A message from Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive, ADBA – Co-host of The World Biogas Expo

A message from Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive, ADBA

2020 marks the beginning of a critical decade for climate change mitigation, which means the anaerobic digestion and biogas industry has an unprecedented opportunity to deliver the huge contribution it can make towards the UK’s sustainability goals. Quite simply, there is no Net Zero without biogas.
Here is what we’re doing this year to ‘#makeithappen’:

Lobbying and campaigning
Every day, ADBA is lobbying on behalf of the industry to high-level officials, thought-leaders and parliamentarians. We have sent letters to all the new cabinet ministers, and are giving our ongoing recommendations on:

• The Budget
• Development of the UK’s Nationally Determined Contribution to the Paris Agreement
• The comprehensive Spending Review
• UK’s preparation for COP26

Our priority policy asks as we lobby government on your behalf are:

• Immediate support for renewable heat, including biomethane, beyond 2021
• Commitment to the continuation of the RTFO beyond 2032, including a price guarantee
• Targeted innovation funding to support key aspects of the industry
• Establishment of material hierarchies for all organic wastes with AD as the optimal recycling technology
• Development of a renewable biofertiliser obligation
• Support for small businesses and community projects on circular economy, using AD to transform local waste into local heat and power

We are working closely with key organisations to align and amplify our messaging with government and industry stakeholders. These include: National Farmers’ Union (NFU), Country Land and Business Association (CLA), Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), Association of Directors of Environment, Economy, Planning & Transport (ADEPT), National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO), Local Government Association (LGA), and Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), Energy Networks Association (ENA), Gas Vehicle Network, Low Carbon Vehicle Partnership (LowCVP), Committee on Climate Change (CCC).

Reports
On 2nd March, ADBA launched our report “Biomethane: The Pathway to 2030.” Biomethane through AD has the potential to deliver a 6% reduction of total UK GHG emissions. With the Committee on Climate Change describing biomethane as the no regrets option for the hardest to decarbonise sectors, ADBA launched the report at the UK Houses of Parliament to ensure all stakeholders and Parliamentarians are aware of the huge contribution AD can make to solving the Climate Crisis, using technology that is available today.

We are also commencing work on our next reports, “AD and the Countryside” and “Achieving Net Zero Together: Complementarities in the Future UK Energy System.” The “AD and the Countryside” report will look at the vital role of AD in decarbonising agriculture, and the numerous environment and economic benefits this brings to rural communities. The “Achieving Net Zero Together” report will look at the complementarities in our future energy system, considering how alternative renewable energy sources can deliver the greatest benefits when operating within an integrated system. We will be partnering with key organisations to deliver these reports with as much stakeholder engagement as possible.

Declaration
ADBA fully supports the World Biogas Association (WBA)’s recent industry declaration and commitment to deliver our full potential by 2030. and will shortly be inviting you all to sign a UK Declaration, outlining what we commit to deliver here in the UK and what we need from the government to achieve this commitment.

Consultations
There are pivotal government consultations planned for this year, including Greening the Gas Grid and the second consultation on separate collection of food waste in England. As we develop our responses to these we will be actively engaging with you, our members, to ensure we are representing your views. Look out for our communications on these and make sure you tell us what you think.
We are also representing your views in numerous regulatory consultations with the Environment Agency and Ofgem.

Events
Scotland is ahead of the game when it comes to integrating waste and energy streams and food and farming production to deliver net zero. ADBA is organising its fourth Scottish Conference on 12th March to give an inside look at Scotland’s circular economy policy and growing commercial opportunities.

The World Biogas Expo, hosted by ADBA and WBA on 1st-2nd July 2020, is the largest trade show solely dedicated to anaerobic digestion and biogas. The event is co-located with the World Biogas Summit, the global thought-leadership forum for the AD and biogas industry, also hosted by ADBA and WBA.

The AD and biogas industry can deliver over 30% of the UK’s 2030 Carbon Budget. So we’re kicking-off this decade proactively with reports, lobbying, commitments, consultations and events to ensure we deliver all of our potential by 2030.

There is a lot to do, which means huge commercial opportunities for all of you, so please join us in the movement to #makeithappen!

Best regards,

Charlotte Morton