Josep Oriol, a sector engineer in the Bioeconomy Division at the European Investment Bank (EIB), is set to present the bank’s approach to financing biogas and biomethane projects at the 2026 International Biogas Congress & Expo, highlighting funding routes available to developers based on project size and structure, reports Bioenergy Insight.
Oriol, who has a background in industrial engineering with a focus on water and economics, previously worked on the design, construction, and operation of water, wastewater, and irrigation systems across the Mediterranean region and Latin America. He also managed several anaerobic digestion plants before joining the EIB. In his current role, he evaluates and monitors biogas and biomethane projects, either when the bank leads the investment or provides technical support to the European Investment Fund (EIF), the EIB Group’s arm for venture capital, guarantees, and microfinance.
His presentation will outline how project developers can engage with the EIB and will cover the bank’s eligibility criteria, financing conditions, and sector experience. Oriol said the bank also seeks updates on market needs, regulatory trends, and country-specific requirements when assessing projects.
He noted that traditional project finance is not a primary tool for the EIB in this sector due to the lengthy structuring process and multiple conditions required before projects become bankable. Instead, the bank prefers deploying equity to fund managers who then invest in a mix of new and existing projects.
Another approach involves providing corporate loans to companies—often in carbon-intensive industries—pursuing decarbonisation strategies. Oriol added that bioenergy infrastructure is typically local, leaving little scope for cross-border projects. However, biomethane can be traded through purchase agreements where guarantee-of-origin systems are in place.
From a global standpoint, Oriol identified bioenergy as a key solution for reducing emissions in sectors that are difficult to decarbonise, particularly in regions with limited renewable electricity. He said the EIB supports large investments through diversified fund portfolios that spread risks across countries, feedstocks, and regulatory environments.
Looking ahead, he expects the market to consolidate after the European Union’s REPowerEU 2030 targets, with larger operators emerging that can design, build, and run facilities—similar to the expansion of wastewater treatment infrastructure in Europe during the 1990s.
Through partnerships with commercial banks, the EIB has also financed projects by aggregating investments from farmers and small and medium-sized enterprises developing local facilities. Over the past six years, about 40% of the bank’s loans and equity participation have been channelled through intermediary operations, while corporate loans and equity investments each accounted for roughly 30%.
During this period, the EIB helped mobilise around EUR 5 billion in assets, representing about 13% of the investment required under REPowerEU targets through 2030.
Oriol pointed to regulatory differences across countries as a major challenge, particularly regarding subsidies, feed-in tariffs, permitting processes, digestate use, sustainability standards, and guarantees of origin. Such variations, he said, can complicate financing decisions by increasing environmental and social risk considerations.
He also stressed that social acceptance will be critical for meeting 2030 goals, noting that projects must engage communities early by clearly communicating benefits and addressing potential concerns.
Oriol described the upcoming congress as an important opportunity to connect with industry stakeholders, explain funding pathways, and better understand market needs and regulatory gaps. He added that there is growing interest in country-focused discussions, as while biogas and biomethane projects address local issues, they also contribute globally to industrial decarbonisation, environmental protection, rural development, and energy resilience.
