Unlocking biomethane production potential in Ukraine 

The untapped green energy source that could power Ukraine & Europe 

With the capacity to produce over 20 billion cubic metres of biomethane each year, Ukraine could emerge as a serious player in Europe’s green energy transition, while strengthening its energy independence and opening new opportunities for export. 

This capacity and potential technologies to unlock nonconventional biomethane production has recently been analysed through an Energy Community Secretariat and Ukrainian Bioenergy Association project funded by UK International Development, with two studies now public. 

Ukraine can help fuel the EU's green energy shift  

The EU’s decarbonisation agenda, accelerated by the 2022 energy crisis, has driven a strategic shift from fossil fuels to renewable gases, with biomethane emerging as a key solution for both energy resilience and emissions reduction. Ukraine’s potential in this space has been formally recognised through the RePowerEU plan and the EU–Ukraine Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Partnership for renewable gases, highlighting its role in advancing both energy security and environmental sustainability across the region. 

Thanks to its diverse feedstocks, ranging from agriculture to food and beverage production and municipal waste, Ukraine is well-positioned to produce over 20 billion cubic metres of biomethane annually. This represents a strategic opportunity to strengthen domestic energy security while meeting growing demand across European export markets, particularly as Ukraine advances its integration into the EU energy market. 

Tapping into nonconventional materials for biomethane production 

To help unlock this potential, the "Ukrainian Biomethane Sector Development" project has produced two  in-depth Analytical Notes have been produced, offering practical guidance on sustainable biomass feedstocks: 

• Analytical Note No. 1 examines the use of intermediate and cover crops, which are grown during fallow periods and do not compete with food or feed production. Ukraine’s favourable climate could allow these crops to contribute up to 9.2 billion m³ of biomethane annually, around 46% of the country’s total biomethane potential. 

• Analytical Note No. 2 investigates the viability of producing biomethane from lignocellulosic agricultural residues, such as wheat and barley straw, corn stover, and sunflower stalks. These resources present a sustainable pathway aligned with the EU Renewable Energy Directive III (RED III). 

The full analytical notes are available for download now, and can be found in the sidebar.