BIOGAS could reduce global carbon dioxide emissions by 20% if it is allowed to unleash its 'enormous growth potential', according to the World Biogas Association.

A new report on the future of anaerobic digestion and biogas technologies will be launched by the WBA at the inaugural World Biogas Summit in July this year, highlighting the contribution that the technology can make to specific policy goals such as the United Nations’ sustainable development targets, improving urban air quality, mitigating climate change, and tackling food waste.

WBA president David Newman said: “If rolled out on a large scale, biogas technologies can reduce global emissions by a staggering 20% – a huge contribution to tackling the urgent challenge of climate change. There is enormous growth potential for these technologies right around the world, particularly in countries with poor existing facilities for managing wastes such as inedible food, sewage, and manures.

“This exciting new report will be the first to offer a global overview of the growth potential for biogas markets, as well as focusing on specific regions. We want this to be the go-to guide for investors, governments, and policymakers looking to reap the many economic and environmental benefits of biogas around the world.”

The World Biogas Summit promises to be the largest ever dedicated global biogas conference, taking place on July 3 and 4 at the NEC in Birmingham, alongside the UK AD and World Biogas Expo 2019, the world’s largest tradeshow dedicated solely to AD and biogas.

Mr Newman said: "We’ve been investing both time and money into these flagship events to make them the largest and most international to date. This has included appointing a dedicated events management company to grow the events and creating the World Biogas Summit, a major new international thought-leadership forum that will run alongside the Expo and put anaerobic digestion and biogas at the very heart of global sustainable development, where it needs to be.”