DAERA to headline 2023 Northern Ireland conference on anaerobic digestion and biogas

DAERA to headline 2023 Northern Ireland conference on anaerobic digestion and biogas
Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) will host the event at the ICC Belfast on 7th September.

Jonathan McFerran, Deputy Director of Green Growth and Climate Action Delivery, Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Northern Ireland Executive, will provide the keynote address at the ADBA Northern Ireland Conference 2023, taking place in Belfast on 7th September.

Organised by the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), and chaired by former Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne, now chair of ADBA, the full-day conference – entitled AD and Biogas: Accelerating the Net Zero transition, will discuss:

• The benefits of anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas for the environment, energy and the economy in NI
• Biomethane injection into the gas grid
• On-farm AD and agriculture in NI
• AD opportunities in NI’s circular economy strategy
• Funding biogas projects in NI

ADBA Policy Analyst Wasundara Doradeniya will make the case for biogas in Northern Ireland. The conference will also feature a dedicated “Ask the Experts” session enabling delegates to ask all questions AD.

Confirmed speakers include:

• John McLenaghan, Deputy President, Ulster Farmers Union
• Russell Smyth, Partner, KPMG
• Professor Stuart L. James, Research Centre in Sustainable Energy, Queen’s University Belfast
• Declan McLaughlin, Head of Projects, Bio Capital
• David Porter, Director, Realistic Agri
• Veronika Gallagher, Regulatory Analyst, Utility Regulator
• Rachael Hook, Head of Recycling & Waste Sector Climate Action Plan, DAERA, Northern Ireland Executive
• Emma-Louise Kells, Environmental Advisor, Department of Agriculture, Business in the Community Northern Ireland
• Martin Doherty, Centre Manager, Centre for Advanced Sustainable Energy
• Iria Nicholas, Principal Process Engineer, SLR Consulting
• Shane Doherty, Biomethane Development, Renewable Transport Fuel Services Ltd (RTFS)

The recent launch of a biomethane to grid project in Northern Ireland illustrates the increasing role played by our industry in supporting the country’s transition to Net Zero. The ADBA Northern Ireland Conference promises to provide a wealth of information on the outlook of AD and biogas in the province and how it can be rapidly scaled up there. It’s an important conference to attend for all stakeholders involved in delivering on the Northern Ireland Government’s decarbonisation ambitions.

View the full programme and register

– 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 727 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 19.7 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.

• How AD works