The first biomethane plant in Poland: Brody and bioCNG from the Poznań University of Life Sciences

In mid-February 2025 the media reported on a biomethane plant being commissioned in Brody near Poznań, described as the first in Poland. The installation was built by scientists of the Poznań University of Life Sciences on the premises of the Agricultural Experimental Farm, and the project was financed by the National Centre for Research and Development. The Minister of Climate and Environment, Paulina Hennig-Kloska, visited the facility on 13 February 2025.

Parameters and assumptions

The installation has a capacity of 0.499 MWe, and the expected production is about 650,000 m³ of biomethane a year. The gas is compressed into bioCNG and sold as a transport fuel, rather than injected into the gas grid. Technological start-up began at the end of 2024, and commercial production was to start about four weeks after the date of the source's publication (14 February 2025). The project's authors emphasised the odour-free operation of the installation, which is meant to limit one of the biggest nuisances for neighbours of similar facilities.

The same material stated that Poland has 430 biogas plants with a total capacity of 309.7 MW, and that the Polish Biomethane Organisation estimates the national potential at up to 16 billion m³ a year, of which realistically about 9 billion m³ from available substrates.

Why this matters

The installation in Brody serves a demonstration and research role: it makes it possible to test upgrading of biogas to biomethane, compression to bioCNG and the logistics of selling to a station without the need to inject into the grid. For the university it is also a laboratory for research on fermentation optimisation and biomethane quality, which may support the development of national competences.

Significance for the industry in Poland

In public debate, "the first biomethane plant" is an ambiguous term. It is worth distinguishing three categories: an installation producing biomethane as fuel (bioCNG) – as in Brody; an installation injecting biomethane into the gas grid – as the biomethane plant at the sugar factory in Strzelin; and an agricultural installation injecting into the grid. The distinction matters legally and financially, because different paths mean different support systems, guarantees of origin and connection requirements.

For investors the conclusion is practical: small installations with a capacity below 1 MW can look for off-takers in transport (bioCNG), while larger projects depend on auctions and grid connections.

What next

After the technological start-up is completed, the installation is to begin commercial production and the sale of bioCNG. For the industry it will be important how the upgrading system performs and how much biomethane can realistically be sold to vehicles. Demonstration installations such as Brody remain important for staff training and technology testing, but what will be key for the market are installations injecting gas into the grid – and those are only now being built.