On 12 November 2024, the ADBA Finance Forum was held at Osborne Clarke Offices in London, gathering industry leaders and financial experts from AD sector. The forum offered valuable perspectives on the transition beyond Feed-in Tariffs (FiT)s, emerging market opportunities, and developments in feedstock assessment.
Adapting to a Post-FiT World
The morning’s primary focus centred on perhaps the most pressing challenge our industry faces: operating in a world without FiT. Our Policy Lead, Dr Gareth Mottram, presented an analysis of the current policy landscape, highlighting both challenges and emerging opportunities. This was complemented by an insightful session from Philip Fjeld, CEO of CNG Fuels, who shared valuable perspectives on the commercial landscape for unsubsidised plants.
The subsequent discussion revealed a sector ready to innovate and adapt. Whilst the removal of FiT support presents obvious challenges, our members demonstrated remarkable resilience and creativity in exploring alternative revenue streams and business models. The consensus emerged that whilst the transition period may be challenging, it could ultimately lead to a more robust and self-sufficient AD industry. It was recognised that the industry would benefit from more gradual change in status rather than a cliff edge to support schemes.
Cross-Border Trade Complexities
A significant portion of our forum was dedicated to addressing complications with cross-border trade, particularly focusing on the Union Database issues. Mark Davis from DESNZ provided valuable insights into the government’s perspective and ongoing work to streamline these processes. The discussion highlighted the need for greater clarity and standardisation in cross-border procedures, especially as our industry becomes increasingly international in scope.
Innovation in Feedstock Analysis
The forum concluded with an important update on Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) of different feedstocks, presented by Lucy Hopwood from NNFCC. This session underscored the importance of understanding the environmental impact of various feedstock options, which is crucial for our industry’s sustainability goals, operational efficiency and future growth.
Looking Forward
As we concluded the forum over lunch and networking, several key themes emerged. First and foremost was the necessity for business model innovation in a post-subsidy world. This was closely followed by the importance of streamlined cross-border trade mechanisms. The continuing role of accurate feedstock assessment in driving industry efficiency was also prominent, alongside the resilience and adaptability of our sector in facing new challenges.
The discussions throughout the day reflected an industry that, whilst facing significant challenges, remains innovative and forward-thinking. The strong attendance and engaged participation demonstrated the continued vitality of the UK’s AD sector.
ADBA remains committed to supporting our members through these transitions, and we look forward to continuing these important discussions at future events. The insights shared at this forum will directly inform our ongoing policy work and industry advocacy efforts.
For more information about ADBA’s upcoming events and policy work, please visit our website and contact our membership team.
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