SDE++: Renewable gas

The content of this page has been checked on 3 August 2026

Do you want to apply SDE++ subsidy for biomass fermentation or biomass gasification? On this page you will find the general conditions for gas production and the technology-specific application conditions. 

Applying for biomass digestion

You can apply for a subsidy for biomass digestion in these 4 categories:

All-purpose digestion

All-purpose digestion is a way to produce biogas from different types of biomass. Examples of biomass are:

  • animal manure
  • plant residues
  • food waste
  • other natural waste products from plants or animals

In all-purpose digestion, these materials can be processed together in a digester. Inside this closed tank, bacteria break down the material without oxygen. This process produces biogas. The biogas can then be upgraded into renewable gas (green gas).

Which biomass can you use?

You can apply for a subsidy for almost all types of biomass. This also includes the co-digestion of manure. In manure co-digestion, animal manure is mixed with other approved materials to produce renewable energy. The approved materials are listed in Article 7c of the Algemene uitvoeringsregeling stimulering duurzame energieproductie en klimaattransitie.

To receive a subsidy, the biomass you use must produce at least 25 Nm³ of natural gas equivalent per tonne of biomass.

New and existing installations

You can apply for a subsidy for:

  • New installations
    At least the digester itself must be new.
  • Existing installations
    • You may convert an existing CHP (Combined Heat and Power) installation into a renewable gas installation.
    • You may continue operating a green gas installation if at least 9 years of the subsidy period have already passed.

Manure mono-digestion

Mono-manure digestion is a way to produce biogas using only animal manure. The manure is placed in an anaerobic digester. In this closed tank, bacteria break down the manure without oxygen. This process produces biogas. The biogas can be upgraded into renewable gas (green gas).

Mono-manure digestion is a way to produce renewable gas. Only animal manure may be used. You are not allowed to add any other materials (co-products).

New installations

For new installations, at least the anaerobic digester must be new. You can apply in one of the following three capacity categories:

  • 110 kW or less
  • more than 110 kW and up to 1,500 kW
  • more than 1,500 kW

Existing installations

You can also apply for a subsidy for:

  • An existing CHP (Combined Heat and Power) installation that is converted into a renewable gas installation, with a capacity of up to 1,500 kW.
  • The continued operation of a green gas installation with a capacity of up to 1,500 kW. At the time of application, at least 9 years of the subsidy period must have passed.

Sewage treatment plant (STP)

Sewage sludge digestion is a process in which micro-organisms break down sludge in the absence of oxygen (under anaerobic conditions). During this process, biogas is produced. This biogas can be upgraded into renewable gas (green gas).

There is no specific technology required to qualify for a subsidy. This gives more opportunity to use innovative technologies. Wastewater treatment plants also vary greatly in size and type of installation.

You can apply for a subsidy for:

  • Improvements to the production process that result in at least 25% more biogas per tonne of sludge compared to before the improvement. The installation components responsible for the additional biogas production must be new.
  • An installation in which at least the gas upgrading unit is new. This unit upgrades biogas to natural gas quality. In this category, you can, for example, switch from producing electricity and heat with a CHP (Combined Heat and Power) installation to producing renewable gas.

Applying for biomass gasification

Biomass gasification is a process in which biomass, such as wood or plant residues, is converted into bio-syngas at a high temperature and with very little oxygen.

Before the gas can be injected into the gas grid, the bio-syngas must first be converted into methane. You can only receive a subsidy after this conversion has taken place.

You can choose between the following subcategories:

  • clean biomass
  • a mixture of clean biomass and B-wood

B-wood is treated or processed wood. Examples include painted wood, glued wood, and particle board.

Sustainability criteria for biomass

If your renewable gas installation generates 2 MW or more, RED sustainability requirements apply. You must show that the biomass you use meets the RED requirements. You do this by using certification schemes approved by the European Commission (EC). In most cases, your company must also be certified.

Read more about the rules and limits on our website, on RED sustainability criteria for biomass for the SDE++ scheme.

Combined applications

You can combine applications for production installations that are part of a renewable gas hub. A renewable gas hub is a group of installations that produce renewable gas. The hub uses one or more connections to feed the renewable gas into the gas grid.

Combining applications can be useful if you want to do the project together with other applicants, but only if all applications in the group receive a subsidy.

If more subsidy is requested on one day than the budget allows, we rank the applications by subsidy intensity, in euros per ton of CO₂ reduction. For a combined application, we use the highest amount from the group. If it becomes necessary to draw lots, we treat the group as one single application.

You need certificates

If you produce green gas, you can apply for Guarantees of Origin (GOs) from VertiCer. These certificates show that your gas is renewable.

From 1 July 2025, you can tell VertiCer each month how you want to use your GOs. You can choose a different use each month, for example to obtain Emission Reduction Units (ERUs).

Emission Reduction Units (ERUs) are certificates that show how much CO2 emissions have been avoided through the use of renewable energy in transport. From 2026, ERUs replace the former Renewable Fuel Units (RFUs). RFUs were based on the amount of renewable energy supplied. ERUs are based on the actual reduction in CO2 emissions.

Please note: if you convert your GOs into ERUs, you will not receive SDE subsidy for that production. You cannot receive both ERUs and SDE subsidy for the same amount of gas produced.

Value of GvOs in the correction amount

Guarantees of Origin (GOs) are tradable certificates. As a result, they have a financial value that is included in the final correction amount.

There is no official market price for GOs. Therefore, we determine their value based on the benefit they provide within the Emissions Trading System (ETS). This benefit arises when you sell a GO to a company that wants to make its gas consumption more sustainable.

An ETS price of € 80 per tonne of CO2 is equal to a correction value of approximately € 0.015 per kWh of green gas produced.

Requirements for your gas

There are 2 requirement for the gas you produce:

  • The gas you produce must meet the quality standards of the gas grid operator.
  • You have to feed the gas into the gas network.

Download a table with tariffs for your installation

Would you like to know the amounts that apply to the category you are interested in? Download the table Tariffs Renewable gas SDE++.

Download a table with documents you need

Would you like to know which attachments you need to include with your application? Download the table Attachments SDE Renewable gas.

Commissioned by:
  • Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy
Is part of:
Renewable energy and climate change