CycleØ, a European developer, owner, and operator of biogas plants, has unveiled plans to build a new biomethane plant in Italy. The 500 standard cubic meters per hour plant will be fully financed by CycleØ and will be owned and operated by the company. Once operational, it will produce renewable natural gas to be injected into the Italian gas grid.
Located in Pontinia, in the Lazio region south of Rome, this plant marks CycleØ’s first venture in Italy. It will utilize feedstocks from nearby farms within a 15 km radius, producing 4 million cubic meters of biomethane annually, equivalent to about 45 GWh, through anaerobic digestion (AD).
The biogas will be upgraded to biomethane using CycleØ’s proprietary technology and injected directly into the SNAM gas grid through a new local pipeline, which is part of the plant’s infrastructure. The facility will meet EU renewable energy standards, supplying enough renewable natural gas annually to power around 3,000 homes in Italy.
This new biomethane capacity is aligned with Italy’s renewable energy goals, which currently supply 20.6% of the country’s annual energy needs. Italy aims to generate 39.4% of its energy from renewables by 2030, including 6 billion cubic meters of biomethane, making the new plant a significant step toward reaching this target.
Beyond producing clean energy, the plant will contribute to the local community by addressing the management of livestock waste, particularly reducing emissions from agricultural activities. The digestate produced during the AD process will be returned to farmers, providing them with organic fertilizer, reinforcing the principles of a circular economy.
The plant meets all sustainability criteria for the Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE) tariff and has successfully qualified for the 5th GSE auction. It will use co-generation to meet its own power needs, and water for the AD process will be sourced from the abundant underground water supply near the plant.
CycleØ has already established agreements with local farmers to supply animal waste, mainly dairy and buffalo manure, as feedstock. The company remains open to further agreements to ensure the plant operates at peak efficiency.
Local authorities, including the Municipal Council and Mayor Eligio Tombolillo of Pontinia, have shown their support for the project. Construction of the plant is now underway, creating local employment and business opportunities, with completion scheduled for summer 2026.
This announcement further reinforces CycleØ’s leadership in European biomethane production. The company currently operates three biomethane plants and a private gas grid injection point in Spain. The Italian project is the first of several plants CycleØ plans to build, own, and operate in the country, with the company exploring both greenfield and M&A opportunities. Italy’s favorable conditions for biogas plant construction make it a key market for CycleØ’s expansion.
Jaume Suriol, Operations Director for CycleØ, commented, “We’re excited to make our first move into the Italian market, which has significant potential for biogas production and biomethane upgrading. We’re already recruiting local talent and collaborating with local businesses to build the plant. Our experience in building and operating plants, along with our gas grid injection point in Spain, gives us the expertise to bring substantial benefits to both the local community and Italy’s renewable energy transition.”
Laurence Molke, CEO of CycleØ, added, “As the first biogas developer, owner, and operator in the Lazio region, we are proud to confirm this investment and use our expertise to support Italy’s gas decarbonization efforts. We plan to continue expanding in Italy, with plans to build and acquire more biomethane plants, investing between €70 million and €100 million in the coming years. This is in addition to the €300 million we are investing in Ireland and Spain.”
