The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) is calling on the Government to put forward a new policy on support for AD on farms and using wastes following its decision yesterday to continue limiting anaerobic digestion deployment in the Feed-in Tariff.

Commenting on the announcement, ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton said:

 “While today’s announcement improves the FIT in some areas, it does little to address the lack of ambition the government has for anaerobic digestion as a mechanism to decarbonise farming and waste.”

“Without anaerobic digestion on farms and of wastes, the government cannot decarbonise those key sectors so will miss its targets. The Feed-in Tariff is likely to be closed to new applications sometime next year.”

“The Committee on Climate Change has highlighted the policy gap between what government is announcing and what is needed to meet the next carbon budget. So new support for AD needs to be developed as soon as possible so that it is in place by the time the FIT is closed.”

 The Government is responding to the consultation on the level of support for anaerobic digestion (AD) or micro-combined heat and power (mCHP) these two technologies and revisiting the topic of sustainability criteria for new AD plants undertaken in summer 2016.

The consultation proposed a reduction in generation tariff rates for AD tariff bands based on an updated set of assumptions  - most respondents were opposed to Government’s package of changes. The Government response says the assumptions have been re-evaluated based on the evidence provided and it has decided to implement revised AD generation tariffs as shown in the table below from 1 April 2017.

It has decided to limit payments in relation to electricity generated through the anaerobic digestion of feedstocks not derived from wastes and residues to 50% of the total biogas yield on an annual basis. All feedstocks which are wastes or residues will be able to receive unlimited payments under the FIT scheme.

It will also introduce sustainability criteria and feedstock restrictions which will apply to all new AD installations from 1 May 2017.

Click here to download the Government’s response to REVIEW OF SUPPORT FOR ANAEROBIC DIGESTION AND MICRO-COMBINED HEAT AND POWER UNDER THE FEED-IN TARIFF SCHEME