“Welcome – if belated – recognition of the value of biogas, but much more left to be done and urgently” – biogas association says in response to Biomass Strategy publication

“Welcome – if belated – recognition of the value of biogas, but much more left to be done and urgently” – biogas association says in response to Biomass Strategy publication

The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) welcomes the publication, today, of the UK Government Biomass Strategy, and the recognition of the critical role that biogas and biomethane will play in the energy transition. It however regrets the time it’s taken and highlights the long road ahead for government to realise this potential.

Chris Huhne, Chairman of ADBA and former Energy and Climate Change Secretary, said: “The UK Government has been uniquely slow – by comparison with both the United States and the European Union – to encourage biogas, now included in the Biomass strategy, as part of the energy transition. This is a welcome, if belated recognition of the priority uses to meet net zero, but more targeted support is needed to unlock the potential of key biogas feedstocks. Manures, slurries and agricultural residues are the biggest area of growth for the biogas industry, but the potential will be untapped without ministerial heft and push.”

“Methane is twenty times more powerful than CO2 as a greenhouse gas“ Chris continues, “Biogas provides a quick win when time is pressing. Sustainable biomass is key to achieve Net Zero and whilst we applaud the publication of the Biomass Strategy, which has been two years in the making, we urge the Government to urgently publish the Sustainability Criteria Consultation that was expected to go hand in hand with it”.

-ENDS-

For further information, contact:
Jocelyne Bia, Senior Communication Consultant
e: Jocelyne.bia@adbioresources.org; tel: 020 31760592

Notes to editors

• About methane
  Methane is a potent greenhouse gas that has a far more powerful global warming effect than carbon dioxide, around 80 times greater per tonne emitted than carbon dioxide over 20 years and around 30 times greater over 100 years. Scientific research estimates that 25% of today’s warming is driven by methane from human activities. Compared to carbon dioxide, methane has a considerably shorter atmospheric lifetime of 12 years rather than centuries. This means that taking action can rapidly reduce atmospheric concentrations and in turn rates of warming in the near term. (source: UK Government methane memorandum). See also: Massachusetts Institute of Technology

• 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