MOL Expands Hungarian Biogas Plant With New Biomethane Unit
Hungarian energy company MOL Group is expanding its Szarvas biogas plant with a new biomethane unit that will allow renewable gas to be fed directly into Hungary's national gas network.
The project, expected to be completed by the end of 2026, will produce more than 7 million cubic metres of biomethane annually—enough to replace the natural gas consumption of roughly 8,500 households. The investment marks MOL's first biomethane facility and only the third such plant currently operating in Hungary.
Biomethane is produced by purifying biogas generated from organic waste such as agricultural residues, manure, and food waste. By removing carbon dioxide and other compounds, the plant will create high-purity renewable gas suitable for industrial and household use.
The Szarvas facility already produces nearly 24 GWh of green electricity per year through cogeneration. It processes more than 40,000 tonnes of meat industry waste annually, along with over 50,000 tonnes of agricultural residual waste from nearby livestock farms. The plant also uses agricultural feedstock to generate close to 12 million cubic metres of biogas each year.
MOL acquired the Szarvas biogas plant in 2023 as part of its broader renewable energy strategy under its SHAPE TOMORROW 2030+ plan.
"Through the new investment, we are providing an effective response to the energy trilemma by increasing energy security while producing affordable and sustainable energy," said Ádám Horváth, MOL Group's Vice President for New and Sustainable Businesses.
The company said it plans to use the experience gained from the Szarvas project to evaluate further biomethane investments and acquisitions across Central and Eastern Europe.
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