Comprehensive Assessment of the current Biogas and Biomethane Production from Food Waste in the European Union: Processes, Legislation, Financing ,Market Prospects, and Innovations

The following work explores the potential of biogas and biomethane production from food waste in the European Union (EU). The study is focused on analysing the regulatory frameworks of the sector, its production processes, the current and potential state of the market and the available EU funding opportunities that can boost its development. Firstly, a review of the legislative framework that governs the biogas and biomethane sector in the European Union and in particular Spain and Portugal is performed. Followed by a review of the state of the art of the biogas and biomethane produced from food waste, which sheds light on its applications, technical requirements, compositions of different food waste feedstocks and its production potential and estimated greenhouse gases emissions reductions. Moreover, the biogas and biomethane current and future situation of the European market is analysed, highlighting its state and its future potential, and taking a further dive into the Spanish and Portuguese outlook. Lastly, the possible EU funding opportunities that are currently available which can greatly support the industry are analysed. The main target of this thesis is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the principal areas of the biogas and biomethane production from food waste in the EU, offering crucial insights of the industry, its potential and the paramount role it will play in the energy transition and decarbonization of Europe.