MOL Group is set to enhance its renewable gas capabilities with the establishment of a new biomethane production unit at its Szarvas facility in Hungary. This initiative is part of a broader strategy aimed at bolstering the country’s shift towards sustainable energy solutions. The new facility will enable the direct injection of biomethane into Hungary’s national gas transmission network, thereby facilitating cleaner energy access.
The company anticipates that the new installation will commence commercial operations by the end of 2026. Upon completion, it is expected to generate over 7 million cubic meters of biomethane annually, which would meet the natural gas needs of around 8,500 households. This project marks MOL’s inaugural venture into biomethane production and will contribute to Hungary’s limited operational biomethane plants, which currently number only three.
The existing Szarvas facility already plays a pivotal role in converting organic waste into biogas, utilizing feedstocks such as manure, slurry, agricultural residues, and food-processing waste. The planned expansion will enhance the biogas upgrading processes to eliminate carbon dioxide and other contaminants, thus producing grid-quality biomethane suitable for integration into national gas infrastructure.
MOL acquired the Szarvas site in 2023 as part of its commitment to renewable energy and circular economy initiatives. Currently, the facility operates gas engines with a generation capacity of approximately 4 MW, generating nearly 24 GWh of electricity annually.
The plant processes significant volumes of organic waste each year, including over 40,000 tons from regional meat production, around 53,000 tons from livestock and meat-processing by-products, and approximately 18,000 tons of agricultural raw materials. These inputs yield close to 12 million cubic meters of biogas annually.
MOL has indicated that insights gained from the Szarvas biomethane project will inform future strategic decisions regarding acquisitions and potential greenfield investments in the rapidly evolving renewable gas sector.
