GREEN GAS can make a key contribution to meeting the goals set out in Scotland’s first ever Energy Strategy, according to the UK’s anaerobic digestion trade body.

Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association chief executive Charlotte Morton said: “The Scottish Government has set itself ambitious but necessary targets for generating renewable energy in its new Energy Strategy, and renewable heat and electricity produced through AD can make an important contribution to these goals, as well as reducing emissions from landfill, creating rural jobs, and helping to restore degraded soils.

“There are now over 50 operational AD plants spread across Scotland, recycling a range of wastes including animal slurries and manures, food waste, grass silage, sugar beet, and various grains and wheats from Scotland’s famous distilleries. With more than half of these plants commissioned within the last four years, farmers, businesses and government are increasingly seeing first-hand the multiple benefits that green gas delivers.”

Using natural processes to recycle organic wastes and process purpose-grown energy crops into green gas that can then be used to produce renewable heat and power, AD is currently delivering 45 MWe of power and 11,000 m3/hr of heat in Scotland, with AD plants across the UK now having enough total capacity to power over a million homes.

The Scottish Government’s Energy Strategy has set a new target for at least 50% of all Scotland's heat, transport, and electricity consumption to be supplied from renewable sources by 2030. The Strategy notes that biogas and biomethane produced through AD will have a role to play in helping to decarbonise Scotland’s energy system.

Ms Morton’s comments come ahead of the ADBA Scottish National Conference 2018, which takes place in Glasgow on February 28, with Cabinet Secretary for Environment, Climate Change, and Land Reform Roseanna Cunningham giving the keynote presentation on Scotland’s proposed new Climate Change Bill.