Up to half of Switzerland’s expected future gas demand could be met by domestic biomethane, according to a study led by the Paul Scherrer Institute.
The study, commissioned by the Swiss Federal Office of Energy, assessed the country’s biomass resources, including wood, green waste and sewage sludge, and their potential to be converted into biomethane for grid injection.
Future gas demand is also expected to fall significantly as electrification accelerates, creating scope for domestic production to cover a larger share of remaining consumption.
“We can replace a large part of the natural gas we import today with biomethane from our own sources,” said Christian Bauer, who contributed to the study and works on life cycle assessments at PSI.
The remaining demand would likely be met through imports from other European countries with greater agricultural and forest resources.
The findings come amid continued volatility in global energy markets, with countries across Europe seeking to reduce exposure to imported fossil fuels following recent supply disruptions and price shocks.
However, the study stops short of suggesting full energy independence, noting that imports would still play a role in the system.
As of Q1 2025, Europe hosts 1,678 biomethane production facilities ©CNG Mobility
“We won’t achieve complete self-sufficiency when it comes to gas, but we can significantly reduce today’s extreme dependency,” said Tilman Schilhauer, a chemical engineer at PSI.
Biomethane would be produced from domestic waste and biomass streams and injected into the existing gas grid, allowing it to be used in the same applications as natural gas.
The study also highlights the role of complementary technologies, including power-to-gas processes, in maximising output from available resources.
As of late 2025, more than 12% of Switzerland’s gas grid consumption comes from renewable sources, including biomethane injected into the network.
Annual production of injected biomethane is expected to surpass 500 GWh for the first time in 2025. The Swiss Gas Association aims to reach 15% renewable gas in the grid by 2030.
However, scaling biomethane production to the levels outlined in the Swiss study may prove challenging.
Analysis from the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies indicates that while output has grown across Europe, the sector remains heavily reliant on policy support and faces constraints around feedstock availability, costs and infrastructure.
Ambitious EU targets for biomethane production are also unlikely to be met at current deployment rates.
The EU is targeting 35 billion cubic metres of biomethane by 2030 under the REPowerEU programme. However, current production is around 4 to 5 bcm, with growth rates too slow to meet the target.
