St Austell and Newquay MP Delivers Speech on Biogas following Visit to Local Plant
St Columb, Fraddon, 18 February – Last week, Noah Law MP spoke to industry guests at the Eden Project about the need for Government to ensure biogas meets its potential in delivering Britain’s clean energy needs. On Friday 31 January, the local MP for St Austell and Newquay visited the Fraddon anaerobic digestion plant operated by Material Change in Higher Fraddon, St Columb.
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a process consisting of storing organic material such as food waste, agricultural waste, manure and sewage, into an airtight container called digester, where it is deprived of oxygen and breaks down, producing a green gas called biogas and a solid residue called digestate as outputs. Biogas can power and heat homes and, upgraded to biomethane, can be used as a sustainable transport fuel. Meanwhile, the digestate can be used to as a biofertiliser in farms to restore soil health and improve crop yields.
Commissioned in 2014, Fraddon Biogas is Cornwall’s leading AD plant, converting organic waste from local farmers, bakeries and food and drink producers. The plant provides renewable gas and electricity for around 2,500 Cornish homes.
Speaking at a talk hosted by former Environment Secretary George Eustice at the Eden Project following the visit, Mr Law said: “I recently visited Fraddon Biogas, where organic waste from local farms and food producers is being turned into renewable energy and biofertiliser. This is a prime example of how biogas not only helps tackle climate change but also benefits the local economy and supports sustainable farming. However, we need the Government to act swiftly in removing the barriers holding back this industry. I have requested a meeting with the Energy Minister to discuss how we can reform the UK Emissions Trading Scheme to recognise the environmental benefits of biomethane and address the regulatory hurdles that are stifling the growth of this vital sector.”
Johan Lourens, Commercial Manager, Material Change, was delighted to host Mr Law, who showed keen interest in their local waste-to-energy operations. “For Cornwall to process organic waste locally, industry support is crucial”, Mr Lourens said. “With his support, we hope that Cornwall’s waste-to-energy sector will continue to grow, enabling us to divert more waste from landfill and expanding our contribution to the UK’s decarbonisation and energy security targets.”
Fraddon Biogas is Cornwall’s sole gas-to-grid anaerobic digester. It is operated by Material Change on behalf of Generate Upcycle, owned by Generate Capital.
Mr Law was joined on this visit by representatives from the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA), the UK trade body currently campaigning for government to make changes to key policies to help grow the sector and help it play its part in the UK’s Net Zero Transition.
ADBA Chair Chris Huhne said “AD technology has become a cornerstone of sustainable waste management and renewable energy production. With the right policies, AD can help the government and the country as a whole reach its net zero and levelling up goals. Not only does AD significantly contribute towards reducing greenhouse gases emissions, it also helps cut household energy bills and offers green jobs across the country.
Biogas really is the low regret solution the government must get behind to enable us to turn our organic waste into a valuable resource to power our homes, businesses and the wider economy.”
ADBA has recently published a report indicating that the use of biogas could cut the cost of meeting Britain’s net zero targets in 2050 by nearly £300 billion against official projections. These findings are the result of new analysis by BMA, drawing on the computer model used by Whitehall.
Concluding his speech, Noah Law MP emphasised the importance of supporting biogas production: “Unlocking the full potential of biogas could transform not just Cornwall because of our agricultural output and need for decentralised energy, but the whole country. If we tackle the barriers to growth in this sector, we can accelerate our path to net zero while creating green jobs and boosting energy security. The future of renewable energy is not just about wind turbines and solar panels—it’s also about harnessing the power of organic waste to generate the energy we need locally.”
– ENDS –
For further information, contact:
Jocelyne Bia, Head of Corporate Communications, PR and Brand Management, ADBA
e: jocelyne.bia@adbioresources.org; tel: 020 3176 0592
Notes to editors
- Photos of Mr Law at the Fraddon Biogas plant
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- About Material Change
Founded in 2006, Material Change Ltd, with its parent company, BioticNRG Ltd owns, manages and operates 11 AD plants throughout the UK, both gas to grid and electricity to grid sites as well as 6 compost sites. The AD sites process food waste and grown crops. Material Change is able to offer a complete service for all aspects of Anaerobic Digestion – from planning and construction of AD plants, daily site operations, project enhancements such as degrit operations, feedstock procurement, digestate management as well as compliance, regulatory and accountancy services. www.material-change.com For enquiries, contact: Hannah Miles, Director, on 01933 408 193. - About ADBA
The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) is the trade association for the UK anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas industry. ADBA’s vision is to see the full potential of the UK AD industry realised so it can help the UK achieve its emissions targets and other policy goals, creating a truly circular economy. www.adbioresources.org - About the AD industry
- There are currently 756 AD plants operational in the UK
- The entire industry digests approximately 36 million tonnes of organic waste each year – organic material that would otherwise emit greenhouse gases including highly potent methane, if left untreated in landfill.
- An estimated 21TWh of biogas is produced each year by the AD industry – this green gas is either used to generate electricity and heat via a combined heat and power (CHP) unit or upgraded to biomethane and injected directly into the national gas grid.
- The industry currently delivers savings of 1% off the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions every year.
- An estimated 4,800 people are currently employed in the AD and biogas industry in the UK.
- Overall the industry grew by 5 per cent last year as the closure of older, smaller plants was outweighed by big-scale units feeding into the gas grid.
- Fully deployed, by 2030, the UK AD and biogas industry expected to:
- create 30,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs.
- save the UK 27 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent = taking 1/3rd of all cars off the road, by 2030.
- heat 6.8 million UK homes with the 8 billion m3 of biomethane generated
- How AD works
Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the natural breakdown of organic matter when deprived of oxygen in a container called digester. The process produces biogas and a residue called digestate – a stable, nutrient-rich substance used as a biofertiliser which restores soil health.
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