News round-up from institutional partners of the World Biogas Expo
BiogasUnite representative Alene Adams was invited to attend the recent “Launching Ceremony on the Clean Cooking Roadmap & Investment Plan.” The event was hosted by the Etheopian Ministry of Water and Energy in collaboration with UNDP Ethiopia, SNV, GIZ and the Ethiopian Clean Cooking Alliance. “With 46,000 domestic biogas systems already in place, Ethiopia has a strong foundation,” BiogasUnite said. “The infrastructure we are building to connect the dots – and to add a crucial missing piece to the clean cooking puzzle – makes us confident that Ethiopia could become one of the first countries to fully implement the BiogasUnite model.”
David Hendry, Board Member of the Bioenergy Association of New Zealand, contributed a guest article in The Post newspaper in New Zealand entitled Seizing the biomethane opportunity: A smart boost for New Zealand’s energy mix. “With an estimated potential of 23.5PJ per year (for contrast, the 290,000 Kiwi homes and 16,000 commercial businesses connected to natural gas use 7.2PJ and 7.7PJ respectively per year), biomethane could effectively supplement the natural gas that currently energises our homes and industries,” he wrote.
When the UK Government announced a more challenging target to reduce the UK’s emissions, the news was welcomed by the Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) in its 2021 policy paper Engineering a Sustainable Gas Future. Despite ambitious targets, the good news is certain infrastructure is already in place, for example through “the existing network of gas pipelines,” according to IGEM’s 2022 Policy Position Paper Resilience in our Future Energy Mix. Look out for IGEM’s publications and activities — including its exhibition stand # J40 at the World Biogas Expo, taking place on 9-10 July at the NEC Birmingham, United Kingdom.
The Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC), organised a webinar in May about the nuanced challenges and solutions with food waste collections at flats above shops. This was particularly relevant given English local authorities head towards the government’s introduction of Simpler Recycling. Per the legislation, local authorities by 31 March 2026 will be required to collect the core recyclable waste streams from all households in England. This includes introducing weekly food waste collections for most homes, unless a transitional arrangement applies.
The LOW-Methane initiative, coordinated by CCAC Secretariat, published its Data Strategy Brief in March. The data tools and methodologies enable cities and national governments to prioritise high-impact projects, align with climate action plans and enhance their emissions inventories for transparency and reporting obligations. By bridging data gaps, LOW-Methane facilitates informed policy decisions, enhances access to investment, accelerates methane mitigation efforts worldwide and contributes to climate goals and sustainable waste management practices.
The National Association of Waste Disposal Officers (NAWDO) welcomed in March the UK Secretary of State’s speech making a firm commitment to delivering a Circular Economy. NAWDO particularly commended the focus on how businesses can play a more significant role in reducing waste, increasing reuse and repair, investing in new recycling infrastructure and supporting local council’s efforts.
REN21 published its Renewables 2025 Global Status Report in June. The report offered a detailed picture of a global energy system at a turning point — with record renewable deployment, but systemic barriers slowing progress.
‘Madam Waste,’ a member of the Southern African Biogas Industry Association (SABIA), is producing a podcast series Not Wasting a Single Story. In a recent episode, Tobela Twala, Senior Advisor: Built Environment and Planning at the South African Local Government Association (SALGA), shares his journey from rural South Africa to influencing policy at a national level.
The UK Department for Business and Trade Brazil shared a podcast on how ESG is shaping the future of Brazil and the UK. It features a conversation about sustainability, youth and leadership with Laura Queiroz, a 29-year-old environmental engineer and new director of the British Consulate in Belo Horizonte.
The Bioenergy Association of Ukraine (UABIO) took part in a conference in Kyiv on the economic feasibility and financing models for biomethane projects, the environmental benefits and sustainability aspects, as well as the challenges and opportunities for the growth of the biomethane sector in Ukraine. The event was an opportunity for industry and government to collaborate. “I am glad that an event about such an important sector is taking place in Kyiv,” said Mykola Kolisnyk, Deputy Minister of Energy of Ukraine. “The green transition is not only about the environment, it is also about security and independence from Russian gas. Today’s discussion is not only about biomethane, it is a discussion about the energy sustainability of Ukraine and the European Union.”
