Biogas report maps out how global biogas industry can deliver 10% GHG reduction by 2030

In the United Kingdom, the World Biogas Association launched its latest report: Biogas: Pathways to 2030, which provides a comprehensive review of how management of unavoidable organic waste through anaerobic digestion could deliver by 2030 a 10% reduction in global greenhouse gas emissions – and in particular methane, which is 85 times worse than carbon dioxide over a 20-year period.

Human activity generates 105bn tonnes of organic wastes (food waste, sewage and garden wastes, food and drink processing wastes, and farm and agricultural wastes) annually by human activity. By managing these properly, we can

(a) reduce the quantity produced – delivering a 3% reduction in GHG emissions- and

(b) treat the GHG-emitting balance – removing a further 5% of emissions, and then

(c) recycle this balance through AD into alternatives to fossil-based products – delivering a further 5% reduction in GHG emissions

Once all avoidable waste is prevented, the remaining unavoidable waste can be recycled into green energy for power, heat and transport as well as biofertilisers for agriculture, bio-CO2 and other valuable bio-products. However, only 2% of those wastes are currently being effectively managed.

Biogas: Pathways to 2030 makes clear recommendations on how to deploy AD around the world, providing governments with a toolkit of measures that will enable the biogas industry to deliver carbon savings and cut the current shortfall identified by the UN in the capacity of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) to meet Paris Agreement targets by over a quarter.