Budding ‘green’ gas businesses will now be able to check their projects line up against a list of environmental criteria.

The Environment Agency and industry body ADBA have brought out a Quality Protocol for biomethane which is meant to save developers extra costs.

Biomethane is the gas produced from organic matter in a landfill site or anaerobic digestion (AD) plant (pictured). It is possibly to inject it into the gas grid as an alternative to fossil fuel-based gas.

The protocol confirms that “end-of-waste” status for biomethane – originally it was labelled as “waste” but by ticking the right boxes, firms can avoid having to pay for permits to use it.

This should take away the “waste stigma” of biomethane, the Environment Agency’s Environment & Business Manager Roger Hoare told ELN.

Some experts believe biomethane could eventually provide 1% of the UK’s gas demand and be a cheaper option than fossil fuels too.

Matt Hindle, Policy Manager of the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association, said: “Biomethane has huge potential as a form of renewable energy which can decarbonise hard-to-reach areas such as industrial processes, heating and road transport. The Quality Protocol will help developers and operators by giving greater certainty around waste controls.”