The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has written to the Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary calling for the ‘urgent recognition’ of biomethane as a net zero fuel.
The letter warns that failure to act quickly risks jeopardising the UK’s net zero targets and putting over £8 billion of private sector investment at risk.
The letter, co-written by Chair and former Secretary of State Chris Huhne and Chief Executive Charlotte Morton OBE, has been signed by over 95 industry representatives and businesses.
These include one of the UK’s biggest trade unions, the GMB, and each of Great Britain’s and Northern Ireland’s gas distribution networks.
The signatories call on Ed Miliband to confirm that biomethane will be treated as a net zero fuel within the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (UK ETS).
They say this recognition would fully identify the value of biomethane and unlock global investment in this ‘primed and ready to grow green sector’.
The UK biogas industry is being unfairly penalised under the current rules of the ETS.
Biomethane is a renewable version of natural gas, produced by purifying biogas generated from the anaerobic digestion of organic materials such as food waste, manure, crop residues, or sewage.
Commenting on the letter, ADBA Chair Chris Huhne, said: “The UK biogas industry is being unfairly penalised under the current rules of the ETS.
“Biomethane – an often carbon-negative technology – is treated the same as climate-wrecking fossil gas. It makes no sense, and it’s holding back investment in the infrastructure we need to reach net zero.”
Through the open letter, ADBA and the biogas industry call on the Secretary of State to:
- Confirm that biomethane injected into the UK’s gas grid will be eligible under the UK ETS as a net zero fuel in the same way as sustainable aviation fuel.
- Ensure UK ETS rules fully reflect biomethane’s full value.
- Set out a clear timeline for implementation to give the market confidence.
Andy Prendergast, National Secretary of the GMB, said of the union’s support for the letter: “The gas network not only heats and powers millions of homes and businesses, it also supports hundreds of thousands of well-paid jobs.
“Recognising green gases like biomethane as Net Zero fuels under the UK ETS not only gives us a path towards net zero, it also provides a way to protect those livelihoods whilst building a viable export industry. We need to seize this opportunity with both hands.”