The injection of biomethane from the Komorowo plant into the national gas grid marks a significant milestone in the development of Poland’s energy and agriculture sectors. The facility, located in the Masovian Voivodeship, has an installed capacity of 1 megawatt (MW) and is ultimately expected to produce approximately 20 gigawatt-hours (GWh) of biomethane a year.
The plant is majority owned by Agro-Biogas, a privately held company established by investors who operate farms in Komorowo comprising agricultural land and a dairy cattle operation. Only agricultural waste, primarily manure and slurry, is used in production of the renewable gas. Heat generated during the process is utilised by the plant, while the digestate can be applied as organic fertiliser.
The project’s long-term financial viability is underpinned by a 20-year offtake agreement concluded between Agro-Biogas and Axpo for the purchase and sale of the biomethane. The contract sets out delivery volumes, the price-setting mechanism and settlement rules covering the trading of physical biomethane and associated guarantees of origin.
Axpo in Poland board member and Head of Portfolio Management Krzysztof Ryszkiewicz said, “This pioneering project combines the need to utilise agricultural waste with technology for purifying and injecting biomethane into the grid and its long-term sales model. It really shows how collaboration between local entrepreneurs, investors and a trading partner can create bankable projects and set standards for further development of Poland’s biomethane market.”
Agro-Biogas President of the Management Board Marek Dzwonkowski said, “Our biomethane plant is founded on family farming heritage and our many years of agricultural experience. We convert the feedstock into biomethane, while the digestate is returned to the fields as a valuable fertilizer. This enables us to close the loop and make efficient use of our own resources."
Location was another key factor in the project’s viability. A transmission gas pipeline runs close to the biomethane plant, while a high-pressure station is located nearby. The proximity of this infrastructure enables efficient injection of biomethane into the grid and ensures access to customers throughout the year.
The Axpo Group is expanding its activities in the biogas and biomethane sector, combining the operation of its own facilities with the development of projects in partnership with local partners. In Switzerland, Axpo is a leader in the dry anaerobic digestion of organic waste and operates 15 biogas plants which produce renewable energy and organic fertilisers. The company is also developing biomethane facilities in other European countries.
In Spain, the Noguera Renovables plant processes dairy cattle manure and currently injects 26 GWh of biomethane into the grid each year. Its planned expansion will increase production to 115 GWh a year. In Italy, the Group operates a plant using agricultural by-products in Grottole, in the Basilicata region, and is building three more in Sicily. Each of these facilities is expected to produce approximately 45 GWh of biomethane a year.
In Poland, since late 2024 Axpo has owned and operated a biogas plant in Stare Ślepce which uses agricultural residues, while several new projects are also being developed.
Axpo Head of Biogas International Véronique Abrate said, “Biomethane is a mature solution that simultaneously supports the energy transition, the circular economy and security of supply. The projects in Poland confirm the country’s potential and are consistent with Axpo’s strategy of developing biomethane assets in Europe.”
