Denmark’s domestic biogas production exceeded its total gas consumption for a full day last month, marking the first time this year that renewable gas output was large enough to cover the entire national gas balance.
The milestone, reached on 4 July, reflects the rapid growth of Denmark’s biomethane sector and reinforces the country’s position as one of Europe’s leading renewable gas markets.
While fossil natural gas will continue to play a role during periods of higher winter demand, the achievement shows that domestically produced renewable gas can fully meet national gas consumption under favourable conditions.
Biogas Danmark CEO Lars Kaspersen described the result as evidence that full renewable gas coverage is “possible in the long term”, although he noted natural gas would return to the system as seasonal demand increases.
The achievement builds on years of rapid expansion. In its Biogas Outlook 2025, Biogas Danmark said biogas accounted for around 45% of Denmark’s total gas consumption in 2024.
This includes volumes supplied directly from plants to end users, and forecast that renewable gas could meet 100% of national gas demand by 2030 under the right policy framework.
The one-day record follows a steady increase in biogas’ share of Denmark’s gas supply. Renewable gas met 51% of national gas demand in April before rising to almost 70% in June, as production continued to grow while summer gas consumption declined.
The milestone does not mean every household or industrial user consumed only biomethane. Denmark’s gas network distributes renewable and fossil gas through the same infrastructure, meaning the achievement reflects an overall national balance between gas produced and gas consumed.
Denmark has spent recent years expanding both production capacity and the infrastructure needed to integrate biomethane into its energy system.
Last month, Shell completed an 18-month upgrade of its Aarhus biogas facility, increasing processing capacity to 700,000 tonnes of waste per year and enabling around 20 million cubic metres of biomethane to be injected directly into the Danish gas grid.
The project also allows renewable gas to be stored, providing greater flexibility when renewable electricity generation is low.
The country has also continued to attract investment in new production. In July, Nordic biomethane producer St1 Biokraft into Denmark through the acquisition of Danish Bio Commodities, adding more than 350 GWh of production capacity and around 900 GWh of projects under development.
Alongside biomethane production, Denmark is integrating renewable gas with carbon capture. BioCirc recently liquefied biogenic carbon dioxide from its Vesthimmerland bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) facility for permanent offshore storage through Project Greensand, while Bigadan is developing its own carbon capture project at its Kalundborg biogas facility.
The developments come as Denmark works towards its goal of making all gas consumed in the country renewable by 2030. According to Biogas Danmark, available biomass resources could support almost three times current production.
However, the organisation has warned that growth risks slowing under current policy settings, arguing that faster permitting, tax incentives and minimum green gas requirements will be needed to unlock the next phase of investment and keep the country on track for its 2030 ambitions.
