Anaerobic Digestion trade association welcomes Green Gas Support Scheme application window extension to March 2028

Anaerobic Digestion trade association welcomes Green Gas Support Scheme application window extension to March 2028

The Department for Energy Strategy and Net Zero (DESNZ) announced on Saturday (21 October) that it was extending the deadline to apply to the Green Gas Support Scheme from the proposed 31 March 2026 in its Mid-Scheme review consultation to 31 March 2028.

This offers a two-year additional window for anaerobic digestion (AD) plant operators to ensure that at least 50% of the biomethane output from new AD sites is generated from organic wastes – the key criteria to receive government funding through GGSS. This coincides with Defra’s announcement of Separate Food Waste Collections needing to be put in place in England by 2026 – which will significantly increase the volume of organic waste feedstock available to AD operators.

Chris Huhne, chair of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), welcomed the announcement: “This extension of the application deadline for the Green Gas Support Scheme is great news for the industry. It follows the recommendation we had made to DESNZ in response to the mid-term scheme review they issued back in March. We had specifically requested at least two more years to allow AD operators to put the appropriate contracts and infrastructure in place to achieve the GGSS-eligibility ratio, and this will enable them to do so.”

This also means that we can expect a good amount of new biomethane plants coming online in the coming years – driving a spike in sector growth similar to when the Renewable Heat Incentive, Feed In Tariffs and Renewable Obligation schemes were introduced. Not only is this good for the industry, it’s also great news for society as a whole, as we address the impacts of climate change and seek to ensure energy and food security in the UK.”

The extension announcement comes ahead of the actual publication of the GGSS Mid-Scheme Review, which is due to be released before the year ends. ADBA also expects positive news on the other proposals outlined in the consultation.

-ENDS –

For further information, contact:
Jocelyne Bia, Senior Communications Consultant
e: Jocelyne.bia@adbioresources.org ; t: +44 (0)20 3176 0592

Notes to editors

• Launched in November 2021, the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) is a government environmental scheme that provides financial incentives for new anaerobic digestion biomethane plants to increase the proportion of green gas in the gas grid. It currently is the only support scheme ongoing for the biomethane plants.
• In its 2023 Mid-Scheme Review consultation, DESNZ proposed an extension of the scheme deadline to new applicants from the current November 2025 date to March 2026. In its response, ADBA asked for a minimum of 2-3 years extension as it would help plants prepare their applications with feedstock contracts, planning and permissions and other formalities.
• 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
• 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.
• About the AD industry
  • There are currently 723 AD plants operational in the UK.
  • The entire industry digests approximately 46 million tonnes of organic material each year – organic material that would otherwise emit greenhouse gas if left untreated in landfill.
  • An estimated 19.9 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. This is enough to heat 1.6 million UK homes.
  • 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 27m t 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.