Biogas feedstock
The European biogas sector is very diverse. Depending on national priorities, as to whether biogas production is primarily seen as a means of waste management, or as a means of generating renewable energy, or a combination of the two, countries have structured their financial incentives to favour certain feedstock over another. In this regard, two countries represent the two ends of the scale: Germany and Sweden. Germany generates 93% of its biogas from the fermentation of agricultural crops and crop residues, while in Sweden sewage sludge gas accounts for nearly 92% of the biogas production. All other countries use a variety of feedstock combinations. Looking at the big picture, field crops, manure and agri-food industry waste constitute approx 3/4 of the biomass being used for European biogas production, a share that tripled since 2010. Sewage sludge and landfills make up the remaining 1/4.