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Biogas: delivering sustainable growth, energy security and a circular economy – ADBA National Conference 2025, London, 10 December

Biogas: delivering sustainable growth, energy security and a circular economy
ADBA National Conference 2025, London, 10 December

  • The annual National Conference by the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) will take place at 1 Great George Street, London on Wednesday 10 December.
  • Lord Whitehead CBE, author of the Greenhouse Gas Removals Review and recently appointed Minister of State at the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero will deliver the keynote speech.
  • Other participating politicians include Toby Perkins MP (Labour), chair of the Environmental Audit Select Committee, and Graham Leadbitter MP (SNP)
  • Ilkem Yildiz, Global Utilities, Energy and Decarbonisation Procurement Lead, Unilever will also be delivering a keynote address

From policy and regulation to innovation, operations and global markets, this year’s  ADBA National Conference in London on 10 December will hold the essential discussions required to advance the UK’s biogas and biomethane sector and accelerate the transition to net zero.

Organised by ADBA under the theme Biogas: delivering sustainable growth, energy security and a circular economy, the conference will provide the latest industry insights, explore policy opportunities for biomethane, review the next generation of nutrients strategies and look at local and global demand.  Break-out sessions will also put the spotlight on environmental, financial and skills aspects of the sector as well as more specific topics such as food waste collections, small-scale AD and Feed-In-Tariffs. This year’s programme has been developed by a Content Steering Committee consisting of leading UK experts and industry representatives, whose knowledge and experience ensure it is both important for the sector’s future and useful for day-to-day practice.

Taking place soon after Lord Whitehead’s Greenhouse Gas Removals (GGRs) review which highlights the value of biogas in achieving the UK’s net zero targets, the conference will also see the launch of ADBA’s latest report exploring how aligning biomethane production with GGRs can deliver an even greater net-zero dividend for the UK economy and the for the AD sector.  We’ll be delighted to welcome Lord Whitehead as our keynote speaker opening the proceedings.

The conference will be chaired by former Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, now Chair of ADBA.  Confirmed speakers alongside Lord Whitehead and the ADBA senior management and policy team include

  • Toby Perkins MP, chair of the Environmental Audit Committee
  • Graham Leadbitter MP, SNP
  • Ilkem Yildiz, Global Utilities, Energy and Decarbonisation Lead, Unilever
  • Dr Jonathan Scurlock, Chief Adviser Renewable Energy and Climate Change, NFU
  • James Earl, Chief Executive, Future Energy Network
  • David McKee, Interim CEO, Bio Capital
  • Dr Tom Arnot, Senior Lecturer and Director, Water Innovation and Research Consortium, University of Bath
  • Mark Richmond, Chair, ADBA Food Waste Working Group and Technical Director, WRM
  • Cathy Cook, Chair, Larac and Senior Advisor, ReFood
  • Charles McAllister, Director, Green Gas Taskforce
  • Lucy Hopwood, Business Development Lead & Principal Consultant, Alder BioInsights
  • Dr Nick Primmer, Policy Lead, Future Biogas

View the full programme.

-ENDS-

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

Jocelyne Bia, Senior Communications Consultant
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 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

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.

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