Green Gas Surge
Spain's Energy Sector Rapidly Expands Biomethane Plants, Doubling Numbers with 340 New Projects
Spain is racing to build one of Europe's most ambitious biomethane networks. The country doubled its operational green gas plants last year and is aiming to double them again in 2024. According to Sedigas, there are now 25 plants running and injecting gas into the national grid — with 340 more projects in the administrative pipeline.
The push is part of a broader shift away from imported fossil gas. If Spain reaches its full potential, domestic biomethane could replace nearly 45% of the country's total natural gas demand, slashing imports from Algeria and the United States.
From 12 Plants to 340 Projects in Two Years
Spain's biomethane story accelerated fast. In early 2023, fewer than 15 plants were active. By mid-2024, that number had risen to 25 operational facilities. The growth rate has been roughly 100% year-over-year. According to La Opinión de Málaga, projects worth hundreds of millions of euros are now queued up in regional licensing offices across the country.
Each new plant costs between €10 million and €25 million to build. The 340 projects in the pipeline represent a potential investment of up to €4 billion. Industry leaders estimate the buildout could create 15,000 to 20,000 rural jobs, directly helping what Spaniards call
Spain's Pig Farms Are Fueling the Green Gas Boom
The reason Spain can move so fast is waste — specifically, the 30 million tons of livestock manure the country produces every year. EU nitrogen rules force farmers to manage that waste or face heavy fines. Biomethane plants solve two problems at once: they turn organic waste into clean gas and help farms stay compliant.
Aragon, Castilla y León, and Catalonia are leading the charge. Aragon alone has become a national hub, thanks to its high density of pig farms. Joan Batalla, president of Sedigas, has stated that
Biomethane Uses Existing Pipes — That Is Its Superpower
Unlike hydrogen, which needs entirely new pipelines, biomethane works with Spain's existing gas grid. Financial analysts describe it as
Every 1 TWh of biomethane produced prevents roughly 200,000 tons of CO2 equivalent from entering the atmosphere, according to MITECO. Spain's total theoretical capacity is 163 TWh per year — enough to cover 100% of residential gas consumption in the country, according to a PwC and Sedigas study.
Rural Communities Welcome Investment but Fear the Smell
Not everyone is celebrating. In areas like Granada and Castilla-La Mancha, local groups have protested new plant proposals. Their main worries are bad odors and the risk of groundwater contamination from digestate — the sludge left over after gas is extracted from organic waste.
Environmental groups like Greenpeace Spain support biomethane in principle but warn against greenwashing. They argue that if the energy model depends on intensive industrial farming, it is not truly sustainable. The industry's biggest challenge now is not money or technology — it is convincing rural populations that these are clean energy plants, not industrial nuisances.
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