The positive impact of green gas
Renewable gases are the energy that best resolves the energy trilemma: they are economically and socially sustainable, they contribute to providing supply security to the system and they allow for the reduction of CO₂ emissions with a local source. With four biomethane production projects in operation, Naturgy leads the most efficient ecological transition
Security of supply, affordability, and advancing towards environmental sustainability are the challenges of the energy trilemma. Balancing these three principles is complex. Therefore, governments and industries must rethink the ecological transition, as not all actions that can be taken adhere to these three rules. In this regard, green gas emerges as one of the great alternatives, because it is key to decarbonization and can be distributed through existing gas infrastructure, which allows for cost reduction. Hence Naturgy's commitment to the development of renewable gas.
Green gas or renewable gas is obtained from the treatment of urban, agricultural, livestock, and agri-food industry waste, as well as from the purification of wastewater, and can be distributed through existing gas infrastructure and used in homes, industries, businesses, and also for mobility in transport. They are gases from autochthonous and renewable sources and, therefore, are characterized by not generating carbon emissions. This is why their development is key to decarbonization.
Renewable energies cannot ensure continuous energy, whereas biomethane is the only renewable energy source that can be generated 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Four projects in operation
Renewable gases are mainly biomethane, which is produced from organic waste, and green hydrogen, which is generated from renewable electricity and water. Naturgy currently has four biomethane production projects in operation, with an installed capacity of 6.6 MW.
In addition, Naturgy has established three partnerships: two with agricultural and livestock waste management companies, Hispania Silva and Bioeco Energías, and a third with the project developer ID Energy, to develop biomethane plants throughout Spain until 2030.
Nedgia, Naturgy group's gas distributor, is also playing a strategic role in the deployment of renewable gases through a gas infrastructure composed of a network of more than 60,000 kilometers, with which it could deliver green gas immediately to more than 5.5 million consumers spread across 1,222 municipalities and 10 autonomous communities. The distributor already has requests to inject green gas into its network equivalent to the consumption of more than one million homes, after the signing of 98 green gas (biomethane) injection contracts that will allow an injection capacity into the network of 5.8 TWh/year.
The company closed 2025 with 14 biomethane production plants connected to its network in Spain. Nedgia's distribution networks channeled more than 170 GWh of biomethane – equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 33,000 homes – an increase of 53% compared to the previous year, and were consolidated as a strategic asset for the promotion of this green gas in Spain. This renewable energy allowed for a reduction of more than 34,000 tons of CO₂ emissions.
Despite the growth recorded in 2024, biomethane still needs support mechanisms similar to those existing in other neighboring countries. In France, for example, the number of operational plants has gone from 44 to over 700 between 2017 and 2024, with a current injection capacity of over 13,200 GWh.Spain is the third European country with the greatest potential for biomethane production. It is estimated at 163 TWh/year, according to a study by Sedigas: it could supply the equivalent of 40% of the domestic natural gas demand with biomethane. This would allow for the decarbonization of 100% of domestic consumption and 62% of industrial consumption. At the same time, it would allow for the saving of 8.3 million tons of methane emissions, which would otherwise be released into the atmosphere by the decomposition of the waste used to generate it. Furthermore, developing the biomethane potential in Spain would represent savings of up to 4 billion euros for consumers thanks to the reduction in purchases from third countries.The National Integrated Energy and Climate Plan (PNIEC) has doubled the renewable gas production target to 20 TWh/year by 2030, demonstrating the importance of its role in the energy transition. For its part, the RepowerEU plan set a proportional production target of 35 TWh for 2030 in Spain. The opportunity for Spain to become a future European gas hub with the development of renewable gases, such as biomethane and green hydrogen, is becoming increasingly evident.
At no cost to households
"Biomethane is already a reality in the Spanish energy system and our networks are proving that they can integrate it immediately and efficiently. At Nedgia, we are putting infrastructure at the service of the energy transition, facilitating the arrival of green gas of local origin to homes, industries, and businesses, and contributing directly to emission reduction and energy independence," states Raúl Suárez, CEO of Nedgia.
One of the great advantages of biomethane is that its implementation has no cost for citizens: it does not require any adaptation of the gas infrastructure or customer equipment.
Today, all boilers are prepared to operate 100% with biomethane without the need for any investment: the condensing boiler with biomethane is the best and cheapest way to decarbonize homes. With 30% of the biomethane potential that exists in Spain, we could decarbonize the entire housing stock without owners having to bear any cost.
The development of biomethane in Spain requires the integration of environmental rigor, regulatory security, and adequate territorial planning so that its deployment is sustainable and its contribution effective for the energy transition. This is one of the conclusions of the report "The main environmental variables in biomethane plants in Spain", prepared by INERCO and presented by Fundación Naturgy.
Biomethane is already a mature, affordable, and storable technology. It is a clean and indigenous energy source that contributes to reducing the external bill of the trade balance and attracts investment in the primary sectors and new hiring, amounting to 20,000 direct jobs and 40,000 indirect jobs in the operation and maintenance of plants. To these, a total of 35,000 direct jobs and 465,000 indirect jobs in the construction of biomethane plants should be added. Not to mention that the development of green gas completes the circular economy cycle by turning the problem of waste into a sustainable solution.