Biomethane key to Northern Ireland’s Net Zero Future, say industry leaders at 2025 ADBA Conference

Biomethane key to Northern Ireland’s Net Zero Future, say industry leaders at 2025 ADBA Conference

Industry leaders, policymakers, and investors gathered at the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) Northern Ireland Conference at the ICC Belfast last month to explore how to unlock Northern Ireland’s vast biomethane potential and cement its role in delivering the region’s net zero and circular economy goals.

Opening the conference on 23 September, Chris Huhne, ADBA Chair, emphasised Northern Ireland’s unique position: “No other region in the UK has such abundant agricultural and livestock resources. Northern Ireland has the greatest potential to lead the biomethane revolution — the question is no longer how, but why it needs biomethane?”

In a policy and market update, Dr Gareth Mottram, ADBA’s Policy Lead, highlighted that Northern Ireland could produce up to 6.5 TWh of biogas — exceeding the Republic of Ireland’s 2030 target — and reduce emissions by around 1 million tonnes of CO₂ annually. He urged policymakers to include Northern Ireland in the forthcoming successor to the Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) and to clarify the rules for the Republic of Ireland’s Renewable Heat Obligation (RHO).

“Biogas can support both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland’s energy needs,” said Dr Mottram. With the right framework, we can save households money, support farming, and strengthen energy security. Biogas also represents a huge opportunity for export towards Great Britain.”

Government Commitment and Collaboration

Delivering the keynote address, Andrew Muir MLA, Minister for Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs, reaffirmed the NI government’s commitment to biomethane as part of the energy transition, explaining how it plays a clear role in tackling climate change while supporting resilient agricultural communities.

The Minister also highlighted new funding, including £50,000 for proof-of-concept projects and £9 million for shared bioeconomy projects announced earlier this month, as well as efforts to promote  cross-departmental collaboration within the Northern Ireland government, notably with the Department for Economy.

Investment, Regulation, and “Joined-Up Thinking” Needed

Throughout the day, speakers from Kinecx, A&L Goodbody, Green Gas Task Force, Manby BGE, SGS, Ulster Farmers’ Union, BH Estates, Encirc, SGN Green Gas Solutions, Verdant Analytix, Vogelsang, AFBI and Anaergia called for clarity, stability, and collaboration across departments and regulators. They noted that the absence of a clear policy framework has stalled momentum since 2021.

Mark Stevenson of Kinecx noted that policy  gaps and fragmented regulation were holding back investment, calling Northern Ireland to adopt a joined-up approach between the Department for the Economy and DAERA to realise its biomethane potential.

Charles McAllister of the Green Gas Task Force added that biomethane could offset up to 13% of the UK’s net zero target, urging the creation of a national biomethane target and a UK-wide case study to showcase best practice.

Circular Economy and Nutrient Management Solutions

A recurring theme across sessions was that anaerobic digestion (AD) is more than an energy solution — it’s a cornerstone of nutrient management, waste reduction, and agricultural resilience. Dr James Young of the Centre for Competitiveness presented the Mid-Ulster Eco-Cycling Centre as a model for linking agriculture, renewable energy, and local economic development.

Speakers also discussed how AD can help address the Lough Neagh nutrient pollution crisis, with calls for targeted action on the 20% of sites responsible for 80% of phosphorus runoff — creating both environmental gains and feedstock continuity for AD plants.

Making AD Investable
Investors and developers stressed the need for clear market access and financial certainty. James Dorman of Manby BGE, which employs 150 people in a £300 million biorefinery project, explained that investors needed confidence — in the feedstock, in the planning, and in the policy. Given the right signals, Northern Ireland could attract large-scale green investment and export renewable gas across the island.

Next Steps for ADBA in Northern Ireland

The conference concluded with a call from the attendees for ADBA to appoint a full-time policy and public affairs representative in Northern Ireland, to strengthen collaboration with the agri-food industry and policymakers, and to ensure the sector’s voice is heard in the development of future support schemes.

Reflecting on the day’s proceedings, Chris Huhne said: “This ADBA Northern Ireland conference was the most focussed yet on how we finally begin to exploit the region’s massive potential for biogas. Minister Muir showed that he understood the importance of anaerobic digestion in staunching the nutrient overload that is wrecking Lough Neagh, and it is surely just a matter of time before such a visible environmental problem is addressed.

Northern Ireland has the resources, the expertise, and the urgency to lead the UK in biomethane production. What’s needed now is policy certainty and partnership — to turn potential into progress.

I came away optimistic that the northern Irish sector, which has been marking time for so long, can succeed in another big push forward. In particular, it is not hyperbole to say that the future of the northern Irish livestock sector, the biggest protein producer in the UK, depends on our success. There will be no net zero in agriculture without AD, biogas and bio-fertiliser”.

 

– ENDS –

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

• Key themes emerging across NI Conference presentations
  

1. 1. Policy and Regulation
      The absence of clear, supportive policy frameworks remains a major barrier to progress. Northern Ireland needs action rather than debate. Harmonisation of policies and regulatory measures is essential to ensure they complement, rather than compete with, one another.
   2. Beyond an energy solution
      Biogas must be promoted as more than just an energy solution — it is a key component of nutrient management. Greater engagement is needed with a broad range of stakeholders to highlight the wider benefits of biogas. The valorisation of AD by-products, particularly digestate, emerged as a recurring priority.
   3. Building engagement and visibility
      There is a pressing need to communicate Northern Ireland’s strengths and successes. Building a social licence through public engagement is critical, as is proactive outreach to policymakers and politicians through site visits to operational anaerobic digestion (AD) plants and showcasing visible success stories to build understanding.
   4. Partnership and collaboration
      Growing and supporting the industry requires collaboration across all stakeholders. Partnerships between government departments is crucial, but they must also extend across sectors such as food and drink, agriculture, investment, and the wider public.
   5. Financing and Investability
      For investors to have confidence, the industry needs certainty, clarity, and long-term security. Subsidies and the socialisation of grid connection costs were identified as key enablers for future investment.
   6. Restoring momentum
      After a period of strong progress, growth in Northern Ireland’s AD sector has stalled. Addressing the policy, financial, and engagement barriers outlined above will be critical to regaining momentum and realising the full potential of the industry.

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