MOL adds biomethane unit to Szarvas biogas plant
- MOL will install a biomethane purification unit at the Szarvas biogas plant, due for completion by year-end, producing over 7 million m3/yr of grid-quality biomethane.
- The unit upgrades biogas by removing CO2 and other impurities to yield high-purity methane eligible for ISCC green certification.
- Szarvas processes ~40,000 t meat waste, ~53,000 t residual livestock waste and ~18,000 t agricultural substrate, producing ~12 million m3 biogas and nearly 24 GWh electricity annually (peak ~4 MW); MOL acquired the plant in 2023 and this will be its first biomethane plant and the third in Hungary.
Project overview
MOL is adding a biomethane purification unit to the Szarvas biogas plant, due for completion by the end of the year, to produce over 7 million m3/year of grid-quality biomethane—about the annual gas demand of 8,500 households—and enable feed-in to the national gas network.
Process and certification
The unit will remove CO2 and other impurities from biogas to yield high‑purity methane suitable as a fossil gas substitute; the biomethane can carry ISCC green certification, increasing its market value compared with raw biogas.
Current operations and feedstock
Before the upgrade, Szarvas produces nearly 12 million m3 of biogas annually and generates almost 24 GWh of electricity per year via cogeneration (peak ~4 MW); the plant processes about 40,000 t/year of meat-processing waste, 53,000 t/year of residual livestock waste (slurry, manure) and 18,000 t/year of agricultural substrate.
Operational impact
The biomethane unit will be MOL Group’s first biomethane plant and the third in Hungary; MOL acquired the Szarvas facility in 2023 and plans to apply the operational experience when evaluating future acquisitions and greenfield projects.
Source: MOL Group