As Europe accelerates its shift towards renewable and low-carbon energy sources, biogas presents a unique opportunity to enhance energy security, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and support the circular economy.
The Growing Importance of Biogas
Biogas and biomethane play a crucial role in the transition to sustainable energy systems, offering renewable alternatives to fossil fuels while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and promoting circular economy practices.
With the European Union setting ambitious climate and energy targets, there is a pressing need to diversify energy sources while ensuring stability and affordability. Biogas and biomethane have emerged as key solutions that can contribute to both decarbonisation and energy independence, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, where many countries still rely heavily on fossil fuels.
Despite the significant steps to ensure better predictability and a stable investment framework in the sector, we are still facing the constant challenge of charting a sustainable path that ensures that we harness the full potential of biogas and biomethane.
Despite its potential, biogas deployment faces several challenges, including infrastructure gaps, regulatory barriers, and investment uncertainties. The Budapest Biogas Summit aims to address these issues by facilitating high-level discussions between government representatives, industry experts, and investors, helping to unlock new opportunities for growth in the region.
A High-Level Speaker Lineup and Key Topics
The event will feature distinguished speakers with diverse backgrounds, offering insights into market trends, policy frameworks, and technological advancements. The conference will be opened by Attila Steiner, State Secretary for Energy Affairs and Climate Policy of Hungary, who will present the role of biogas in strengthening energy sovereignty, emphasise the importance of supporting renewable energy sources, and highlight the potential of biogas and biomethane.
The program will address market development, regulatory frameworks, financial support opportunities of the sector in Hungary and the future of agricultural and waste-based biogas production with key sector players, such as Ádám Horváth (vice president for New and Sustainable Businesses, MOL Group), Szabolcs I. Ferencz (CEO of FGSZ), Zsolt Borsányi (director at MVM Partner), Ádám Ragoncza (expert at the National Biogas-Biomethane Association), and Anita Simon (deputy CEO at ALTEO), who will present the current state of development in Hungary.
Regional cooperation and exchange of experiences will be also a priority, with speakers such as Michal Tarka (Polish Biomethane Organisation), Raluca Covrig (Romanian Energy Association), and Dr. Cristian Călin (Delgaz Grid S.A) comparing experiences across the region. The conference will also feature international experts like KR Raghunath, president of the Asian Biogas & Biofuels Association, who will outline the situation and prospects in the Asian market.
Europe’s biogas landscape will be addressed by Tom Howes (advisor, European Commission), who will discuss EU energy policy directions; Anna Onida (policy officer, European Biogas Association), who will explore the key role of biogas and biomethane in the European energy transition; and Scarlett Ann Mertin (policy advisor, Gas Infrastructure Europe), who will present insights on the role of existing gas infrastructure. Special attention will also be given to the relationship between agriculture and energy production, and to building a sustainable feedstock supply chain.
The policy and regulatory support for biogas development will be discussed by Viktor Horváth (Deputy State Secretary, Ministry of Energy), Péter Verdes (head of Sustainable Development, Hungarian Energy and Public Utility Regulatory Authority), Tamás Kovács (president of the Renewable Gases Committee, Hungarian Renewables Association), and Viktória Bodnár (managing partner, IFUA Horváth & Partners).
Further discussions will highlight innovations and technological advancements in biogas and biomethane sector, financing mechanisms, and the policy support needed to drive investment in this sector.
The Budapest Biogas Summit is a must-attend event for policy-makers, energy companies, investors, and technology providers looking to gain insights into one of the fastest-growing segments of the renewable energy market.
The event will take place on May 23, 2025, at MOL Campus in Budapest. Those interested in attending can register nowto be part of the discussions shaping the future of renewable energy in Central and Eastern Europe.
