Aberdeen conference to showcase how biogas can help Scotland achieve its 2045 Net Zero objectives, as Scottish energy minister and leading political parties join the debate

 

• The ADBA Scottish Conference 2024 will take place at the P&J Arena in Aberdeen on 23 May
• Gillian Martin MSP, Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work will deliver the keynote speech
• Rhoda Grant MSP (Labour) and Maurice Golden MSP (Conservatives) will also participate in the event

The announcement on 18 April that the Scottish Government was dropping its targets to reduce carbon emissions by 75% to 1990 levels by 2030, and introducing a new set of measures to achieve Net Zero by 2045, will undoubtedly drive proceedings at the conference on anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas to be held in Aberdeen on 23 May – with the current energy minister due to address the event alongside representatives from the leading opposition parties on what is expected to be a General Election year.

In light of this development, Chris Huhne, Chair of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association said:

“Scotland can and should get back on track for a world-beating performance in tackling climate change, and the biogas sector can play a big part. Scotland is already home to the biggest producers of biogas in Britain, and our industry can expand rapidly to both provide energy security and capture the harmful methane emissions that are so damaging for global warming”.

Organised by the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), the ADBA Scottish Conference 2024 will welcome biogas industry experts alongside the minister and senior Scottish parliamentarians to explore how the sector can support Scotland with meeting its environmental and economic objectives.

Throughout the day, speakers will highlight the potential of AD and biogas to support Scotland’s Net Zero ambition as well as the barriers to growth that government officials need to lift to realise this potential and achieve the country’s 2045 emissions reduction targets.  This will be also in response to a Parliamentary Members’ Debate hosted by Maurice Golden MSP taking place on 13 May to discuss AD in Scotland, with Mr Golden expected to report back on the outcomes of the discussion at the conference.

“We look forward to welcoming the energy minister at this conference”, added Chris Huhne. “This will be a timely opportunity to set out the steps needed to speed up tackling climate change, and to engage with key decision-makers and stakeholders, whose expertise is crucial to the transition from fossil fuels to renewables.”

Confirmed speakers include:

• Gillian Martin MSP, Minister for Energy, Just Transition and Fair Work, the Scottish Government (SNP),
• Rhoda Grant MSP, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and the Islands (Scottish Labour) and
• Maurice Golden MSP, Convener of the Cross-Party Group on Circular Economy, The Scottish Parliament (Conservative).
• Richard Gueterbock, Director, Foodchains
• Fiona Donaldson, Specialist – National Waste Unit, SEPA

View full programme

 

–ENDS –

TO MEMBERS OF THE PRESS: This will be a particularly timely event to attend to find out how the AD and biogas sector can respond to the Scottish Government’s new timeframe for Net Zero.  Free media accreditation is available and requests for interview with Chris Huhne, ADBA Chair and Former UK Energy Secretary for Energy and Climate Change, prior to the event, are welcome.

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

Jocelyne Bia, Senior Communications Consultant

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

 

Notes to editors

• The International Energy Agency has forecast that AD will be the second-fastest growing sector across the world by 2050. Should Scotland’s grow in line with the IEA’s global average between now and 2030, it would count approximately 180 AD plants by that date (from 67 currently), generating of green gas and other valuable bioresources for use in the energy, transport, agriculture and food and drink sectors.

• Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is a ready-to-use technology which transforms organic wastes such as food and agricultural waste, sewage, manure, and slurries into biogas/biomethane, a biofertiliser called digestate, bio-CO₂ and other valuable bioresources for application in the energy, agriculture, and transport sectors. How AD works

 

 

• About the UK AD industry
  • There are currently 720 AD plants operational in the UK – 67 in Scotland
  • The entire industry digests approximately 46 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 24 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 1% greenhouse gas savings in the UK every year.
  • An estimated 4,800 people are currently employed in the AD and biogas industry in the UK.
  • 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 4.5-6.4 million UK homes with the 8 billion m³ of biomethane generated.

 

• 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