Biogas has seen as the Cinderella of renewables is now high up the political agenda. Defra’s interest in Anaerobic Digestion (AD) has been ignited and there is growing understanding of the many environmental benefits this technology has to offer.

The options now opening up are manifold. Whilst only 14 projects have been commissioned over the last 3 years, this is poised to change. With the remuneration almost doubling this year and increased grant funding, AD now looks set to show the fastest growth rate of any renewable seen in this country. 

In Germany there are 4,000 AD plants, with hundreds more under construction this year. This gives the UK industry a huge palette of experience, including some mistakes, to learn from, and a chance to create in the UK the most advanced AD industry in Europe.

Having digested European experiences, UK project developers now have to evaluate a bewildering new range of options for the use of biogas from AD.   The choices are electricity generation from CHP, heat only or cleaning up the biogas and putting it into the gas distribution network (i.e. biomethane injection).

Right now a project developer knows for certain that electricity generation will earn twice the premium that onshore wind earns, and this is available now, but the payment levels expected for heat or biomethane won’t be set for some time. High fees for processing food wastes could be under threat from competing technologies, but on the other hand clean biofertiliser from AD has suddenly become a valuable commodity replacing expensive mineral fertilisers,

Big opportunities certainly exist, but the situation is changing rapidly, so now is the time for a careful analysis of the complex options available within this exciting new industry and that is why Biogas forms a prominent feature at the Renewable Energy Association’s Bioenergy conference, which is being held alongside EBEC on 7^th, 8^th and 9th October 2009.

Biogas occupies three sessions of the main conference, and the following day will see a special seminar on renewable energy generation and selling surplus electricity or gas back to the grid.

The programme has been created to bring you face to face with the key people driving this dynamic industry and to take you right up to date with the latest information, opportunities and experiences in this rapidly changing industry. You will hear about biogas clean up to biomethane from AD and landfill and its use in vehicles and injection to grid, how AD fits both into the waste industry and the aspirations of major retailers and industrial processors, the use of biofertiliser and the farming scene, together with an analysis of the carbon benefits of the various options.   Above all, you’ll hear about actual examples of what is currently happening in the UK: you will be surprised, and you’ll certainly want to be involved, be you in development, finance, technology, equipment supply, NGO or the energy industry. 

For conference programme information go to http://www.ebec.co.uk and follow the links for Conference and Energy generation seminars.

EBEC is the largest dedicated Bioenergy Exhibition and Conference in the UK. Over 200 Companies will be showcasing their bioenergy products and services at EBEC. For more information visit www.ebec.co.uk