The Serbian biogas sector has been steadily developing for more than a decade and a half and currently includes 45 operational biogas plants, while more than 55 additional projects are in the status of temporary privileged power producers. Although the sector has so far been primarily focused on electricity generation from biogas, increasing attention is now being directed toward biomethane as the next phase of sector development.

At the moment, Serbia still does not have an operational biomethane plant, but interest in biomethane projects has significantly increased in recent years, particularly due to the growing importance of renewable gases within the European energy transition, REPowerEU objectives, decarbonization targets, and energy security discussions. Existing biogas operators, investors, and sector stakeholders are increasingly exploring opportunities for upgrading current biogas facilities toward biomethane production in the coming years. [Read More]

One of Serbia’s key advantages is its strong agricultural base and wide availability of feedstock suitable for biomethane production. According to recent sector analyses, the country has substantial potential based on livestock manure, agricultural residues, organic waste from the food industry, biodegradable municipal waste, and wastewater sludge. Existing biogas plants already process large quantities of agricultural feedstock and organic residues, providing an important technical and operational foundation for future biomethane integration.

Regulatory development has also progressed. Serbia has introduced renewable and low-carbon gases into its gas legislative framework, including definitions of renewable gas, biomethane and low-carbon gas, while further secondary legislation and market mechanisms will be needed to enable practical project implementation. Current discussions are focused on licensing procedures, sustainability criteria, guarantees of origin, market incentives, and conditions for biomethane injection into the gas grid, largely following RED II and RED III principles.

At the same time, several important challenges remain. The sector still lacks fully developed support schemes specifically tailored for biomethane production, including operational incentives and clearer long-term market conditions. High investment costs, especially for upgrading technologies and grid connection, remain among the key barriers for investors. However, Serbia already possesses an existing gas infrastructure, which represents an important prerequisite for future biomethane integration and renewable gas market development.

Biomethane is increasingly recognized not only as an energy issue, but also as an opportunity for agriculture, waste management, circular economy development, and rural economic growth. In this context, the Serbian market is gradually moving from an early biogas development phase toward broader renewable gas market development aligned with European decarbonization trends.

Useful references:
Integrated National Energy and Climate Plan of the Republic of Serbia (INEKP)
Ministry of Mining and Energy of the Republic of Serbia
Serbian Biogas Association