While the RED III Directive* already recognizes methane emission reductions associated with biomethane production from manure due to improved manure management practices, no equivalent mechanism currently exists for biomethane produced from landfill gas. Yet this pathway also helps reduce methane emissions by improving landfill gas collection performance.
To address this discrepancy, Waga Energy has submitted a technical contribution to the European Commission as part of the revision of Annex VI of RED III, which defines the methodology for calculating the greenhouse gas emissions of the various biomethane production pathways.
Biomethane from Landfills: A Key Lever for Energy Independence and Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Methane: A Local Energy Source and a Powerful Greenhouse Gas
Methane is one of the most concerning greenhouse gases in the short term, with a global warming potential 28 times greater than CO₂ over a 100-year period. Reducing methane emissions is widely considered one of the fastest and most effective ways to combat climate change. Landfills are among the largest sources of anthropogenic methane emissions in Europe.
Converting landfill gas into biomethane not only produces renewable energy that can be injected into gas networks, but also prevents significant quantities of methane from being released into the atmosphere.
The Importance of Improving Gas Capture Performance
The energy recovery of landfill gas creates a strong economic incentive to improve gas collection efficiency. Landfill operators can invest in equipment and practices that enable greater gas recovery, including denser well networks, optimized extraction systems, leak detection programs, and early gas capture on active landfill cells.
These improvements reduce fugitive methane emissions while increasing biomethane production. The environmental benefit is therefore twofold: more renewable energy is generated while emissions of a particularly potent greenhouse gas are reduced.
Toward Fairer Recognition of Biomethane's Climate Benefits
Waga Energy’s Proposal
Based on empirical data drawn from several studies conducted across different European countries, Waga Energy proposes incorporating into RED III a reference value of −56 gCO₂eq/MJ of biomethane for biomethane produced from landfill gas, provided that advanced landfill gas collection techniques are implemented.
This value reflects the climate benefit associated with the additional methane captured through biomethane recovery projects and the related improvements in gas collection efficiency.
By assigning value to the methane captured, these projects encourage the adoption of advanced gas collection systems at a larger number of landfill sites and contribute to reducing landfill methane emissions. The proposal therefore aims to better reflect these emission reductions within the RED III calculation methodology.
Contributing to REPowerEU Objectives
Through its REPowerEU plan, the European Union has set an ambitious biomethane production target to accelerate the energy transition and strengthen energy sovereignty. In this context, biomethane produced from landfill gas represents a significant yet underutilized resource.
According to estimates presented in Waga Energy's technical contribution, this pathway could deliver between 15 and 20 TWh of annual biomethane production in Europe, representing approximately 5% of the EU's biomethane production target by 2030.
Accelerating Project Deployment Across Europe
Waga Energy’s proposal does not seek to create a new support mechanism or request additional funding. Its primary objective is to ensure a more accurate assessment of the actual climate benefits of landfill gas-to-biomethane projects within European carbon accounting frameworks.
Such recognition would encourage the adoption of best-in-class gas capture practices, properly value the emission reductions achieved on the ground, and support the development of projects that contribute to reducing methane emissions across Europe.
Through this contribution, Waga Energy is leveraging its industrial expertise to support the evolution of European climate policies, promoting a regulatory framework grounded in scientific evidence and operational experience.
* RED III (Renewable Energy Directive III): The 2023 revision of the European Renewable Energy Directive, which establishes strengthened targets to increase the share of renewable energy in the European energy mix and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Technical contribution on the treatment of landfill-derived biomethane under Annex VI of Directive (EU) 2023/2413 (RED III)
At a glance
Recognizing methane abatement
Landfill-derived biomethane captures methane emissions that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere, delivering measurable climate benefits.
A fair regulatory framework
The proposal seeks to align the treatment of landfill-derived biomethane with existing RED III provisions that already recognize avoided methane emissions from other feedstocks.
Unlocking Europe's biomethane potential
Supporting landfill gas valorization could help unlock an estimated 15-20 TWh of renewable gas production annually across the European Union.
Contact our expert
Lucie Tonnellier
Energy Director
