Biogas and Biomethane in the Low-Carbon Transition: Production, Upgrading, and System Integration

Biogas and biomethane occupy a strategically important but underutilized position in the low-carbon energy transition, offering dispatchable renewable energy, carbon capture potential, and compatibility with existing gas infrastructure. Their production also provides opportunities for the valorization of organic wastes and residues, linking renewable energy generation with resource recovery and circular biorefinery approaches. Despite favorable policy frameworks in several countries, production development remains uneven, and the systemic benefits of biogas — including digestate valorization, CO2 utilization, organic waste conversion, and industrial symbiosis — are not yet captured in national energy strategies. A clearer evidence base is therefore needed to connect diverse feedstocks and biological conversion pathways with biogas production, upgrading, and end-use applications in transport, heating, and industry. Understanding the role of feedstock characteristics, pretreatment, anaerobic fermentation, process optimization, and upgrading is also important for improving process efficiency and overall environmental performance. Integrating these aspects with lifecycle assessment and techno-economic analysis can help identify pathways through which biogas and biomethane can contribute to low-carbon and circular energy systems.Goal: This Research Topic aims to consolidate research on biogas and biomethane across the full value chain, from feedstock and production through upgrading, distribution, and end-use application. It will bring together research on microbial and bioprocess technologies, lifecycle assessment, techno-economic analysis, and policy studies to build an integrated understanding of the climate, environmental, and economic value of biogas and biomethane within evolving national and international energy systems.Emphasis will be placed on approaches that integrate bioenergy production with resource recovery, CO₂ utilization, digestate valorization, and circular biorefinery concepts, while keeping biogas and biomethane as the central focus.Scope and information for Authors: We welcome manuscripts advancing the biogas and biomethane value chain, from feedstock selection and biological production through upgrading, deployment, and integration into low-carbon energy systems. Topics can include:• Organic waste and renewable feedstocks for biogas production, including feedstock pretreatment, anaerobic fermentation, and process optimization for improved biogas yield and quality.• Biogas production, upgrading, and distribution pathways, including compressed and liquefied biomethane, and their techno-economic and environmental performance.• Valorization of biogas-derived products and process streams, including digestate utilization, nutrient recovery, CO₂ conversion, and integration with circular biorefinery systems.• CO2 valorization from biogas upgrading, including biological and chemical conversion, power-to-gas, chemical synthesis, and other utilization routes.• Lifecycle assessment and techno-economic analysis of biogas and biomethane production, upgrading, utilization, and integrated biorefinery systems.• Well-to-wheel lifecycle assessment of biomethane in heavy transport and its comparison with alternative low-carbon fuels and electric drivetrains.• Policy analysis and scenario modeling for biogas deployment, including regulatory frameworks, subsidy mechanisms, circular economy strategies, and industrial symbiosis approaches. Topic editors: Marcus Gustafsson, Sulogna Chatterjee Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/86331/biogas-and-biomethane-in-the-low-carbon-transition-production-upgrading-and-system-integration