World Biogas Association announces inaugural report and summit

A new report on the global market potential of biogas will be launched by the World Biogas Association (WBA) at the inaugural World Biogas Summit 2019 in July.

The report will set out the potential for growth in biogas markets in different regions across the world and on a global scale. It will build on a series of existing WBA reports, some of which are focused on biogas markets in particular countries, while others focus on the contribution that biogas can make to meeting specific policy goals, such as the United Nations’ (UNs’) Sustainable Development Goals, improving urban air quality, mitigating climate change, and tackling food waste.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) and biogas technologies convert organic wastes and purpose-grown crops into renewable heat and power, clean transport fuel and nutrient-rich natural fertilizer.

“If rolled out on a large scale, biogas technologies can reduce global emissions by a staggering 20 percent—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,” says WBA President David Newman in a written statement. “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 report will be launched at the inaugural World Biogas Summit 2019, which WBA says is the largest ever dedicated global biogas conference, taking place on July 3-4 at the NEC in Birmingham, U.K. The summit is being co-organized by WBA and the U.K Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA) and will be co-located with U.K. AD & World Biogas Expo 2019, the world’s largest tradeshow dedicated solely to AD and biogas.

“Together with ADBA, 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,” Newman says.

ADBA will be celebrating its tenth anniversary at the events and reflecting on the progress of the U.K. AD industry over the past decade. One of the key topics for the summit and expo will be food waste recycling, following the announcement by a government minister that the universal food waste collections will be included in the U.K.’s forthcoming Resources & Waste Strategy.

“We’re hugely excited about both the Summit and the Expo, which will offer those working in the UK AD industry the perfect opportunity to network with and learn from others from around the world to discover the latest products, services, and expertise that can help to drive the growth of AD in the UK,” says ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton in a written statement.

The WBA will also host a reception at the House of Commons in London on Feb. 18, bringing together WBA members, ambassadors and trade officials to attract global interest in the benefits of AD and biogas worldwide and discuss how these technologies can support countries around the world in reducing their emissions quickly and deeply. International delegations will then be able to explore these benefits further at U.K. AD & World Biogas Expo 2019.