ADBA welcomes Government’s recognition of biomethane flexibility in Clean Flexibility Roadmap

ADBA welcomes Government’s recognition of biomethane flexibility in Clean Flexibility Roadmap

On 23 July, the Government released its Clean Flexibility Roadmap, in which it recognised that biomethane is currently used to decarbonise heating, but can be used flexibly across many different end-uses including industry, transport, and low carbon dispatchable power generation at gas-fired power plants.

The roadmap makes 17 references to biomethane and lists actions relating to this green gas that include:

• Government working with the Network Energy Systems Operators (NESO) to clarify the role of biomethane in providing low carbon dispatchable power and refine its vision for biomethane’s 2030-2050 role alongside hydrogen and gas.
• Ofgem and DESNZ enabling an increase in the injection of biomethane into the gas network which could deliver more low carbon dispatchable power.

Dr Gareth Mottram, Policy Lead at the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), welcomed the report, commenting:

“The flexibility roadmap is a massive shift for the government. Up to this point the focus of biomethane has been on a domestic heat front. For the first time, a government document makes the case that it is desirable to generate biomethane injected into the gas networks and use this for inter seasonal and peak balancing in existing gas turbine power plants.  We made that case in our report “the Role of Green Gas in Net Zero” published last December.  So, this is a particularly satisfying read for us.”

Alongside the recent inclusion of 65TWh of biomethane in the Future Energy Scenarios published last week by the National Energy System Operator (NESO), this is the strongest indicator yet that the UK government is starting to take the potential of biomethane seriously. A clear vision for using biomethane to backup electricity generation, as well as industrial and domestic heat, is now emerging.

However, both publications still fail to embrace the potential of biomethane upgrading to do the job of carbon removals, which it can do more cheaply than any other technology.  Taking this potential into account, the sector becomes even more essential to meeting the decarbonisation needs of the UK at the most competitive cost.”

–ENDS –

For further information, contact:

Jocelyne Bia, Head of Corporate Communications, PR and Brand Management

e: jocelyne.bia@adbioresources.org; t: +44 (0)20 3176 0592

Notes to editors:

• The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association(ADBA) is the trade association for the UK anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas industry. ADBA’s vision is to see the full potential of the UK AD industry realised so it can help the UK achieve its emissions targets, energy and food security and other policy goals, creating a truly circular economy. adbioresources.org
• ADBA is a partner in the Green Gas Taskforce – a collaboration between ten of Great Britain’s largest biomethane generators, shippers and traders, all five British gas networks, and four important industry groups, launched in April 2025. The Taskforce will be producing key reports and analysis, outlining the scope for growth of biomethane in Great Britain and the significant contribution it can deliver to the decarbonisation and energy security of the country.
• Commissioned by ADBA, the “Role of Green Gas in Net Zero” report published in December 2024 provides an analysis conducted by BMA (Business Modelling Applications) of how the cost of meeting Britain’s net zero targets in 2050 could be nearly £300 billion less than official projections. Using BMA’s AI-assisted DecisioTM whole energy planning system and drawing on the the AI-assisted whole energy system model used by DESNZ and NESO, the study reveals that the equivalent to £415 for every household could be saved every year from a greater use of home-grown renewable green gas in the energy mix.
• About the AD industry 
  • There are currently 756 AD plants operational in the UK
  • The entire industry digests approximately 36 million tonnes of organic wastes each year – organic material that would otherwise emit greenhouse gases including highly potent methane, if left untreated in landfill.
  • An estimated 21TWh of biogas is produced each year by the AD industry – this green gas is either used to generate electricity and heat via a combined heat and power (CHP) unit or upgraded to biomethane and injected directly into the national gas grid.
  • The industry currently delivers savings of 1% off the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions every year.
  • An estimated 4,800 people are currently employed in the AD and biogas industry in the UK.
  • Overall the industry grew by 5 per cent last year as the closure of older, smaller plants was outweighed by big-scale units feeding into the gas grid.
  • Fully deployed, by 2030, the UK AD and biogas industry expected to:
    • create 30,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs.
    • save the UK 27 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent = taking 1/3rd of all cars off the road, by 2030.
    • heat 6.8 million UK homes with the 8 billion m3 of biomethane generated

• How AD worksAnaerobic digestion (AD) is the natural breakdown of organic matter when deprived of oxygen in a container called digester. The process produces biogas, and a residue called digestate – a stable, nutrient-rich substance used as a biofertiliser which restores soil health.