Adam Horvath, MOL Group’s new and sustainable businesses VP, emphasized that while biogas and biomethane are no silver bullet, they represent an important piece of the transition puzzle by addressing all elements of the energy trilemma. He issued a wake-up call for regulators in Hungary and the EU, noting that current goals remain unrealistic and targets are stretched.

Charlotte Morton, chief executive of the World Biogas Association, described biogas as the most exciting opportunity in the world today. However, she warned that progress toward global methane goals is not happening fast enough. She argued that capital is not the primary barrier but rather the challenge of assembling projects, suggesting a shift from individual projects to full global industrialization through frameworks such as MakingBiogasHappen.

Svetlana Bochkova, senior policy manager at Eurogas, highlighted a significant gap between high-level policy ambitions and the practical realities of project development in the European biogas sector. She noted that the lack of binding requirements and the absence of finalized secondary legislation continue to create a “big question mark” for investors. She urged European authorities to prioritize delivering concrete regulatory frameworks over general strategic statements, stating that the industry must “focus on the hard measures instead of the communication” to unlock market potential.

Piotr Kuś, general director of ENTSOG, described the adoption of biomethane as a “no-brainer”, arguing that the European Union must leverage its existing gas infrastructure to accelerate the transition. Kuś underlined the strategic importance of green gas, but he also noted a lack of firm instruments currently available to meet ambitious EU objectives.

Anita Simon, deputy CEO of Alteo Group, highlighted that Hungary’s biogas sector is a mature, traceable industrial system in which success depends on managing high levels of operational complexity across the entire value chain. She underscored the necessity of a stable investment environment to unlock future growth. “To scale effectively, we need a predictable, guaranteed price market,” she said.

From Ambition to Reality
Transition from policy ambition to industrial reality was also at the center of the following panel discussion. Ádám Ragoncza, a biogas expert at the National Biomethane-Biogas Bioenergy Industrial Association, noted that while Hungary possesses a strong agricultural foundation, achieving ambitious production targets requires that we “get the energy sector connected to the agricultural sector.” Kornél Tóth, head of group sustainable business solutions at MOL Group, argued that industry readiness is not the issue, asserting that “we have the intention to progress despite the slow pace of regulatory implementation.”

Gábor Miklós Dudás, head of business development at FGSZ, observed a disconnect between market curiosity and action, stating that interest is huge, but it doesn’t translate into concrete action in finalizing connection agreements in Hungary.

Indy Vatteroth, industry Europe technical sales leader at Bureau Veritas, emphasized that “we need strategic partnerships, not just solution providers.” Zsolt Borsányi, origination director at MVM ONEnergy, pointed out the current commercial stagnation in the wholesale market, concluding that with a lack of new participants, “no new buyers and no new sellers change the market.”

Jay Morrod, trading analysis team leader at STX Group, said that while supply-side regulations are vital, scaling the industry requires a primary focus on driving the market from the demand side to avoid price stagnation. He argued that creating concrete mandates for heating and industrial gas consumption is essential for growth, noting that “introducing mandates on the demand side is the best way of bringing production online.”

Michał Tarka, general director of the Polish Biomethane Organization, said the general environment remains positive, positioning Poland as “one of the most promising countries in the region” for future investments. He identified the nation’s significant feedstock potential and a well-prepared infrastructure as the sector’s primary drivers.

Awaiting Enactment
Marijan Cenger, head of the Croatian Biogas Producers Association, stated that the market is awaiting the enactment of Croatia’s new energy law and its associated regulations, which are expected to be finalized before the summer.

Max Elverfors, Biokraft’s European sales lead, explained that the Nordic biogas landscape is shaped by long transport distances and a limited gas grid, which makes liquefying biomethane into bio-LNG a “no-brainer” for decarbonizing the heavy transport and maritime sectors. He highlighted the importance of collaborative business models to ensure long-term stability, noting that involving local producers is a key strategy, as farmers hold a 50% stake in a production facility.

Regarding the situation in Hungary, Ragoncza of the National Biomethane-Biogas Bioenergy Industrial Association highlighted the inherent difficulty of connecting the agricultural and energy sectors. He highlighted that “agriculture produces almost no waste” since nearly all materials can be utilized. Ragoncza suggested that the most effective way to convince farmers to participate in the energy transition is by “offering them the possibility to control their energy costs.”

From a practical execution standpoint, Tamás Kovács of the Hungarian Renewable Energy Association highlighted the sector’s operational complexity, reminding stakeholders that “biogas and biomaterial investments need long-term bankable business case models and […] well-trained partners.”

Péter Vedres, representing the Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Authority, addressed the technical and economic choices facing producers in a volatile market, questioning whether to focus on electricity “because it makes sense from a financial perspective” or to prioritize injection into the national gas grid.

Evelin Halász, the CEO of the Szarvas biogas plant acquired by MOL Group in 2023, highlighted the significant logistical, maintenance, and regulatory challenges involved in managing a biomethane facility. She stated that integrating new operations requires a stable and enabling environment. “We need all your support on this road,” to encourage more market participants to enter the biomethane business, she emphasized.