Among the renewable resources that could reshape Italy’s energy future, biogas — normally treated as waste — holds a leading place. According to a study by Snam (Italy’s gas-grid operator) and the Consorzio Italiano Biogas (CIB, the Italian Biogas Consortium), the country could produce up to 15 billion cubic meters a year by 2050. That is a large enough volume to help cut its dependence on natural-gas imports, while reinforcing the path toward decarbonization and giving the farm sector a bigger role in the circular economy.
Where biogas comes from and why it is considered strategic
Biogas is produced through anaerobic digestion, a natural process in which bacteria break down organic matter in the absence of oxygen. Put simply, materials that would normally be discarded as waste can be recovered and turned into a source of energy. These include agricultural residues, the organic fraction of municipal solid waste, and even livestock manure and slurry.
The gas obtained this way can be used directly, or it can be purified to produce biomethane, a renewable fuel with properties similar to natural gas. Biomethane can then be injected into the existing gas network or used in other sectors, such as transport and certain industrial activities.
How could it be used in Italy?
In 2015, Snam and CIB considered a production level of around 8 billion cubic meters of biomethane sustainable, obtained mainly through the anaerobic digestion of agricultural feedstock and organic waste. Today, thanks to more efficient management of farm supply chains, the availability of new biomass, and technological progress, the estimated potential rises to 15 billion cubic meters.
That figure represents the volume of biogas the Italian system could reach by building the necessary plants and making the most of the resources available across the country. It is a particularly attractive prospect for Italy, given its heavy reliance on imported fossil fuels. Every cubic meter of renewable gas produced domestically means less exposure to international tensions and to the volatility of energy prices.
How does it reduce energy dependence?
In recent years, energy security has become one of the central themes of European policy. International crises have shown how risky it can be to depend heavily on natural-gas imports. Against that backdrop, biomethane is seen as one of the renewable molecules set to complement electrification and other clean sources. It is no coincidence that Snam includes it among the key elements of its industrial strategy to build an energy infrastructure capable of carrying not only natural gas, but also low-carbon fuels such as biomethane and hydrogen. From that standpoint, the ability to reuse much of the existing infrastructure is one of the main advantages. Today’s gas networks can already accommodate growing shares of biomethane without requiring an entirely new system to be built.
What opportunities does it open for agriculture and the economy?
Thanks to biogas, farms could gain a new source of income by making use of the byproducts of their own operations. At the same time, the plants help manage livestock waste sustainably and produce digestate, a material that can be used as a natural fertilizer, cutting reliance on chemical products.
New opportunities could also open up on the industrial side. Building the plants requires investment, technical expertise, and specialized labor, with significant economic ripple effects in rural areas. For that reason, biogas is considered one of the building blocks of Italy’s energy transition, alongside the growth of renewable electricity and hydrogen.
For the 15 billion cubic meters of biogas to become reality, however, major investment will be needed, along with faster permitting timelines and, above all, a stable regulatory framework capable of encouraging the construction of new plants.
Editor’s note
This article was originally published in Italian on money.it by Emanuela Ceccarelli on July 26, 2026 as «Biogas, l’Italia ha un tesoro da 15 miliardi di metri cubi. Come cambia il futuro dell’energia». It has been translated and adapted for an international audience by the Money.it International desk.
