Selected Elements Of Biogas Production From Food Waste In The Context Of A Circular Economy

With the European Union aiming to achieve climate neutrality by 2050, the role of renewable energy sources and the circular economy has become increasingly significant. Poland, possessing the fifth-largest biomass potential in the EU and generating over 4.5 million tonnes of food waste annually, has considerable capacity to utilize this resource for agricultural biogas production. The objective of this study is to analyse the potential of food waste as a substrate for biogas production within the framework of the energy transition and circular economy. The analysis covers the period 2022-2023 and draws on industry reports, original research materials, and scientific literature. A SWOT analysis was conducted to identify the risks and benefits associated with the use of food waste in biogas generation. The findings suggest that, given the current biogas production capacity, up to 72% of agricultural biogas – approximately 484 million cubic metres – could be derived from food waste generated along the Polish agri-food supply chain. Moreover, 34% of biogas potential could be sourced specifically from food waste originating in agriculture and food processing. These results confirm that under growing environmental regulations and efforts to reduce food waste, the utilization of food waste in biogas production substantially mitigates methane emissions and environmental impacts. This supports the development of sustainable energy systems and contributes to advancing the circular economy.