Germany’s grid regulator opens a fresh funding round for bioenergy projects, offering more than 1 gigawatt of capacity to stimulate biomass and biomethane investments amid policy reforms and increased European funding.
Germany’s grid regulator has opened a fresh round of competitive support for bioenergy projects, offering more than 1 gigawatt of capacity to spur investment in biomass and biomethane generation. According to Bioenergy News, the Federal Network Agency is inviting bids for 726.7 MW of biomass power and 300 MW of biomethane, with applications accepted until 1 April 2026.
The agency has set maximum subsidy levels intended to make projects bankable while containing public costs. For biomethane the cap is €0.2313 per kilowatt hour, reflecting a 10% uplift after the 2025 auction drew no offers, according to gasworld and the Federal Network Agency notices reported by Bioenergy News. For biomass projects the ceilings remain at €0.1943 per kWh for newly built plants and €0.1983 per kWh for existing facilities. Prospective bidders must hold the requisite permits by 4 March 2026 to be eligible.
The tenders are being conducted under an amended German biomass support framework that received European Commission approval in 2025, a revision designed to boost auction volumes and favour more flexible renewable supply as part of the Energiewende. Enerdata and the European Commission’s approval notice indicate the package includes expanded funding and measures to target biomass connected to heat networks, limits on supported operating hours for biogas power and greater support for flexibility services.
Market context helps explain the urgency behind the changes. Enerdata reported that a previous biomass auction awarded nearly 815 MW across 692 projects, with a large share of contracts going to existing installations. Nevertheless, industry groups say uncertainty over future legislation and network connection arrangements is dampening investment appetite for further biomethane capacity. The German Biogas Association told dena’s biogas newsletter that domestic biogas and upgraded biomethane can provide a resilient, flexible reserve to strengthen gas supply in both the short and long term, but that clearer and more stable framework conditions are needed to unlock feedstock value chains and investment.
Regulator commentary has emphasised the policy intent behind the higher biomethane ceiling. Klaus Müller, president of the Federal Network Agency, said the raised cap represents the upper limit available under the law and is aimed at reversing the weak response to earlier biomethane tenders and stimulating market expansion, as reported by gasworld.
The European Commission’s amendment also brought fresh funding ambition. Enerdata summarises the EC-approved package as adding around €7.9 billion to Germany’s biomass and biogas support scheme, increasing tender volumes and creating dedicated quotas for plants tied into heat networks, measures that together aim to accelerate deployment and better value flexible generation.
For industrial stakeholders considering participation, the timetable and eligibility conditions are decisive. Applications must be lodged by 1 April 2026 and permit status must be definitive by 4 March 2026. With the revised ceilings and a larger funding envelope, the upcoming rounds offer opportunities for operators seeking revenue certainty for retrofit and greenfield projects, while also signalling the government’s continued push to integrate bioenergy into a flexible, decarbonised power system.
- https://www.bioenergy-news.com/news/germany-launches-more-than-1gw-of-biomass-and-biomethane-support-tenders/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.bioenergy-news.com/news/germany-launches-more-than-1gw-of-biomass-and-biomethane-support-tenders/ – Germany’s Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has initiated auctions for over 1 gigawatt of bioenergy capacity, comprising 726.7 MW for biomass generation and 300 MW for biomethane projects. Bidders can submit applications until 1 April 2026. The maximum subsidy for biomethane is set at €0.2313 per kilowatt-hour, a 10% increase following a lack of bids in the 2025 tender. For biomass, the price caps are €0.1943 per kWh for new installations and €0.1983 per kWh for existing facilities. Projects must secure necessary permits by 4 March. These tenders are part of Germany’s updated biomass support framework, approved by the European Commission in 2025, aiming to boost renewable energy investments under the country’s energy transition programme.
- https://bioenergytimes.com/germany-opens-fresh-auctions-for-biomass-biomethane-projects/ – Germany’s Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has launched new tenders to support 726.7 MW of biomass capacity and 300 MW of biomethane projects. Interested bidders can submit applications until 1 April 2026. The maximum support for biomethane installations is set at €0.2313 per kWh, a 10% increase after no bids were received in the 2025 tender round. In the biomass auction, the maximum bid price remains at €0.1943 per kWh for new plants and €0.1983 per kWh for existing facilities. Projects must have secured the required permits by 4 March 2026 to qualify for participation. The tenders are conducted under Germany’s updated biomass support framework, following state aid approval granted by the European Commission in September 2025, aiming to increase auction volumes and encourage more investment in flexible renewable generation under the country’s energy transition programme.
- https://www.gasworld.com/story/germany-introduces-higher-auction-price-ceiling-for-biomethane/2173719.article/ – Germany’s Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has increased its price ceiling for biomethane auctions by 10% this year. A ceiling of €0.2313 per kWh will apply to biomethane installations, while the maximum price for new biomass installations remains €0.1943 per kWh and for existing biomass installations, €0.1983 per kWh. President Klaus Müller stated that the higher ceiling for biomethane installations is the highest possible within the statutory scope, aiming to address the low level of interest in biomethane tenders to date and provide new impetus for market expansion.
- https://www.enerdata.net/publications/daily-energy-news/germany-awards-11-gw-solar-and-biomass-auctions.html – Germany’s Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has awarded contracts to 121 rooftop solar projects with a combined capacity of 281 MW and 692 biomass projects totalling 815 MW. In the rooftop solar auction, the agency aimed to allocate 283 MW for installations on buildings and noise barriers. 140 bids were submitted, representing 310 MW. The awarded prices ranged from €8.28c/kWh to €10.4c/kWh, with a volume-weighted average winning bid of €9.66c/kWh. The biomass tender attracted 807 bids for 940 MW, exceeding the targeted 813 MW. Of the awarded projects (692 projects totalling 814 MW): 33 projects (63 MW) were for new plants, while 659 projects (752 MW) covered existing facilities. The awarded prices ranged from €11c/kWh to €19.48c/kWh, with an average volume-weighted price of €18.11c/kWh. Looking ahead, the next biomass tender will take place on April 1, 2026, and the next rooftop solar auction will be held on February 1, 2026, the agency said.
- https://www.enerdata.net/publications/daily-energy-news/eu-approves-eu79bn-boost-germanys-biomass-and-biogas-support-scheme.html – The European Commission (EC) has approved amendments to Germany’s renewable energy support scheme, adding €7.9bn in funding for biomass and biogas projects. The amendment will raise the tender volume, establish a dedicated quota for biomass installations already connected to heating networks, and cap the number of supported operating hours for biogas-based power generation. It will also shorten the transition period for older installations to shift to the new support scheme and increase payments for flexible power generation. Germany plans to implement the new subsidies in the next tender round scheduled for October 2025. The Federal Network Agency (BNetzA) has set the total tender volume for 2025 at 1.3 GW, allowing bids for 813 MW in the upcoming round.
- https://www.dena.de/biogaspartner/newsletter/newsletter-february-2026/ – The Federal Network Agency has announced the maximum values for biomass and biomethane tenders in 2026, thereby setting the subsidy framework for the coming year. While the values for biomass remain stable, the maximum value for biomethane plants will increase by 10% to €0.2313 per kWh. With this adjustment, the agency is responding to the low level of interest in biomethane tenders to date and aims to provide new impetus for market expansion. The German Biogas Association views domestic biogas and processed biomethane as a flexible reserve that can cushion gas shortages in the short term and make supply more robust in the long term. Despite around 10,000 biogas plants and 95 TWh of energy already generated, the uncertain development of legislation and gas networks is slowing down investment in additional biomethane capacity. The association is therefore calling for reliable framework conditions so that more residual and waste materials can be refined into biomethane and the potential for electricity, heat, and synthetic methane can be better exploited.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article reports on a recent announcement by Germany’s Federal Network Agency regarding new tenders for biomass and biomethane projects, with application deadlines in April 2026. This information is current and has not been previously reported.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The article does not contain any direct quotes, ensuring originality and avoiding potential issues with reused or unverifiable content.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The article is sourced from Bioenergy Insight Magazine, a reputable publication within the renewable energy sector. However, it is a niche publication, which may limit its reach and audience.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims made in the article align with known developments in Germany’s renewable energy sector, including recent amendments to the biomass support framework and the European Commission’s approval of additional funding. The information is consistent with other reputable sources.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The article provides current and original information on Germany’s new tenders for biomass and biomethane projects, with no significant issues identified in the fact-checking process. The source is reputable, and the content is consistent with other reputable sources in the field.
