Where in the world is biogas? A new IEA tool maps its potential

For many energy policymakers today, projects that can strengthen energy security, reduce emissions and create local economic opportunities are increasingly sought after. Biogases stand out for their ability to deliver on all three objectives.

Produced from organic waste, biogases – which encompass both biogas and biomethane – are sustainable, secure and low-emissions fuels. Biogas can be used directly for heating in households and industry, or to generate electricity. Biomethane, an upgraded form of biogas, is a locally sourced, drop-in substitute for natural gas.

The IEA has been closely tracking the development of biogases for several years and recently released a first-of-its-kind global spatial analysis assessing the potential for developing biogases from today’s organic waste streams. Our latest modelling finds that nearly 900 billion cubic metres of biogases, measured in natural gas-equivalent terms, could be produced sustainably each year – enough to meet more than 20% of global natural gas demand today. More than 70% of this sustainable potential is located in emerging and developing economies, led by India and Brazil, as well as China.

To help decision-makers and stakeholders assess opportunities for biogas and biomethane at the national and local level, the IEA has also launched a new interactive online map that allows users to explore these findings in greater detail.

When responsibly developed, biogases can deliver multiple co-benefits across energy, environmental and agricultural objectives. Their production and use embody the idea of a more circular economy, bringing benefits through reduced emissions, improved waste management and greater resource efficiency. Biogas and biomethane can also create new economic opportunities for rural communities and industries while helping to expand domestic energy supplies, which can strengthen energy security. Indeed, in the European Union – the largest producer of biogas and biomethane globally – combined production of nearly 20 billion cubic metres of natural gas equivalent in 2025 avoided around USD 6 billion worth of conventional fuel imports.  

Production of biogases today is around 1.7 exajoules (EJ), and an ambitious yet achievable goal would be to quadruple global waste‑derived production to nearly 6 EJ by 2035, in line with the COP30 Belém pledge to quadruple sustainable fuels. The IEA assesses that achieving this would deliver around 0.5 gigatonnes (Gt) CO2-equivalent in annual emissions savings. These savings would come from redirecting manure, municipal and industrial waste and crop residues into anaerobic digesters, which produce biogas that can be upgraded into biomethane. This delivers a double dividend: avoiding some of the methane emissions that would otherwise occur in the agriculture and waste sectors, while also displacing the use of conventional fuels. Biogases can therefore help meet Türkiye’s COP31 Presidency goals of halving the growth in waste generation by 2035 and reducing methane emissions.

Despite their potential, biogases continue to face a number of challenges. Production costs remain relatively high, while logistical hurdles, complex permitting procedures and insufficient policy support have held back deployment in many countries. Moreover, the full emissions reduction potential of biogases depends critically on how they are produced. Methane leaks along the value chain can significantly erode, or even eliminate, their emissions benefits. Improved measurement and reporting from existing plants, alongside robust carbon accounting standards, are therefore essential to fully demonstrate their environmental performance.

Overcoming these obstacles and achieving the goal of quadrupling production by 2035 requires supportive policies. However, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to developing biogases, as every project is shaped by different local circumstances. Moreover, the finite amount of organic waste generated each year places a natural limit on the quantities of biogases that can be produced sustainably. Policies should therefore focus on the most promising feedstocks and end uses, underpinned by a thorough assessment of local conditions.

In recognition of this need, the IEA has developed the Biogases Geospatial Resource Assessment Model (BioGRAM), which helps stakeholders identify opportunities for biogas and biomethane development at regional, national and local scales. BioGRAM has already supported a range of country-level assessments covering feedstocks, production costs and regulatory considerations, most recently in the India Bioenergy Market Report 2026, the Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026 and a commentary on its prospects in Ukraine.

BioGRAM produces detailed country- and location-specific supply cost curves for more than 40 types of feedstocks. The model identifies prospective anaerobic digester locations close to feedstock sources, while accounting for available infrastructure such as existing gas pipelines and roads. Feedstocks are grouped into three broad categories: crop residues, animal manure and biowaste. Only feedstocks that do not compete with food production or animal feed, and that avoid adverse sustainability impacts, are included. More details on the methodology can be found here.

The online map provides detailed country-level estimates from the BioGRAM, alongside regional indicators, such as proximity to transmission grids. Users can define a specific area and generate estimates of biogas potential by feedstock, together with estimates of their development costs.

As governments increasingly seek to develop domestic energy sources, the IEA is committed to supporting policymakers through robust data and analysis. Building on this work, the new online tool gives governments, investors and industry stakeholders access to detailed assessments of production potential and costs. By improving the transparency and accessibility of these data, BioGRAM is designed to inform investment decisions, support policy development and accelerate the growth of biogas and biomethane value chains.

The IEA will continue to update BioGRAM by incorporating new data and analytical capabilities. If you are interested in contributing, please contact WEO@iea.org.