In response to new European and national climate targets, the Portuguese government’s Biomethane Action Plan 2024-2040 (BAP) is a key initiative for the decarbonization of the national economy. Aligned with the European Green Deal, the BAP encourages the production and consumption of biogas and biomethane from waste, reducing dependence on natural gas and contributing to the transition to a greener and more sustainable economy. Biomethane production has the potential to attract new green industries and, in particular, to impact sectors that traditionally have high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, such as heavy industry and the transport sector.
In addition to its environmental benefits, biomethane promotes the circular economy by using waste as a raw material and generating by-products that can be applied in agriculture as fertilizers or organic amendments. This approach not only valorizes waste that would otherwise be disposed of inappropriately, but also contributes to regional development, especially in inland areas with less agricultural potential. By promoting territorial cohesion and creating employment opportunities, the PAB plays an important role in combating depopulation in these regions, while also stimulating sustainable economic growth.
The Integrated Strategy of the Biomethane Action Plan
Approved by Council of Ministers Resolution No. 41/2024 of March 15, 2024, the PAB proposes an integrated and sustained strategy for the development of the biomethane market in Portugal. The plan aims not only to reduce GHG emissions, but also to decarbonize the industrial, domestic and mobility sectors, reducing dependence on natural gas imports. The intention is to maximize the use of the country's available endogenous resources, creating an efficient and sustainable biomethane production and consumption network.
The PAB is structured in two main phases: the first, dedicated to the creation of the biomethane market, and the second, focused on its strengthening and consolidation. This structuring aims to ensure that the implementation of the plan is gradual but effective, taking advantage of the experience accumulated in the initial phase to solidify the presence of biomethane as an essential renewable source in the Portuguese energy mix. In addition, the PAB includes a complementary axis that ensures social and environmental sustainability at all stages, ensuring that the benefits of biomethane are widely distributed and that environmental impacts are minimized.
Socioeconomic and Environmental Impacts of the Plan
The implementation of the PAB brings with it a series of positive impacts for both the economy and the environment. From a socioeconomic perspective, the development of the biomethane market has the potential to generate employment, strengthen territorial cohesion and combat depopulation in inland regions, promoting more balanced and sustainable growth. By integrating biomethane into the country's energy and industrial matrix, the government hopes to foster an environment conducive to the growth of new green industries, diversifying the economy and creating new business opportunities.
In the environmental sphere, reducing GHG emissions is one of the main objectives of the PAB. Biomethane, when produced from waste, not only reduces the amount of material improperly discarded but also replaces the use of fossil fuels, contributing to a cleaner energy matrix. Furthermore, by promoting circularity and the valorization of waste, the plan reinforces the sustainability of the agricultural sector, which can directly benefit from the by-products generated in the biomethane production process.
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