GD4S Calls for Accelerated Development of Green Gases at its First Biomethane Connect Europe Conference

Paris, March 27, 2025

Under the high patronage of the Polish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, Biomethane Connect Europe 2025 today brought together key players in the biomethane sector in Paris to accelerate the deployment of this renewable energy across Europe. GD4S (Gas Distributors for Sustainability), an association comprising eleven major gas distribution operators across nine EU countries, emphasised the essential role of biomethane in the energy and industrial transition, fully aligned with the priorities set by the Polish Presidency of the EU Council.

Laurence Poirier-Dietz, President of GD4S and Managing Director of GRDF, reiterated the urgency of coordinated action between European institutions and Member States to make biomethane a pillar of European energy security and industrial competitiveness:

“We are at a pivotal moment where Europe must choose to accelerate its commitment to renewable gases. Our infrastructures are ready, solutions exist, but a stable political framework is essential to mobilise investment and ensure the competitiveness of biomethane. Under the Polish EU Presidency, we call for decisive action to turn these ambitions into reality.”

The event also marks a significant milestone for GD4S with the announcement of the upcoming membership of Polska Spółka Gazownictwa (PSG), Poland’s leading gas distribution operator. PSG has expressed its intention to join GD4S in April, thereby strengthening the association’s European dimension and consolidating its role in the transition towards decarbonised gas networks.

Biomethane Connect Europe: Aligning with the Priorities of the Polish EU Presidency

In line with the priority of the Polish Presidency of the EU Council and its commitment to strengthening Europe’s energy security, Biomethane Connect Europe 2025 calls for European and national policymakers, including the European Commission, the European Parliament, and national regulators, to establish a stable regulatory framework that facilitates biomethane injection into networks, accelerates its industrial development, and makes it a central pillar of Europe’s energy mix.

35 Billion m³ of Biomethane by 2030: The EU’s Ambitious Target

As part of its “REPowerEU” plan, the European Commission announced in 2022 a production target of 35 billion cubic metres of biomethane within the European Union by 2030, equivalent to 20% of total consumption.

Several key actions emerge as priorities to achieve this objective:

• The need for European institutions and national regulators to remove regulatory and financial barriers to facilitate the rapid development of this strategic sector;
• The importance of setting production targets at the Member State level, considering local potential and consumption needs.

In this context, GD4S proposes five priority actions to structure an ambitious European biomethane strategy:

1. Establish a Stable and Coherent Regulatory Framework

It is urgent to eliminate regulatory and financial barriers currently hindering biomethane injection into networks. Biomethane must be fully recognised as a decarbonisation lever within market mechanisms.

2. Define Differentiated National Targets

The REPowerEU target of 35 billion m³ of biomethane must be translated into national objectives, taking into account each country’s production capacities and specific needs.

3. Substantial Investment and Production Support

GD4S calls for the implementation of blending obligations, investment incentive mechanisms, and targeted funding while ensuring the development and adaptation of the necessary infrastructures.

4. Ensure Technological Neutrality in Usage

Consumers – whether households, industries, or local authorities – must be able to freely choose the decarbonisation solution best suited to their needs, whether based on electricity, renewable gas, or heat.

5. Make Biomethane a Widely Accessible Decarbonised Energy

Biomethane is a local, competitive, and immediately available solution, particularly in rural areas or sectors that are difficult to electrify. It must be fully integrated into the European energy transition strategy.

Jeroen Sanders, Vice-President of GD4S and Chief Transition Officer of Enexis Group (Netherlands), highlighted the priorities defined at Biomethane Connect Europe 2025: “Biomethane is a crucial contributor to Europe’s energy decarbonisation, with numerous positive externalities in terms of employment, the circular economy, supply security, and sovereignty. To accelerate its development, the sector expects recognition of biomethane as a decarbonised energy source, supported by a clear regulatory framework and concrete actions.”

About GD4S

GD4S (Gas Distributors for Sustainability) brings together 11 major gas distribution operators across 9 EU countries, representing 41% of the EU gas market. GD4S members operate a network of 654,000 km of pipelines, supplying gas to 47 million customers.

Gas distribution system operators (DSOs) play a key role in decarbonising the energy system by facilitating the integration of renewable gases, optimising existing infrastructures to ensure a flexible and complementary energy transition alongside electrification, and guaranteeing a stable, affordable, and accessible energy supply for households, industries, and communities.

The association is actively committed to the energy transition by integrating more renewable gases, particularly biomethane, and ensuring affordable, secure, and sustainable energy for all.