RESEARCH OF BIOMETHANE PRODUCTION CONDITIONS TO ENSURE ITS SUSTAINABILITY IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE EU RENEWABLE ENERGY DIRECTIVE

In February 2025, the first pipeline supply of biomethane from Ukraine to the EU took place, marking a significant milestone in the country’s energy integration with the European Union. This export not only strengthens Ukraine’s position in the EU energy market but also fosters the development of a sustainable economy. In this context, ensuring the production of sustainable biomethane is crucial. Biomethane can be recognized as sustainable based on the results of an audit assessing compliance with sustainability criteria and Voluntary Certification Systems recognized by the European Commission. However, the conditions required to meet these criteria for biomethane production remain insufficiently explored in Ukrainian scientific literature. It is also essential to identify which feedstocks meet sustainability requirements and determine the necessary production conditions and technical measures to minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions during biomethane production. The article primarily focuses on assessing the impact of various production factors on greenhouse gas emissions during biomethane production via anaerobic digestion. These factors should be considered early in the development of the technical concept, as the chosen technical solutions will not only influence emissions but also determine the required raw material quantities and capital investment in the project. The study analyzes ten biomethane production scenarios with varying assumptions regarding biogas upgrading systems, sources of heat and electricity, digestate storage methods (open vs. closed lagoons), heat recovery from biogas upgrading, methane oxidation in exhaust gases, and the beneficial substitution of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion with CO₂ separated during biogas upgrading. The impact of individual technical measures on the potential for reducing GHG emissions as a sustainability criterion for biomethane was assessed. Additionally, the paper highlights other measures that could further enhance GHG reduction potential in biomethane production, providing a foundation for future research. Bibl. 19, Tab. 3, Fig. 3.