This interim report provides a qualitative and quantitative overview of the regulatory framework supporting biogas production from various methanisable substrates in Europe, China, India and the United States. Biogas production is growing in almost all the countries surveyed. Few countries, such as France and Switzerland, have comprehensive data that takes into account all sectors (particularly urban wastewater treatment plants) and the ways in which biogas is used. However, in each country surveyed, the main trends can be identified. In Europe, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States, landfill sites are the main source. In Germany, on-farm anaerobic digestion is steadily increasing, and municipal sludge anaerobic digestion is a standard system for the largest wastewater treatment plants. In Spain, anaerobic digestion of municipal waste is making rapid progress. China and India together have 11 million 'family' digesters. While programmes for small-scale digesters are continuing, medium- and large-scale methanisation is being developed and major programmes are being launched to promote industrial installations, both in industry and for municipal waste and effluent. In Europe and the United States, policies to support energy production are linked to electricity production, either through a system (USA, United Kingdom) requiring electricity distributors to supply a given proportion of renewable electricity, or through the principle of compulsory purchase by distributors with support tariffs. These two systems are generally accompanied by subsidies or support programmes.
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