The International Energy Agency mapped almost 900 billion cubic meters of annual sustainable biogas potential and launched a new global tool to help unlock the resource, it said Thursday.
Governments are increasingly turning to projects that strengthen energy security, lower emissions and support local economies. IEA said biogases can advance all three goals through waste-based energy production.
Biogases, including biogas and biomethane, convert organic waste into low-emissions fuel. Biogas provides heat and electricity, while biomethane directly replaces natural gas, the agency said.
IEA estimated sustainable production could reach nearly 900 Bcm annually in natural gas-equivalent terms, enough to cover over 20% of current global natural gas demand, it said.
Over 70% of that potential lies in emerging and developing economies. India, Brazil and China account for the largest opportunities because of their substantial organic waste resources, the agency said.
The IEA introduced an interactive online map that lets governments, investors and industry examine national and local biogas and biomethane opportunities using detailed spatial analysis, it said.
The agency said responsible biogas development improves waste management, cuts emissions, boosts resource efficiency and creates new income opportunities for rural communities while strengthening domestic energy supplies and energy security.
The European Union produced nearly 20 Bcm of natural gas-equivalent biogas and biomethane in 2025, avoiding about $6 billion in conventional fuel imports.
Global biogas production now totals about 1.7 exajoules, and the agency said the world could raise waste-derived output to nearly 6 EJ by 2035, matching the COP30 Belem pledge to quadruple sustainable fuels.
IEA said that expansion could reduce annual emissions by about 0.5 gigatons of carbon dioxide equivalent by converting manure, crop residues and municipal and industrial waste into biogas and biomethane.
Methane leaks, elevated production costs, permitting hurdles, logistical challenges and limited policy support continue to slow deployment. Strong emissions monitoring and carbon accounting remain critical for climate benefits, according to IEA.
The agency said governments should tailor policies to local conditions because organic waste supplies remain finite. It added that projects should prioritize the most suitable feedstocks and end uses.
It developed the Biogases Geospatial Resource Assessment Model, or BioGRAM, to identify regional opportunities.
The model already supports assessments, including the India Bioenergy Market Report 2026, the Southeast Asia Energy Outlook 2026 and Ukraine analysis.
BioGRAM evaluates over 40 feedstock types, estimates supply costs and identifies suitable digester locations near infrastructure. The online map also lets users estimate production potential and development costs for selected areas, according to IEA.