Good Practice - Project
Turning farm waste into renewable fuel through Lithuania’s first practical biomethane farming system
Lithuanian farmers, researchers and businesses created a practical, farm-based biomethane system that powers real agricultural machinery with renewable fuel from farm waste.
General information
RDP Priority
- P1. Knowledge transfer and innovation
RDP Focus Area
- 1A: Innovation & cooperation
RDP Measure
- M16: Cooperation
Beneficiary type
- Operational group
Summary
This Lithuanian EIP Operational Group (OG) created the country’s first practical, farm-scale system for the production and use of biomethane linked directly to agriculture. Instead of limiting biogas to electricity and heat generation, the initiative showed how agricultural residues and manure could be transformed into renewable transport fuel for tractors, forklifts and farm vehicles operating in real conditions.
What made the approach particularly valuable was its focus on small and medium-sized farms and the integration of biomethane production into an existing agricultural biogas plant while maintaining energy generation functions. Farmers were able to see, test and use the technology themselves, helping overcome uncertainty around renewable gas systems and their practical viability.
This OG good practice coordinated technical testing, economic assessment and extensive public outreach to create a realistic model for circular bioeconomy development in agriculture. It offers useful inspiration for Member States seeking practical ways to reduce fossil fuel dependence while creating new value from agricultural waste streams.
Results
- Lithuania’s first operational agricultural biomethane production, compression and filling system was successfully installed and tested under real farming conditions. Biomethane produced from agricultural raw materials powered a tractor, a forklift and a production delivery vehicle during practical demonstrations and field activities.
- The OG also produced economic and technical evidence showing how farms can reduce fuel costs, improve energy independence and create additional value from agricultural residues and manure.
- Wide dissemination activities significantly increased national awareness of biomethane opportunities within agriculture.
- Key results showed how circular economy principles can operate directly within working farms using scalable and transferable solutions suited to agricultural realities.
Funding
RDP support: 196 925 (EUR)
Topics
Context
EU farmland is under increasing pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also strengthening energy resilience and reducing dependence on fossil fuels. Rising fuel costs, geopolitical uncertainty and climate policy commitments have increased interest in renewable energy systems capable of operating directly within agricultural production.
Biogas production has expanded significantly in many Member States over recent decades, particularly through anaerobic digestion systems using manure, slurry and agricultural residues. However, in many rural areas, biogas continues to be used mainly for electricity and heat generation, even where heat demand is limited. This reduces overall energy efficiency and can weaken the long-term economic performance of agricultural biogas plants.
At the same time, biomethane is attracting growing policy attention because it can replace fossil fuels in transport and agricultural machinery without major engine modifications. Circular economy approaches based on agricultural waste streams are also becoming increasingly relevant within CAP Strategic Plans (CSPs) and wider EU energy transition policies.
In Lithuania, this specific biomethane sector remained largely undeveloped before the OG started. There was, though, growing interest in renewable gas technologies. Farms and rural businesses lacked practical examples showing how biomethane systems could operate under real agricultural conditions or how existing biogas infrastructure could be adapted cost-effectively for renewable transport fuel production.
An OG was formed to address this gap by bringing together technology developers, researchers, farmers, advisors and agricultural businesses around a shared interest in practical farm-based biomethane solutions.
Objectives
Core OG ambitions involved creating Lithuania’s first practical agricultural biomethane production system operating under real farming conditions. The OG aimed to demonstrate that agricultural waste streams and manure could serve as useful renewable fuel sources for transport and agricultural machinery, rather than remaining underused by-products.
Reducing dependence on fossil fuels within agriculture formed another important goal. Attention focused particularly on helping farms improve energy independence and reduce exposure to fluctuating diesel prices.
The OG also sought to strengthen understanding of biomethane technologies among farmers, advisors and public authorities by combining practical demonstrations with technical and economic analysis. Creating confidence around smaller-scale and farm-oriented biomethane systems was considered especially important.
Environmental objectives included reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting circular economy approaches linked to agricultural residues, manure management and renewable energy production. This OG further aimed to encourage cooperation between farms, technology providers and research institutions around new bioeconomy opportunities.
Activities
Work began by forming the OG partnership and a series of meetings bringing together farmers, technology developers, researchers, advisors and agricultural businesses. These sessions helped define technical priorities, coordinate responsibilities and identify practical opportunities for integrating biomethane systems into agricultural environments.
Technical assessment activities then focused on evaluating agricultural raw materials suitable for biogas and biomethane production. Researchers analysed the quantity, quality and energy potential of different feedstocks, including manure, cereal straw and agricultural residues. Existing Lithuanian biogas facilities and waste sources were also mapped to assess wider replication potential.
Experimental work was carried out within operational biogas plants to optimise production efficiency and improve gas quality. Tests involving bacterial activity inhibitors were undertaken to reduce hydrogen sulphide levels and improve the energy value of the produced biogas.
An important action involved installing a small capacity biomethane production facility integrated into the existing Agaras biogas plant. Biomethane production was launched in March 2023 and quality testing confirmed that the gas met natural gas standards. Compression and filling equipment were subsequently connected to the production unit, enabling storage and direct use in agricultural machinery and transport.
Practical testing formed a central part of the initiative. A biomethane-powered tractor, forklift and production delivery vehicle were run using biomethane produced directly from Lithuanian agricultural raw materials. Farmers could observe the complete process from waste input through to fuel production and machinery operation.
Communication and dissemination activities were extensive throughout implementation. Eight field days were organised across several Lithuanian regions together with conferences, seminars and agricultural exhibitions. Television reports were broadcast nationally while project videos were shared through social media and online platforms. Technical studies, cost-benefit analyses and environmental assessments were also prepared to support future uptake of biomethane technologies in agriculture.
Main results
- Good practice outcomes successfully established Lithuania’s first continuously operating farm-linked biomethane production and use system. Biomethane extraction, compression, storage and filling technologies were integrated into a functioning agricultural biogas plant while preserving electricity and heat generation from biogas.
- Renewable fuel produced from Lithuanian agricultural raw materials was successfully used in agricultural machinery and transport, including a tractor, a forklift and a production delivery vehicle. These practical demonstrations proved that biomethane could function effectively under real agricultural working conditions without major operational difficulties.
- The OG also generated valuable economic and environmental evidence linked to fuel savings, greenhouse gas reduction and resource efficiency. Cost-benefit analysis and raw material assessments provided farmers and advisors with a clearer understanding of the opportunities and limitations associated with biomethane production.
- National visibility increased significantly through widespread communication activities. Television coverage, online videos, exhibitions and field demonstrations helped introduce biomethane concepts to a much wider audience beyond the immediate agricultural sector.
- Wider significance lies not simply in being the first biomethane demonstration in Lithuania (since biomethane systems already exist elsewhere in Europe) but in showing how smaller-scale circular biomethane solutions can operate practically within agricultural settings using locally available farm residues and existing biogas infrastructure. This made the CAP-funded approach particularly relevant and transferable for farms and rural businesses seeking realistic renewable energy alternatives.
Key lessons
- New renewable energy technologies gain acceptance much faster when farmers can experience them directly under real working conditions. Allowing participants to handle equipment, observe fuel production and drive machinery themselves helped reduce scepticism and encouraged practical understanding.
- OG findings also highlighted the importance of adapting biomethane systems to agricultural realities rather than promoting large industrial models alone. Integrating biomethane production into existing farm-linked biogas plants created a more accessible and flexible approach suited to smaller agricultural operations.
- Strong cooperation between different sectors proved essential. Farmers, universities, vocational training centres, technology companies and agricultural businesses each contributed knowledge that no single organisation could provide independently.
- Communication played another important role. National media coverage, field demonstrations and public events helped move biomethane discussions beyond technical specialists and into wider agricultural debate. This wider visibility strengthened interest in renewable gas solutions and increased awareness of circular economy opportunities connected to agricultural waste streams.
We doubted whether we would be able to find partners to establish the EIP operational group. And we were pleasantly surprised – all the partners, to whom we proposed, immediately replied – interesting, this will be a live project, so we are joining forces, let’s do it! This is how the EIP operational group began its activities. A very important thing was that the partners allowed us to experiment in their operating biogas power plants and to join the technological processes.