Biogas is gas mixtures containing methane and CO2. Biogas is produced by the anaerobic (oxygen-free) decomposition of organic material, such as dead plant matter, food waste, or livestock manure. Biogas is therefore considered an advanced biofuel. Biogas can be used in the same way as natural gas. When upgraded to fuel-quality, biogas can be used as fuel in gas-powered cars, larger vehicles, and in ships. Biogas is often abbreviated as CBG (compressed biogas). It can be liquefied, and the abbreviation LBG (Liquefied biogas) is used for liquid biogas.

Sustainability criteria

The sustainability criteria are part of the EU's Renewable Energy Directive and aim to promote the sustainable production of biofuels and bioliquids. The sustainability criteria consist of two parts: Heating oil • Greenhouse gas emission reduction requirements, where it must be documented that the biofuel reduces total greenhouse gas emissions by a minimum of 50 percent compared to fossil petrol and diesel. This is calculated based on life-cycle analyses. • Land use requirements to ensure that the raw material in the biofuel is not cultivated in areas with high biodiversity or high carbon content. No harvesting of rainforests or draining of peatlands may occur to acquire land for raw material production, and this must be documented. This requirement does not apply to biofuels produced from waste or residues of production processes.