To realize the sustainability potential of biogas solutions, there need to be sufficiently good societal conditions and strategies among public organizations. Biogas solutions involve several sectors, many actors, and depend on various types of infrastructure. This also makes them particularly sensitive to policy changes and makes them dependent on long-term strategies. New knowledge is needed to better understand the necessary societal conditions and which strategies are most effective.

To best utilize the potential of biogas solutions, production systems need to be located and designed for the highest possible resource efficiency. A good mix of various substrates should be available, a suitable digestion technology should be chosen, and a good product mix of biogas, biofertilizer, and potentially several other products should be developed. The production system for biogas often forms a part of other systems within the industrial, energy, waste, or agricultural sectors and can make these more sustainable.

Well-functioning digestion processes convert organic material to methane in a stable and efficient manner. These require an environment in the biogas reactor that works well for the entire microbial community involved in the processes. There is good knowledge of how to create a favorable environment in the reactor through co-digestion of various substrates, pre- and post-treatment, additions of various substances, stirring, etc., but there is more to discover in understanding and developing the digestion processes.

Biogas solutions have three main products/services; (i) treatment of troublesome waste, (ii) renewable energy that is often upgraded to biomethane, and (iii) a renewable biofertilizer. In addition to these, carbon dioxide can be separated, purified, and become yet another product. The purified biogas can either be compressed or liquefied and distributed via gas networks or transport on vehicles. Most of the gas is used for transport or in the industry. The biofertilizer replaces mineral fertilizer in agriculture.

The products and services of biogas solutions give rise to various societal effects. To describe these fairly, broad system studies are often needed that span multiple societal sectors, encompass life cycle perspectives, and map effects at multiple levels. Environmental effects arise through the avoidance of emissions from waste and manure and the replacement of fossil energy and nutrients. Furthermore, biogas solutions can make regions, cities, and industries more self-sufficient and resilient, creating a wide footprint of sustainability.