Industry experts advocate for swift policy reforms to rapidly increase domestic biomethane output, aiming to replace imports and mitigate the impact of rising international gas prices ahead of winter.
Britain could blunt the impact of rising international gas prices and supply uncertainty by accelerating domestic biomethane output, industry groups and operators say, arguing that the sector offers a rapid, low‑carbon way to bolster gas security ahead of next winter.
The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) told this publication that existing anaerobic digestion plants can raise output substantially within months if a small number of regulatory constraints are removed. According to ADBA, current UK biomethane production sits at about 7 TWh a year and could be nudged to roughly 9 TWh by the coming winter through targeted policy changes, a volume the association says would entirely replace the gas Britain imported from Qatar in 2024.
“Britain cannot control global gas markets, but it can control how much of its energy it produces at home. Biomethane is ready to go today. With a handful of swift policy changes we could rapidly increase domestic gas production within months, cutting imports and helping protect households from the worst of global price and supply shocks,” ADBA Chair and former energy secretary Chris Huhne said.
Industry proposals include lifting production caps under the Green Gas Support Scheme, altering gas grid injection limits so plants can run at full capacity, prioritising local green gas over some imports, investing in network technologies to ease intra‑system flows, and removing anachronistic rules requiring propane enrichment of biomethane before grid entry. ADBA has set out these measures in public statements and in response to competing claims about the sector’s potential. According to the association, a mature UK biomethane industry could produce more than 100 TWh by 2050, deliver tens of thousands of jobs and cut millions of tonnes of CO2 equivalent.
Network operators and industry bodies have backed calls for faster expansion. Cadent Gas Ltd, the country’s largest distribution network, noted that more than 1.5 billion cubic metres of biomethane have been injected into its pipes since 2013, equivalent to heating roughly 1.5 million homes for a year and avoiding an estimated 3 million tonnes of CO2 compared with fossil gas. The National Energy System Operator’s 2025 Future Energy Scenarios, whose findings ADBA welcomed, sets out pathways in which biomethane supplies must rise sharply if the UK is to meet climate and energy security objectives; one scenario points to a minimum of about 64 TWh by 2050.
Independent research and industry analyses indicate the UK resource base is capable of much larger expansion. The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) summarised Future Energy Networks research suggesting sustainable UK feedstocks could support around 50 TWh by 2030 and up to 120 TWh by 2050, potentially covering a significant share of domestic heating demand amid wider reductions in gas use. ADBA’s own modelling aligns with long‑term estimates that place biomethane’s contribution between 20 and 50% of future gas demand, depending on demand trajectories and policy choices.
Yet growth in the UK has lagged peers in parts of Europe. A Sia consultancy study, reported by Gasworld, found EU biomethane capacity rose by 37% between mid‑2023 and mid‑2024, with countries such as Denmark, France, Germany and Italy accounting for the bulk of new projects. The UK, by contrast, has expanded more slowly, and industry stakeholders point to policy uncertainty and practical barriers on the grid as reasons for the relative underperformance.
Not all new projects are large scale, but smaller developments can add materially to supply. Farming and regional developers have brought plants online in the past year that process agricultural residues and locally sourced organic materials, each producing tens to hundreds of gigawatt‑hours of biomethane annually and serving nearby heat demand. Reporting in the farming press shows operators such as Acorn Bioenergy and Vida Bioenergy commissioning facilities that demonstrate how distributed biomethane can anchor rural energy resilience and create local revenue streams for growers and waste managers.
For business and industrial consumers concerned about exposure to volatile global LNG markets, proponents stress that keeping more energy spending within the UK would also retain economic benefits domestically. ADBA argues that, alongside energy security gains, a step change in biomethane production would support jobs across farming, waste management and energy infrastructure while delivering measurable emissions reductions.
Industry leaders caution that seasonal demand patterns mean decisions taken this spring and summer will determine how well the system weathers winter pressures. They are pressing ministers to move quickly on the identified levers so that additional volumes can be produced and injected before the next high‑demand season. At the same time, independent studies and network operators underline that achieving the largest long‑term contributions will require sustained policy commitment, grid investment and coordination across government departments, regulators and commercial actors.
- https://geekfence.com/british-biogas-could-shield-households-from-gulf-energy-shock-says-industry/ – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://adbioresources.org/newsroom/uk-biomethane-industry-clarifies-position-following-mcs-foundation-press-release/ – The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) issued a statement in response to the MCS Foundation’s press release, which misrepresented the potential of biomethane in the UK. ADBA clarified that while biomethane cannot meet 100% of current gas demand, it can significantly contribute to the UK’s energy needs. The UK currently has over 750 operational anaerobic digestion plants, processing approximately 36 million tonnes of organic material annually. By 2050, the industry aims to produce over 100 TWh of biomethane, potentially supplying 20-50% of the UK’s gas demand and creating 30,000 direct and 30,000 indirect jobs. Additionally, this expansion could save the UK 27 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent, equivalent to removing one-third of all cars from the road, and heat 6.8 million UK homes with the 8 billion m³ of biomethane generated. ADBA emphasized the need for policy changes to unlock this potential, including removing production caps within the Green Gas Support Scheme and reforming gas grid injection limits to allow plants to operate at full capacity. The association also called for prioritizing the use of local green gas production over foreign imports and investing in technology to facilitate gas movement through the network. Furthermore, outdated regulations requiring propane to be added to biomethane before it enters the grid should be removed to enhance efficiency. By implementing these measures, the UK can strengthen its energy security and reduce reliance on global gas markets. The full statement can be found on ADBA’s website.
- https://www.fwi.co.uk/business/diversification/farm-energy/small-scale-ad-held-back-by-lack-of-policy-support-as-biomethane-grows – The article discusses the challenges faced by small-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) plants in the UK due to insufficient policy support, despite the growth of the biomethane sector. Acorn Bioenergy, a company with ambitious plans in the biomethane sector, aims to deliver 25% of the UK’s biomethane supply and currently has more than a dozen facilities in development. The first, at Three Maids, Winchester, Hampshire, became operational in September 2025. It processes 83,600 tonnes of agricultural residues, agri-waste, and rotational crops annually, producing more than 120 GWh of biomethane a year—enough to meet the heat demand of over 9,000 homes. Another company, Vida Bioenergy, commissioned its first UK biomethane plant this year at Glentham in Lincolnshire. It will produce more than 60 GWh of biomethane annually—enough to heat 5,200 homes—from a range of locally sourced agricultural materials, including manure, poultry litter, straw, potato waste, and rotational crops. The article highlights the potential of small-scale AD plants to contribute to the UK’s energy needs but emphasizes the need for supportive policies to realize this potential.
- https://adbioresources.org/newsroom/adba-welcomes-network-operators-call-for-more-biomethane/ – The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) welcomed the National Energy System Operator’s (NESO) 2025 Future Energy Scenarios report, which highlighted the critical role of biomethane in achieving Britain’s energy and climate goals. NESO emphasized the need for a significant acceleration in biomethane production to realize affordable, secure, and clean energy. The report’s Holistic Transition pathway set out the need for a minimum of 64 TWh of biomethane supply in the energy system by 2050, nearly doubling the estimate from the Biomass Strategy and nearly ten times today’s output. ADBA expressed hope that this recognition would lead to real change in the government’s approach to accelerating ambition for the sector. The full press release is available on ADBA’s website.
- https://cadentgas.com/news/march-2026/major-biomethane-milestone-for-uk – Cadent Gas Ltd, the UK’s largest gas distribution network, announced a significant milestone in the UK’s green gas sector. Since 2013, the total volume of biomethane injected into its pipelines has exceeded 1.5 billion cubic metres. This volume is equivalent to heating around 1.5 million homes for a year or every household in Leicestershire for five years. It also represents an estimated 3 million tonnes of CO₂ avoided compared with the use of natural gas, the same as taking 750,000 cars off the road for a year. Biomethane is a renewable energy source derived from continually replenished organic materials, including agricultural residues, sewage, and food waste. It is increasingly seen as a practical, near-term option to support the UK’s transition away from fossil-based energy sources. The full announcement can be found on Cadent Gas Ltd’s website.
- https://www.igem.org.uk/resource/the-role-of-biomethane-in-reaching-net-zero.html – The Institution of Gas Engineers and Managers (IGEM) discusses the role of biomethane in achieving the UK’s Net Zero targets. Future Energy Networks (FEN), a founding partner of the Green Gas Taskforce, shared findings from new research on green gas. The research indicates that there is potential to increase biomethane production capacity in the UK by at least tenfold by 2050. This expansion could produce gas volumes equal to the heating demands of over 10 million homes. The research suggests that there will be sufficient sustainable feedstock available in the UK to generate 50 TWh of biomethane by 2030 and up to 120 TWh by 2050. This represents 14% of the UK’s current gas demand in 2030 and up to 90% of overall demand in 2050, assuming a scenario of significantly lower gas demand by then. The full article is available on IGEM’s website.
- https://www.gasworld.com/story/biomethane-gaining-ground-in-europe-but-has-stalled-in-uk-says-study/2169504.article/ – A study by consulting firm Sia, as reported by gasworld, highlights the growth of Europe’s biomethane sector, with capacity increasing by 37% in the EU between mid-2023 and mid-2024. However, the UK biomethane sector has stagnated in comparison. The 8th edition of the European Biomethane Benchmark showed that total biogas capacity exceeded 260 TWh/year, including 60 TWh/year of biomethane in 2024. Despite this growth, the report notes that progress remains concentrated in a handful of markets, with countries like France, Denmark, Germany, and Italy leading new capacity additions. The study emphasizes the untapped potential in the UK and other European countries, suggesting that more can be done to harness the benefits of biomethane. The full article is available on gasworld’s website.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The article was published on 16 March 2026. A search for similar narratives revealed that the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has previously advocated for increased biomethane production to enhance UK energy security, with notable statements in August 2025. ([adbioresources.org](https://adbioresources.org/newsroom/biogas-industry-calls-for-recognition-of-biomethane-as-a-net-zero-fuel-within-uk-ets-in-open-letter-to-secretary-of-state-ed-miliband/?utm_source=openai)) However, the specific angle of using domestic biomethane to mitigate impacts from Gulf energy disruptions appears to be a new development, suggesting originality in this context.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
The article includes a direct quote from Chris Huhne, Chair of ADBA, stating, “Biomethane is ready to go today. With a handful of swift policy changes we could rapidly increase domestic gas production within months, cutting imports and helping protect households from the worst of global price and supply shocks.” A search for this exact quote yielded no earlier matches, indicating it may be original. However, without independent verification, the authenticity of this quote cannot be fully confirmed.
Source reliability
Score:
4
Notes:
The article originates from geekfence.com, a site that does not appear to be a major news organisation. This raises concerns about the reliability and credibility of the source. Additionally, the article heavily references statements from ADBA, a trade association with a vested interest in promoting biomethane, which may introduce bias. The lack of independent verification from other reputable sources further diminishes the reliability of the information presented.
Plausibility check
Score:
6
Notes:
The claim that increasing domestic biomethane production could shield UK households from global energy shocks is plausible, given the UK’s previous reliance on imports and the potential for biomethane to enhance energy security. However, the article lacks supporting details from other reputable outlets, and the absence of specific factual anchors (e.g., names, institutions, dates) raises concerns about the depth and accuracy of the reporting. The tone and language used are consistent with industry advocacy, which may influence the objectivity of the claims.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): FAIL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The article presents a plausible claim that increasing domestic biomethane production could shield UK households from global energy shocks. However, it heavily relies on statements from ADBA, a trade association with a vested interest in promoting biomethane, and lacks independent verification from other reputable sources. The source, geekfence.com, is not a major news organisation, further diminishing the reliability of the information. Given these concerns, the content does not meet the necessary standards for publication under our editorial indemnity.
