Angela Bywater from the Global Centre for Sustainable Bioproducts (GCSB), who is also our former EBNet Network Co-Manager and a pillar of the AD WG, reports on some highlights of ADBA‘s recent National Conference:
“With a packed house and a long waiting list, the 2025 ADBA National Conference had a buzz of excitement around the latest news in the anaerobic digestion world.
Dr Alan Whitehead was welcomed back as a keynote speaker in his new appointment as Minister of State  for the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) and a former MP for Southampton Test for many years. With his vast knowledge of energy systems, the green agenda and how the UK can move towards Net Zero in an achievable manner, there have been universal accolades on his appointment. Indeed, a few comments showed surprise and approval that a subject expert had been appointed to a government department, a relatively rare occurrence. Although it is early days, Alan noted that the nature of AD is unique as it is cross-departmental, so there is a need to break down silos across planning, DESNZ, Treasury, Defra, Circular Economy and more – including engagement with the devolved administrations.
The UK emissions trading scheme (UK ETS), also featured in both the keynote and policy discussions at the conference. In order to secure market growth and investment a mechanism is needed to inject biomethane and access the ETS. The Minister also pointed out the importance of farm-scale AD as part of the industry.
The conference coincided with the welcome announcement of the continuation of the Green Gas Support Scheme until 2030, although Lord Whitehead recognised that a long term framework is needed for sustained growth, long-term investor security and to address the future viability of plants built under FITS and ROC support schemes so that vital infrastructure is not lost when those end.
During the day, there were a number of references to the excellent recent report prepared by Lucy Hopwood and her team at Alder Bioinsights for the Green Gas Task Force on feedstock potential for biomethane. The report examines the availability of sustainable feedstocks in the UK and determines that there is sufficient resource to generate 50 TWh of biomethane per annum by 2030, rising to 120 TWh by 2050. This could be achieved using crops grown in rotation or as sequential crop rotations in order to not compete with food crops.
ADBA also launched a key report on The Worldâs Cheapest Cleaner: Why carbon capture from biogas upgrading makes sense. The report looks at the unique benefit of the process: it takes CO2 out of the atmosphere more cheaply than any other currently available technology and many prospective ones. Every single part of the production chain is proven, tested, and operational. Although numbers vary, they are all less than ÂŁ160 per tonne to get bioCO2 into storage.
Permanent storage of CO2 is certainly an option, but there are increasing opportunities for this biogenic carbon to be utilised in the chemistry sector for de-fossilisation of some of the products produced here. In addition, some of the wider narrative has promoted biomass use for âproductsâ over their use for âenergyâ, but this does not recognise the myriad use cases for anaerobic digestion and biomethane.
Stuart Cole, for example, described how AD fits into his rural Devon poultry and beef farm. He has reduced fossil fertiliser use by 99%, increased soil carbon, uses heat from his AD plant for his local poultry houses and for drying wood chip, has electrified some of the farm equipment, sells electricity locally via private wire and upgrades some biogas for use in two New Holland biomethane tractors. His farm is off the gas grid and also utilises biomass boilers for poultry shed heating, and a small wind turbine for further electricity production.   The Nomansland Energy Hub enterprise has also grown to operate a pub, farm shop, cafe and eco-laundry. The farm enterprise is thus able to better utilise its own biomass locally rather than sending a relatively small quantity many miles to a centralised biorefinery.
There were lots of positive messages, a real boost for the industry with the appointment of Alan Whitehead and a number of hurdles still to be overcome, not least with the development of a long-term biomethane policy which supports AD as part of the UKâs transition to net zero and a low carbon economy”.
Angela Bywater is the Center Manager for the UK side of the GCSB, which is led by Prof Jhuma Sadhukhan. Many thanks for a great update!
