Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), welcomed attendees to the conference and discussed the potential and current contribution of anaerobic digestion (AD) in the UK. AD could meet 30% of UK domestic gas demand, cut greenhouse gas emissions by 4%, replace 10% of artificial fertilizers, and create 35,000 jobs. Currently, AD recycles 1.6 million tons of food waste annually, generates over 7TWh of biogas, provides over 20,000 m3 of biomethane per hour, and employs 4,500 people. Morton calls for increased support of AD to help realize its potential.

1. WELCOME ADDRESS:
TIME TO STEP ON THE
GAS
#UKADBiogas @adbioresources
CHARLOTTE MORTON
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ADBA

2. 0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
1979 1987 1990 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Numberofplants Actual cumulative number of plants by feedstock sector
Agricultural Agricultural and municipal/ commercial On-site industrial Municipal/ commercial waste Water sector Other

3. 147, 36%
21, 5%
27, 7%48, 12%
159, 39%
3, 1%
Proportion of operational plants by feedstock sector
Agricultural
Agricultural and municipal/ commercial
On-site industrial
Municipal/ commercial waste
Water sector
Other
124, 26%
23, 5%
41, 9%
88, 18%
196, 41%
5, 1%
MWe-e capacity by sector
Agricultural
Agricultural and municipal/ commercial
On-site industrial
Municipal/ commercial waste
Water sector
Other

4. Mar-14

5. IMPACT OF R&D ON INDUSTRY
POTENTIAL

6. AD INDUSTRY POTENTIAL
• 30% of UK domestic gas demand.
• Cut the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 4%
(carbon saving valued at £1.5 billion).
• Replacing around 10% of artificial fertilisers used
in the UK today.
• Major contributor to £100 billion bioeconomy.
• Top 10 vital technology for greener, smarter cities
(GIB).
• 35,000 jobs.

7. AD’S CURRENT CONTRIBUTION
• Recycling 1.6 million tonnes of food waste p.a,
four times more than 2010;
• Generating over 7TWh of biogas p.a, compared
to around 2TWh in 2010;
• Providing over 20,000 m3 of biomethane every
hour; the second biggest contributor to UK
renewable heat targets after biomass;
• Employing 4,500 people.

8. WELCOME ADDRESS:
TIME TO STEP ON THE
GAS
#UKADBiogas @adbioresources
CHARLOTTE MORTON
CHIEF EXECUTIVE, ADBA