ADBA Responds to Northern Ireland’s Call for Evidence on Biomethane Production
On 23rd August 2024, ADBA submitted a comprehensive response to Northern Ireland’s Call for Evidence on Developing Biomethane Production. Our response highlighted the multiple roles biomethane could play in Northern Ireland’s path to net zero.
Firstly, it can significantly contribute to decarbonising the gas network. Secondly, biomethane offers a sustainable transport fuel option, particularly for heavy-duty vehicles. Thirdly, it provides opportunities for direct use by industry, especially in sectors that are challenging to electrify. Finally, biomethane production supports both waste management and climate smart agriculture, offering solutions to reduce emissions and nutrient pollution from organic waste and farm by-products.
Biomethane is not just about energy production; it is a holistic solution that addresses challenges in waste management, agriculture value chain, and carbon emissions reduction.
We emphasised the need for robust support mechanisms to make biomethane production economically viable. We suggested considering a renewable fertiliser obligation, which could create a market for digestate and its derivatives. We have proposed a balanced approach to encourage development while ensuring fair access to the network. For new dedicated injection points, we suggested direct charging, potentially offset by tax incentives or investment zone mechanisms and for costs of shared injection points and virtual pipelines to be spread across network users and operators.
We have highlighted the significant environmental benefits of biomethane production. These include, among others, reducing methane emissions from organic wastes, providing biofertiliser for climate smart agriculture, and supporting the circular economy. We have emphasised the potential for biomethane to support rural development and diversify farm incomes in Northern Ireland.
As Northern Ireland develops its policy framework for biomethane, we recommended considering several key issues. Feedstock sustainability is vital, ensuring that biomethane production doesn’t compete with food production or lead to unsustainable land use changes. We also stressed the importance of comprehensive environmental impact assessments and the need for skills and workforce development in the AD sector.
Cross-border considerations with the Republic of Ireland are another vital aspect, given the integrated and overlapping nature of the island’s energy and agricultural systems. We have suggested exploring potential harmonisation of biomethane policies to create synergies and efficiencies. Biodiversity impacts must also be carefully considered and integrated into agricultural practices. We have recommended that the choice between centralised and decentralised production models should include site-specific biodiversity assessments, ensuring that whichever approach is adopted, it minimises negative impacts on local ecosystems.
We believe that with the right policy framework and climate smart agricultural practices, Northern Ireland can develop a thriving, sustainable biomethane sector that contributes significantly to its net zero goals while supporting rural economies and enhancing energy security.
The future looks green, and it’s powered by AD!
NOTE:
Northern Ireland’s strategy for biomethane and ADBA’s recommendations will feature prominently in the discussion that will take place at ADBA’s Northern Ireland Conference in Belfast on 4 September (see separate entry below). Don’t miss this opportunity to help shape the future of biomethane in the country.
The post ADBA Responds to Northern Ireland’s Call for Evidence on Biomethane Production appeared first on Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association.