Phase 1 (2024–2026) of the Biomethane Action Plan (PAB 2024–2040) foresees the creation of the biomethane market in Portugal.
During this period, PAB proposes various measures to stimulate investment in the conversion of existing biogas plants, primarily using municipal solid waste and sewage sludge, and in new biomethane production plants, primarily using residual biomass from the agricultural, livestock and agro-industrial sectors.
However, the financing of business projects to promote the biomethane market in Portugal, through Capital Expenditures (CAPEX) support, began as early as 2020 with the first PT2020 call for proposals POSEUR 01 2020 19. This was followed by three calls between 2021 and 2024 under the Recovery and Resilience Plan (PRR), as well as one Operational Expenditure (OPEX) support auction for the centralised purchase of biomethane and hydrogen, launched in 2024.
CAPEX supported projects already funded
The four calls for proposals published to date have funded a total of 16 biomethane projects with a total installed production capacity of 107 MW and an expected annual output of 846 GWh/year, distributed as follows:
Call POSEUR 01 2020 19 – With a total budget of €40 million, it funded 1 project with 9 MW of capacity to be installed, corresponding to a projected production of 79 GWh/year.
Call No. 01/C14 i01/2021 – With a total budget of €102 million, it funded 3 projects with a total installed capacity of 21 MW, corresponding to a projected production of 164 GWh/year.
Call No. 02/C14 i01/2023 – With a total budget of €83 million, it funded 4 projects with a total installed capacity of 27 MW, corresponding to a projected production of 218 GWh/year.
Call No. 01/RP C21 i06/2024 – With a total budget of €70 million, it funded 9 projects with a total installed capacity of 59 MW, corresponding to a projected production of 464 GWh/year.
Auctions Supporting OPEX
The first electronic auction for the centralised procurement of biomethane and hydrogen was launched in 2024, under the direction of the Directorate General for Energy and Geology (DGEG), in coordination with CURg, and implemented via the Procurement Platform managed by OMIP.
The biomethane lot was limited to the centralised purchase of a maximum of 150 GWh/year. The auction resulted in a single bid, which secured the award of 1.99 GWh/year at a price of €62/MWh.
Preliminary Registration Requests
DGEG will periodically update here the information on the list of Preliminary Registration Requests submitted to DGEG, concerning the intention to develop new biomethane production plants scheduled to come into operation by 2030.
