origin all call for expert support.
At auma we work to turn this theoretical potential into executable projects. We cover everything from the initial feasibility study and the feedstock analysis through to permitting and detailed engineering design. We believe that biomethane is the missing piece for making the thermal transition of our industry a reality.
Conclusion
2026 is the year of action for renewable gases. Biomethane is no longer an experimental alternative, but a mature industrial solution that brings firmness to the energy system and circularity to the economy. Those companies that know how to harness the thermal potential of their waste today will be the competitive leaders of a decarbonised tomorrow.