CO2 recovery from biogas in the Netherlands
The Netherlands is expanding biomethane and green gas production. Biogas upgrading creates a CO2-rich off-gas that can become a second valuable product instead of remaining a residual stream. Solveno supplies modular systems for the downstream recovery, purification and liquefaction of this biogenic CO2.
CO2 recovery in the growing Dutch biomethane market
The Dutch green gas market is expanding. Statistics Netherlands (CBS) reports that green gas production increased by 23% in 2025 to 356 million m³. At the end of 2025, 121 projects with an SDE support decision were in operation. Green gas is produced mainly from biogas generated by waste treatment, industry and agriculture. See the latest Dutch green gas figures from CBS.
Producing biomethane requires CO2 to be separated from the methane in raw biogas. This creates a CO2-rich off-gas alongside the green gas product. Where the composition and operating conditions are suitable, this stream can be purified and liquefied to produce reusable biogenic CO2.
Solveno Technologies works downstream of the biogas upgrading plant. We do not supply the technology that converts raw biogas into biomethane. Our systems process the CO2-rich stream leaving the upgrader. For the technical background, see our guide to biogas upgrading and CO2 separation and our page on CO2 recovery from biogas upgrading.
From CO2 removal during biogas upgrading to liquid biogenic CO2
CO2 removal from biogas does not automatically produce a saleable liquid CO2 product. The separated stream can still contain residual methane, oxygen, nitrogen, moisture and trace contaminants. The actual gas analysis therefore determines the treatment required.
A suitable CO2-rich stream can be treated, purified, dried, cooled and liquefied in a dedicated recovery system. The process configuration is selected according to the inlet composition and the required liquid CO2 specification. Food-grade supply requires additional source qualification, individual impurity limits and appropriate quality-control procedures.
The resulting liquid biogenic CO2 can be stored and transported by tanker or used on site. Depending on quality and market access, potential destinations include greenhouse horticulture, industrial applications, food and beverage uses and dry ice production.
The Dutch green gas blending obligation and carbon performance
Status October 2026: the Netherlands is developing a statutory green gas blending obligation. The Dutch House of Representatives approved the bill on 6 October 2026, but the legislation is not yet final and in force. The Dutch Emissions Authority (NEa) is preparing the proposed implementation and publishes the current regulatory status.
The proposed mechanism is based on greenhouse-gas reduction across the production chain rather than green gas volume alone. Compliance is expressed through green gas units, or GGE certificates. Under the proposed method, lower lifecycle emissions can result in more GGE value for a given green gas delivery. Read the current explanation from the Dutch Emissions Authority.
CO2 recovery can be relevant to this calculation. RVO states that CO2 released while upgrading biogas to green gas, when captured and either stored or delivered to Dutch greenhouse horticulture, can contribute to additional blending certificates. How this benefit interacts with SDE++ support is still being assessed, so the value must be evaluated under the rules applicable to each project. See RVO's current guidance on CO2 reduction and certificates.
A recent Dutch example: biogenic CO2 for greenhouse horticulture
The Dutch market already provides practical evidence that separated biogenic CO2 can become a useful second product. In August 2026, RVO published a case from Amsterdam where Renewi converts organic residues into biogas, upgrades the methane to green gas for the Dutch grid and makes the separated CO2 available to greenhouse growers.
RVO reports approximately 1,000 tonnes of sustainable CO2 per month in this project, supported through SDE++. This is not a Solveno Technologies reference project; it is a public Dutch market example showing that utilisation of biogenic CO2 from green gas production is already being implemented. Read the RVO case study.
Retrofitting CO2 recovery to an existing biomethane plant
CO2 recovery can be evaluated both for new Dutch biomethane projects and as a retrofit to existing upgrading plants. For an existing site, the starting point is the actual CO2-rich off-gas available from the current upgrader.
Key integration parameters include gas composition, minimum and maximum flow, available pressure, allowable backpressure, electrical capacity, available plot space, storage and control-system interfaces. The handling of methane-containing streams during normal operation, start-up, shutdown and purging must also be defined.
The upstream system may use membranes, water scrubbing, PSA, amine absorption or another upgrading route. Suitability for downstream recovery is determined by the actual off-gas conditions rather than by the name of the upgrading technology alone.
What drives the Dutch CO2 recovery business case?
A technically recoverable CO2 stream is only the starting point. The commercial case for a Dutch biomethane plant depends on several connected factors:
- Available CO2 flow: concentration and minimum, normal and maximum flow rates.
- Annual operating hours: these determine the volume of liquid CO2 over which investment and fixed costs are distributed.
- Electricity cost and consumption: compare electricity per tonne of saleable liquid CO2 at equivalent operating conditions.
- Required CO2 specification: the intended market determines purification and quality-control requirements.
- Local offtake: selling price, distance to customers, collection frequency and storage capacity can materially affect economics.
- Residual methane: methane recovery can add value where the existing plant allows an appropriate return route.
- Carbon value: any benefit from GGE certificates, SDE++ or other mechanisms should be evaluated separately under the applicable methodology.
The Dutch SDE++ scheme also includes categories for CO2 capture and use in greenhouse horticulture, subject to project-specific conditions and evidence of the CO2 offtake and transport chain. See the current RVO conditions for CO2 capture and utilisation.
Modular CO2 recovery systems for projects in the Netherlands
Solveno Technologies supplies modular CO2 recovery and liquefaction systems for the off-gas from biogas upgrading. Our standard range covers approximately 350 to 4,500 kg of CO2 per hour. The final configuration is selected according to gas composition, production profile, required liquid CO2 quality and site-integration requirements.
The systems combine gas treatment, compression, drying, cooling, liquefaction and distillation. Liquid CO2 storage, quality analysis and tanker-loading equipment can be included according to the project scope.
Assess your Dutch biomethane project
For an initial technical and economic assessment, the most useful information is the plant location, upgrading technology, recent off-gas analysis, minimum and maximum flows, inlet pressure and temperature, annual operating hours and required CO2 specification. Electricity cost, available storage and the intended CO2 market are also valuable where known.
Solveno Technologies can use these inputs to identify a suitable recovery configuration and the main technical and commercial conditions for a CO2 recovery project in the Netherlands.
Official sources for the Dutch market
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