UK Member of Parliament Noah Law has called for urgent policy reforms to accelerate biogas expansion, arguing that regulatory barriers are stifling the sector’s potential to support the country’s energy transition.
Law made the remarks at the Eden Project in Cornwall, which is a leading centre for sustainability and biodiversity. It followed a visit to Fraddon Biogas, a plant which converts organic waste into renewable gas 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,” Law said. “However, we need the government to act swiftly in removing the barriers holding back this industry.”
Law has requested a meeting with UK Energy Minister Philip Hunt to discuss reforms to the UK Emissions Trading Scheme, arguing that biomethane’s environmental benefits are not fully recognised under the current system, which creates undue financial and regulatory hurdles for producers.
Fraddon Biogas, commissioned in 2014 and operated by Material Change, processes organic waste from local farms and food producers, generating renewable gas and electricity for around 2,500 homes.
Johan Lourens, Commercial Manager at Material Change, welcomed Law’s visit while making the case for industry support. “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,” he said.
Law was joined on the visit by Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) representatives, who are pushing for policy changes to speed up the sector’s contribution to Net Zero targets.
“AD technology has become a cornerstone of sustainable waste management an renewable energy production,” said Chris Huhne, ADBA Chair. “With the right policies, AD can help the government and the country as a whole reach its Net Zero … goals.”
A recent ADBA report found that biogas could cut the cost of the UK achieving Net Zero by nearly £300bn ($377bn) compared to current official projections.
