Tributes to Biogas Pioneer the Late Hugh Vaughan at Awards Ceremony : ADBA Report: Biogas from Anaerobic Digestion Powers 1m UK Homes
Sufficient biogas is now being produced by UK anaerobic digestion plants to power over 1 million homes, according to a new report from the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA).
Launched yesterday at the organisation’s UK AD & Biogas and World Biogas Expo 2017,the 2017 Market Report showed that AD in the UK now has a capacity of 730 MWe-e, an increase of 18% over this time last year, with total energy generation of 10.7 TWh per year.
Operational performance in the industry continues to improve, with load factors rising to 73% in 2016, up from 69% the previous year.
AD is currently reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 1% and employing more than 3,500 people in the UK, but with the right policy support has the potential to reduce emissions by 4% and employ 35,000 people.
Delays in the passing of legislation for the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which is set to restore tariff levels to 5.35 p/kWh, has meant that there are currently at least 13 AD plants on hold. Electricity generation from AD, meanwhile, is receiving next to no government support, with the Feed-In Tariff for >500 kW plants down to just over 2p/kWh.
The report also noted that 50-80 new AD plants were commissioned in 2016 but this number is projected to fall to 19-64 in 2017 as a result of policy uncertainty.
“The fact that AD can now power over a million homes is a great milestone to achieve,” said ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton. “However, while it’s encouraging that the new Government has committed to the Paris Agreement and to meeting the UK’s Carbon Budgets, there is currently a desperate lack of long-term policy support for AD, particularly in heat and transport, areas where AD can make a significant contribution to decarbonisation.”
She added that while there are 437 AD plants in the planning stage, most of these are unlikely to be built without stronger government support for AD.
“This is a huge wasted opportunity – the Government needs to act now to provide both short- and long-term certainty for the AD industry to enable it to deliver the green energy the Government urgently needs both to meet its legally binding climate change targets and for the UK’s energy security,” concluded Morton.
Industry Tribute to a Late Hugh Vaughan
At its annual AD & Biogas and Industry Awards last night the industry paid tribute to Hugh Vaughan, UK Director at pump and mixer manufacturer Landia, tragically passed away earlier this year with his wife in a road accident whilst on holiday in Mauritius.
Hugh had been at Landia UK since its formation in 1994 and had been one of the founder directors of the ADBA, which jointly organised the awards dinner with the World Biogas Association (WBA).
Hugh was posthumously awarded a special ‘Contribution to the UK AD Industry’ award at the ceremony.
“Hugh leaves behind a legacy that we must all work hard to continue to fight for,” said Morton. “Hugh remained one of ADBA’s most passionate advocates and left us a mission: to continue to grow the UK and global AD industry, and this is how we can best honour his memory.”
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