Anaerobic digestion in the UK: remaining resilient in the face of uncertainty

3rd December 2018 | Recycling

The real test of a resilient and sustainable industry is its ability to survive through tough times – and goodness knows we’re living through some turbulent and uncertain times at the moment.

The future of the UK’s relationship with the European Union remains stubbornly unresolved, making it difficult for businesses and government to have the confidence to invest in crucial industries such as AD – other than stockpiling parts to ensure existing AD plants can continue to operate no matter what happens. But even the impact of Brexit pales in comparison with the urgent warnings we are receiving about the need to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid the worst effects of climate change.

Anaerobic digestion

Urgent action is needed to support industries that can make an immediate and significant contribution to decarbonising our economy. By treating wastes and producing renewable energy and natural fertiliser, AD is on such industry that is technology-ready and willing to make such a contribution, as well as being a fantastic export opportunity.

While the existing policy landscape is currently providing scant support for the many benefits that AD offer, there remains a wealth of opportunities to be seized. The replacement of the Common Agricultural Policy – assuming Brexit goes ahead – offers government the chance to recognise the vital role that AD can play in reducing emissions from farming, while the maintenance of the fuel duty differential will continue to make alternative fuels such as biomethane an increasingly viable option for bus and HGV fleet managers.

We are hoping for a long-overdue commitment to universal food waste collections in the Resources & Waste Strategy to allow England to catch up with the rest of the UK in recycling its inedible food waste through AD, and on the wastewater side deregulation may allow more opportunities for co-digesting food waste and sewage. And then of course there is the huge contribution that biomethane can make to decarbonising the UK’s gas grid.

More information available on the website below

https://www.bioenergy-news.com/display_news/14175/anaerobic_digestion_in_the_uk_remaining_resilient_in_the_face_of_uncertainty/