The UK anaerobic digestion (AD) industry now has a capacity of more than 500MW.

That’s according to data published by the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA).

AD is the process of converting waste to produce green energy.

The new total is 514MW for 411 plants in the farming, waste and water sectors.

ADBA’s Chief Executive, Charlotte Morton, said: “This capacity is extremely valuable because AD generates low carbon baseload or dispatchable power, helping to keep the lights on and balance the output from intermittent renewables such as wind and solar.”

She added Energy Secretary Amber Rudd has “rightly said providing baseload is one of her department’s priorities and biogas should be seen as an important component to our energy security”.

However she said further growth in capacity is being hindered by the government’s decisions to remove Levy Exemption Certificates in the Summer Budget – which ADBA estimates will cost the industry £11 million – and to fast-track a four-week consultation aimed at removing pre-accreditation from the Feed-in Tariff.

Ms Morton added: “To continue to expand the industry needs viable support in the forthcoming FiT review and an RHI budget which will support new green gas.

“AD has the potential to meet 30% of UK domestic gas demand and overall it could cut UK greenhouse gas emissions by 4% and support food security and production.”