Skip to content

ADBA National Conference

06 December, 2023 9:00AM - 7:00PM

Venue: One Great George Street,
Westminster, London SW1P 3AA

Please be advised that train strikes are scheduled on Wednesday, 6 December, affecting Southeastern, Southern/Gatwick Express, SWR main line, SWR depot drivers, and Island Line. As you plan your attendance to the National Conference on this day, we recommend staying updated on the strike status and considering alternative transport options to ensure a smooth journey to the event. For further updates, please monitor the relevant public transport channels.

— Programme* —

08:30

Registration, networking, exhibition and coffee in the Great Hall

Breakfast courtesy of Atlas Copco

09:30

Telford Theatre

Welcome — Chris Huhne, Chair, ADBA

09:45

Market Analysis: ‘Back to the Future’

The Department for Energy Strategy and Net Zero (DESNZ) extended the deadline for applications to the Green Gas Support Scheme until 2028. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) published the Consultation on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling in England, providing certainty on feedstock supply. ADBA’s experts analyse these two landmark actions to yield growth for the AD industry.

  • Wasundara Doradeniya, Policy & Market Analyst, ADBA
  • Ananya Joshi, Market Analyst, ADBA

10:00

Ministerial Keynote: Biomethane in the Biomass Strategy

Government recognises the value of biomethane in the pursuit of Net Zero and energy security — indicating up to 40TWh of production is required, with carbon capture and greenhouse gas removals coming to the fore.

Lord Callanan, Minister for Energy Efficiency and Green Finance, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)

10:30

Industry Development: is Carbon the Key Driver of Tomorrow?

Post-GGSS support could allow AD plants to capitalise from bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) and greenhouse gas removals. A dedicated carbon contracts for difference (CfD) could also be on the horizon.

Dr Nick Primmer, Policy Lead, Future Biogas

Richard Caldecourt, Policy Advisor, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)

Dr Keith Simons, Chief Technology Officer, Futuria Fuels, SHV Energy

11:10

Networking Break — Tea and Coffee Reception

Courtesy of SGN Commercial Services

11:40

Lightning Talk: Providing a toolkit for GGSS GHG Compliance

Lucy Hopwood, Business Development Director, Lead Consultant – Bioenergy & Anaerobic Digestion, NNFCC

11:50

AD: the Water Pollution-Solution

AD’s benefits reach beyond energy generation alone. At the heart of the circular economy, the technology can serve to prevent source water pollution among other innovations.

Richard Brindle, Head of Bioresources, United Utilities

Jane Shields, Director, Living Water

12:20

Networking — Lunch Reception

Breakout Sessions (two theatres)

Telford Theatre

13:20 — Market Development: the Future of the Gas Grid

The National Infrastructure Commission recommended the UK’s national gas grid should be decommissioned by 2050, with heating for individual buildings supplied by newly- fitted heat pumps between now and then. Yet government and industry-leaders dismiss this. Come to this session to stay on top of this consequential news.

Session Chair: David Hurren, President of the British Compressed Gas Association

Joanna Campbell, Assistant Director at the National Infrastructure Commission

Matt Hindle, Head of Net Zero and Sustainability, Wales & West Utilities

Joel Martin, Biomethane Connections Manager, SGN

Godfrey Mitchell Theatre (lower ground floor)

13:20 — Digestate: Unleashing Regenerative Farming

Alarm over soil degradation, biodiversity loss and water pollution aligned with the National Farmers’ Union commitment to take farming Net Zero by 2045, makes a strong case for AD and digestate adoption. Revenue streams are opening up in support of this.

Session Chair: Lucy Hopwood, Lead Consultant for Bioenergy & Anaerobic Digestion, NNFCC

Angela Bywater, Environmental Biotechnology Network Co-manager, University of Southampton

Thomas Gent, Founder, Gentle Farming

Philippa Arnold, Environment Policy Adviser (Waste), National Farmers’ Union (NFU)

Dr Robin Szmidt, Director, Target Renewables

14:30 Networking Break — Exhibition and refreshments in the Great Hall

Telford Theatre

15:00 — Plant Processes and the Health and Safety Imperative 

We’re facing increasingly more adverse weather conditions due to climate change. So whether you’re a veteran AD plant operator or you recently purchased an AD site, get up-to-speed on health and safety regulations, optimising efficiency and safeguarding the environment.

Session Chair: Flávio Ascenco, Technical Support Manager, ADBA

Tim Small, HM Principal Inspector of Health and Safety, Waste and Recycling Sector, Health and Safety Executive (HSE)

Alice Tidswell, Consultant, SLR Consulting

Spence Seaman, Manager, Environment Agency

Ian Manners, Partner, Ashfords LLP

Godfrey Mitchell Theatre (lower ground floor)

14:50 — Feedstock Supply: Next Steps for the Circular Economy of Food Waste in England

Defra has finally set out guidelines for the implementation of food waste collections in England for 2025 and beyond. These will provide an invaluable source of feedstock for AD plants to produce renewable gas for heat, electricity and transport fuel, and biofertilisers for soil health and improved crop yields. Innovation and public-private partnerships also support progress. 

Session Chair: Mark Richmond, Technical Director, WRM and Chair of ADBA Working Group on Food Waste

Alan Johnson, Simpler Recycling Business Case Lead and AD Waste Policy, Defra

Hilary Garlick, Senior Support Officer, Waste Services, Suffolk County Council and Eastern Representative, Local Authority Recycling Advisory Committee (LARAC)

Emilie Weiner, Policy and Market Analyst, ADBA

16:10

The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Roadmap’ : What Does the Industry Want? 

COP28’s global carbon stock-take highlights the gap between rhetoric and action. And the UK risks falling behind US and EU counterparts in progressing political and financial support for the growth of the AD industry. Nonetheless, the UK AD sector is poised to significantly contribute to cutting the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, including delivering 20% of the UK’s obligation to the Global Methane Pledge. With the right support from devolved administrations and from the General Election’s victorious Party, the AD sector would be integral in achieving the country’s Net Zero targets.

Alice Stephens, External Affairs Adviser, ADBA

Emilie Weiner, Policy and Market Analyst, ADBA

16:55

Closing remarks — Chris Huhne, Chair, ADBA

   Please join us for drinks and networking in the Smeaton Room from 17:00 until 19:00

* = subject to change

— Lanyard Sponsor —

— Exhibitors —

— Supporter —

— Partners —

AD – the imperative for resource resilience

A General Election is looming and, frighteningly, the calls for Not Zero are growing louder, even as the world reels from the increasingly devastating impacts of climate change. While Net Zero is legislated for, legislation can be reversed.

The argument goes that “we can’t afford net zero because of the cost-of-living crisis, and the cost-of-living crisis arises out of disruption to supply chains for gas, grain and fertiliser caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine”.

If climate change is left unabated, the impacts on the global supply chains will be far, far greater in magnitude. Business understands this, raising the alarm about the economic cost of inaction against climate change. “We need to put the economy on a new footing”, they say, “one that is resource-led, to secure climate, energy and food security”.

In a geopolitically unstable world, this is the only game in town. The US and EU have recently turbo-charged their responses to the threat of climate change. The war in Ukraine might have been the trigger but underlying this shift is a recognition that nations must in future develop the technologies needed to maximise the resources at their disposal. It makes no sense to continue like this.

AD is central to both programmes, reflecting the technology’s unrivalled role in resource recovery from the everyday waste created across the food chain from farm to fork and into the bin – sewage, manures, crop residues, and food processing waste.

If these readily-available organic wastes were treated through AD, they would deliver climate, energy and food security through the production of renewable gas, renewable fertiliser and renewable bioCO2. It would cut our carbon emissions by 6%, deliver 20% of the UK’s commitment to meet the Global Methane Pledge and align with Net Zero targets set by the energy networks, wastewater treatment and agricultural sectors. It would also allow UK Plc to gain first mover advantage in the rapidly evolving markets for carbon capture and future green fuels, such as green hydrogen, rDME, syngas and SAF.

Government is making groundbreaking strides with the launch of the Biomass Strategy, extension of the Green Gas Support Scheme and Consultation on Consistency in Household and Business Recycling.

The ADBA National Conference 2023 will seek to shed light on the road ahead to give our industry the necessary confidence to plan for the future. We have called on ministers and shadow ministers to outline their green deals, in light of COP28 where the results of a global carbon stock-take will have been revealed. It will present frameworks to raise debt and equity and consider the best models to aggregate and optimise the country’s organic wastes. It will consider best use, best practices and best tech to get us there. And it will consider external pressures such as carbon pricing and trading schemes that threaten our businesses with additional cost burdens if we don’t transition to green energy.

We hope you can join us. Last year’s ADBA National Conference sold out so please book early to avoid disappointment. 

Watch the Video Preview

>> Interested in sponsoring or exhibiting? 
Download the event prospectus 
and contact Mark Galbraith at 
mark.galbraith@
adbioresources.org 
and +44 (0) 20 3176 4415

>> Interested in purchasing delegate tickets? 
Early Bird Member: £310
Early Bird Non-Member: £455 
Member: £425
Non-Member: £575
Member 3-for-2: £850
Non-Member 3-for-2: £1,150
Local Authority: £160
Student: £70

Ticket alert! With less than 1 week to go, space could run out

Included in the ticket price…

 experts’ presentations on business, policy and technology

 face-to-face networking

 exhibition area showcasing products and services

 lunch, coffee, tea and drinks reception

REGISTER TO ATTEND

Order your tickets through two easy options**:

Option 1) Pay by credit card by CLICKING HERE

Option 2) Fill-in the form below to pay by bank transfer and click “SUBMIT.” An ADBA staff person will then follow-up directly with you to collect payment

  • £ 0.00
  • If not applicable, put n/a
  • If not applicable, put n/a
  • If not applicable, put n/a
  • Please confirm that you have read ADBA’s Terms, Privacy Policy and consent to receive marketing communications of which you can unsubscribe at any time.

** = tickets are non-refundable

WHAT PEOPLE HAVE SAID ABOUT ADBA EVENTS

“where the shakers and movers in AD can be found and networked”

Iain Steel
Development Director, BioWatt Developments Ltd

“an excellent overview on policy and strategic direction of the AD sector”

Michael Fishwick
Director, Powerhouse Management Ltd

“well attended, with great speakers, content and networking opportunities”

Matt Hale
International Sales and Marketing Director, HRS Heat Exchangers

Back To Top