Conference to address how to unlock biogas to energise Northern Ireland’s future

The annual conference organised by the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) returns to the ICC Belfast on 23 September.

Andrew Muir MLA, minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Northern Ireland Executive, will for the second year running provide the keynote address – illustrating the ongoing support of the Northern Ireland Assembly for a successful deployment of the anaerobic digestion and biogas technology in the region.

Chris Huhne, Chair of ADBA and former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, said:

“Across Northern Ireland, the AD sector is ready to lead a new energy future – but projects are stuck in limbo and optimism is fading. This conference is a chance to change that. We’ll shine a spotlight on what’s working, tackle what’s not and unlock the power of biogas to move forward.”

Northern Ireland’s AD sector holds transformative potential for clean energy, smarter nutrient management, rural economic growth, and meaningful climate action. Yet despite strong recognition of its promise, progress has stalled, meaning many projects remain undeveloped and momentum has faded since the milestone first gas grid injection at Granville Eco Park.

Chaired by Chris Huhne, the conference will provide insights on:

• what is currently holding the sector back in Northern Ireland and how to restore the momentum
• local projects that have overcome common challenges around planning, feedstock, and finance.
• the role of AD in nutrient management, looking at how policy and planning can support responsible delivery and new developments such as DAERA’s Nutrients Action Programme.
• international case studies with similarities to Northern Ireland – focusing on integrated delivery, public-private coordination, and strategic infrastructure.
• financing AD in Northern Ireland and what makes a strong case for investors
• how to improve performance, reduce downtime, and future-proof AD plants through automation, better feedstock management, and smart technology

Confirmed speakers, alongside the ADBA policy team, include:

• Mark Stevenson, Director of Regulation, Firmus Energy
• Jack Blakiston-Houston, Director, BH Estates
• Dr Gary Lyons, Senior Scientific Officer, Agri-Food and Bioscience Institute (ADBI)
• Owen Elson, Business Development Manager, SGN
• Charles McAllister, Director, Green Gas Taskforce
• Stephen Robb, Renewables Editor, Irish Farmer’s Journal
• Richard O’Loughlin, Vogelsang Ireland Technical Biogas Consultant
• Dr James Young, Technical Lead, Centre for Competitiveness

(1) Site visits to two AD plants will be organised by ADBA on 22 September – the day before the conference.  Please contact Montana Hull at montana.hull@adbioresources.org to find out more and register.

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For further information and to request your media accreditation, contact:

Jocelyne Bia, Head of Corporate Communications, PR and Brand Management
e: Jocelyne.bia@adbioresources.org ; tel: 020 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 and other policy goals, creating a truly circular economy. www.adbioresources.org

About the UK AD industry

• There are currently over 750 AD plants operational in the UK
• The entire industry digests approximately 36 million tonnes of organic material each year – organic material that would otherwise emit greenhouse gases including highly potent methane, if left untreated or in landfill.
• An estimated 21 TWh 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 reduces 1% of 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 2050, the UK AD and biogas industry is expected to:
  • Produce over 100TWh of biomethane
  • Provide between 20% and 50% of UK gas demand
  • create 30,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs.
  • save the UK 27 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent, which is the same astaking 1/3rd of all cars off the road
  • heat 6.8 million UK homes with the 8 billion m3 of biomethane generated

How AD works

Anaerobic 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, which can be used as a biofertiliser.  The graphic below shows the applications of biogas and digestate and circularity of the AD process.