The annual conference organised by the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) at the ICC Belfast on 23 September will dedicate a session on investment opportunities into the biogas sector.
Northern Ireland’s AD sector holds transformative potential for clean energy, smarter nutrient management, rural economic growth, and meaningful climate action. Yet despite strong recognition of its promise by local government, progress has stalled, meaning many projects remain undeveloped and momentum has faded since the milestone first gas grid injection at Granville Eco Park.
The ADBA Northern Ireland Conference will discuss how to lift those barriers to growth and in particular will review what makes a strong case for investment in a dedicated session led by ADBA Technical Support Manager Andrew Brown. Panellists in that session include Dr James Young, Technical Lead, Centre for Competitiveness and James Dornan, Co-founder of the 2050 Group.
The panel will discuss what makes a specific project and its business model viable; what is needed in order to see strong growth of NI’s biogas and biomethane sector; new challenges and opportunities for investors.
Ahead of the session, Andrew Brown said: “The business case for biogas in Northern Ireland can be uncertain — strong growth potential and abundant feedstock availability can be held back by the lack of clear policy and consistent financial support. In our session, we’ll explore how current development projects are being structured, what makes a viable biomethane business model now and in the future, and the strategies available to de-risk projects. We’ll discuss what the industry needs to build a more robust financial and business foundation for biogas.”
Besides this session on financing, the conference will see Andrew Muir MLA, minister of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs at the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA), Northern Ireland Executive, give the keynote address for the second year running – illustrating the ongoing support of the Northern Ireland Assembly for a successful deployment of the anaerobic digestion and biogas technology in the region.
Chaired by ADBA Chair and former Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change Chris Huhne, the conference will also provide insights on:
- what is currently holding the sector back in Northern Ireland and how to restore the momentum
- local projects that have overcome common challenges around planning, feedstock, and finance.
- the role of AD in nutrient management, looking at how policy and planning can support responsible delivery and new developments such as DAERA’s Nutrients Action Programme.
- international case studies with similarities to Northern Ireland – focusing on integrated delivery, public-private coordination, and strategic infrastructure.
- how to improve performance, reduce downtime, and future-proof AD plants through automation, better feedstock management, and smart technology
Confirmed speakers, alongside the ADBA policy team, include:
- Charles McAllister, Director, Green Gas Taskforce
- Mark Stevenson, Director of Regulation, Firmus Energy
- Stephen Robb, Renewables Editor, Irish Farmer’s Journal
- Jack Blakiston-Houston, Director, BH Estates
- ENDS -
For further information and to request your media accreditation, contact:
Jocelyne Bia, Head of Corporate Communications, PR and Brand Management
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 UK AD industry
- There are currently over 750 AD plants operational in the UK
- The entire industry digests approximately 36 million tonnes of organic material each year - organic material that would otherwise emit greenhouse gases including highly potent methane, if left untreated in landfill.
- An estimated 21 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.
- The industry currently delivers savings of 1% off the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions every year.
- An estimated 4,800 people are currently employed in the AD and biogas industry in the UK.
- Overall the industry grew by 5 per cent last year as the closure of older, smaller plants was outweighed by big-scale units feeding into the gas grid.
- Fully deployed, by 2050, the UK AD and biogas industry is expected to:
- Produce over 100TWh of biomethane
- Provide between 20% and 50% of UK gas demand
- create 30,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs.
- save the UK 27 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent = taking 1/3rd of all cars off the road
- heat 6.8 million UK homes with the 8 billion m3 of biomethane generated
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the natural breakdown of organic matter when deprived of oxygen in a container called digester. The process produces biogas and a residue called digestate, which can be used as a biofertiliser. The graphic below shows the applications of biogas and digestate and circularity of the AD process.
