1. AD at the centre of the energy and food waste nexus
Charlotte Morton
Chief Executive, ADBA

3. Role of food waste in AD
Anaerobic Digestion uses microorganisms to break down food waste in the absence of oxygen, inside an enclosed system. As it breaks down it produces biogas (mostly methane) and digestate, which can be used as fertilizer
Most preferable option for WRAP when food is wasted

4. GHG emissions reduction

5. Resources and Waste Strategy for England: context
10.2 million tonnes of food and drink are wasted post-farm gate annually
Value of around £20 billion
UN Sustainable Development Goal 12.3 to halve global food waste at consumer and retail levels by 2030
Courtauld commitment target to reduce volume of food wasted by 1.5m tons annually by 2025.

6. Resources and Waste Strategy For England: objectives
Aiming to extend separate food waste collections in England
“Anaerobic digestion (AD) represents the best environmental outcome for food waste that cannot be prevented”
Preference for weekly collection separated from garden waste (no co-mingling)
Strong focus on avoiding food waste
Scope extended from households to food-related business
NI:

7. Recycling consistency consultation: unanswered questions
Improving soil health:
Biobags and awareness campaign to reduce front-end plastics contamination
Potential need for new innovations and adoption of techniques to improve digestate quality and upgrade to high-quality fertilisers
Use of dry-AD to treat co-mingled garden and food waste
Growth of this sector may also improve digestate quality as can also meet PAS100 standards

8. Sustainability criteria
Implemented from October 2015 as part of the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive 
GHG – Solid biomass or biogas/biomethane has to achieve 60% GHG savings compared to the GHG emissions of the EU fossil heat average; this equates to lifecycle emissions of less than or equal to kg CO2 equivalent per MWh of biomass heat generated.
Land Use – General restrictions on the use of biomass sourced land with high biodiversity of high carbon stock value such as primary forest, peatland and wetland.
Quarterly GHG Reporting – The Ofgem carbon calculator can be used to demonstrate GHG emissions, but operators are free to use other methods if they wish, as long as they follow the approach for calculating lifecycle emissions set out in the RED.

9. Sustainability criteria: result
32% increase in capacity from municipal and commercial waste since 2015

10. Waste in heating (RHI)
For new plant, commissioning after 22 May 2018 reform, min 50% of feedstock from waste or residue for all biogas to be eligible for support
Where crop-based feedstock is in excess of 50%, the gas produced from the excess would not be eligible for support.
This is to ensure wastes and residues are prioritised – giving a better carbon cost effectiveness.

11. Waste in electricity
Progressive adaptation to sustainability criteria (in RO and FIT), including GHG limits
Same feedstock restriction as in heating (50% biogas yield from wastes)
Feedstock restriction retained in the Smart Export Guarantee
May 2017-March 2020
April 2020 – March 2025
from April 2025
GHG emission threshold (CO2eq/MJ electricity)
66.7
44.6 50

12. Waste in biomethane for transport
Fuels with a RTFC using fuels and feedstock double counted
Biomethane not considered development fuel
Hydrogen from biomethane laying within this category

13. AD is fab - #LoveAD
AD already reduces the UK’s carbon emissions by over 1% and could reduce them by as much as 5%.
The CCC has consistently identified biomethane as a “low regret option”
Chancellor Philip Hammond announced measures to green the gas grid in his Spring Statement
Gas for Climate report foresees a potential of 62 bcm for biomethane from AD in the whole EU
AD has the potential to reduce global emissions by over 10% by 2030
Contributing to energy and food security, air quality, job creation and decarbonisation of difficult sectors (e.g. agriculture, heat, transport)

14. 3 and 4 July 2019, NEC Birmingham

15. Number of operational AD plants