The Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA) said yesterday (September 12) the Government ‘will fail’ to create its promised green economic boom if the Treasury takes the wrong decisions in the Comprehensive Spending Review.

A £2 billion a year industry with 35,000 new jobs is at stake when the chancellor makes a decision on support for renewable heat in his statement due on 20 October.

ABDA’s chairman Lord Redesdale, a Liberal Democrat peer, is part of the Coalition Government, but that has not stopped the association voicing its concerns over cuts.

Speaking of the findings technical director of Monsal and board director of ADBA, Dorian Harrison, said: “The anaerobic digestion industry has been held back far too long.

“We have got the expertise, the knowledge and the interest from potential customers.

“If the Government does not set the right incentive now, we will lose out to our European neighbours.”

Mr Harrison went on to explain that despite committing to a ‘huge increase’ in energy from waste through anaerobic digestion in the Coalition Agreement, the Government is still to define this and detail any support measures to achieve it.

The Feed in Tariff introduced by the previous Government in April has failed to stimulate new projects because it was set too low to have a serious impact.

The UK’s targets on climate change, renewable energy and landfill waste will not be met without a strong green economy.

If supported appropriately, however, biomethane from anaerobic digestion could meet up to 40% of the UK’s target for renewable heat production by 2020.

Luke Walsh

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