ADBA to Launch Pre-Parliamentary Elections Green Gas Manifesto at its Scottish Conference

At next week’s ADBA Scottish Conference, ADBA will be launching its ‘Green Gas Manifesto’ setting out what the Scottish Government will need to do to ensure the sector does not only survive, but thrives on the journey to net zero.

The manifesto, entitled ‘Powering Prosperity’ is aimed at all political parties in Scotland ahead of the parliamentary elections taking place on Thursday 7 May.

Delegates at the conference will be first to hear about the policies ADBA will be advocating that the next Scottish Government should adopt, and will receive a copy of the manifesto to share with their local candidates.

The manifesto will be published online after its formal launch at the conference and will be available on the ADBA website.

We encourage all Scotland-based members, operators, farmers and others to share with their candidates and join us in advocating for the continued success of our sector.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Policysupport@adbioresources.org

View the full conference programme and register.

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For further information, contact:

Jocelyne Bia, Head of Corporate Communications, ADBA
e: jocelyne.bia@adbioresources.org; tel: 020 3176 0592

Notes to editors

About ADBA

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 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 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 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 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 = taking 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 – a stable, nutrient-rich substance used as a biofertiliser which restores soil health.