Northern Ireland risks losing out on major biomethane investment unless the government introduces a support scheme for the sector, the chair of the Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has warned.

Speaking to the Irish Farmers Journal at the ADBA Northern Ireland conference, Chris Huhne expressed frustration at the lack of progress on renewable energy policy since the restoration of power-sharing government at Stormont.

“We’ve had promises, we’ve had lots of interest from both politicians and civil servants,” he said. “We’ve had a good debate in the assembly with a motion that was passed that’s all very favourable. But so far it’s just words.”

Huhne suggested politicians were now reluctant to make decisions ahead of the next Northern Ireland elections, potentially delaying progress further.

He warned that developers and investors would not wait indefinitely for Northern Ireland to establish a viable biomethane industry.

“If the Republic and Northern Ireland are not ready to support the industry, the money will go elsewhere, and the developers will go elsewhere,” he said.

“The developers will go where the opportunities are.”

Huhne said Northern Ireland’s large livestock sector provided a significant opportunity to develop biomethane production, bringing benefits for agriculture, rural employment and energy security.

He pointed to further research by economic consultancy Baringa examining the potential value of the sector to Northern Ireland’s economy.

However, despite the additional evidence, he said there had been no corresponding policy announcements.

Huhne also argued that biomethane could help protect Northern Ireland against future international gas price shocks by providing a domestic source of renewable gas.

He pointed to Denmark and France as examples of countries making greater progress in developing the sector.

Huhne was critical of the idea of Northern Ireland simply following Great Britain’s Green Gas Support Scheme.

“I would not personally recommend that Northern Ireland modelled itself on the Green Gas Support Scheme,” he said.

He argued that schemes operating for fixed periods of four or five years created uncertainty for investors, particularly as deadlines approached.

He also highlighted the problems associated with fixed scheme budgets, saying the available budget under the Green Gas Support Scheme had run out in July.

Huhne argued that a longer-term framework would give developers the confidence to invest in successive projects, build expertise and recruit staff.

He also pointed to the legacy of Northern Ireland’s Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal, suggesting politicians remained reluctant to introduce new renewable energy support arrangements.

However, he stressed the importance of value for money, highlighting his own experience of introducing renewable energy support schemes involving competitive auctions.

Meanwhile, the Ulster Farmers’ Union (UFU) has insisted that any expansion of anaerobic digestion must deliver financial benefits for Northern Ireland’s farmers.

Addressing the same conference, UFU Policy and Communications Director James McCluggage said the organisation viewed AD through the wider context of farm profitability, nutrient management and agricultural sustainability.

“AD has to work for the farmer,” he said.

“It has to contribute to profitable farm businesses. It needs to offer genuine diversification opportunities, assist with energy and utility costs and fit into the changing nutrient management environment.”

McCluggage said there was no single model for developing the sector, with both on-farm and centralised AD having a potential role.

He suggested centralised facilities could reduce the workload and capital demands on individual farmers, with cooperative arrangements and involvement from agri-processors among the possibilities.

McCluggage said the UFU believed government support was required for both models and that this should come from outside the agricultural budget.

He also highlighted the future of existing AD plants, pointing out that no support had been available for new plants since 2017 and that existing renewable obligation certificate arrangements were due to end in 2037.

The UFU supports the continued operation of AD plants beyond that date.

McCluggage warned that AD development must be considered alongside Northern Ireland’s changing nutrient management requirements.

“The AD process itself doesn’t make the phosphorus and potassium disappear,” he told delegates.

He outlined proposed changes under the Nutrients Action Programme, including requirements around digestate composition, nutrient accounting, land application and the recording of material movements between farms and AD plants.

The proposals also include specific requirements for separated digestate, depending on its phosphorus-to-nitrogen ratio.

McCluggage said there was an opportunity to progress nutrient-processing technology.

Huhne also highlighted the potential for AD plants to produce biofertiliser products which could replace synthetic fertiliser.

He said farmers needed a standardised product they could use with confidence and suggested Northern Ireland could also develop an export opportunity for biofertiliser.

Despite the lack of policy progress, Huhne said there were major projects close to proceeding if appropriate support arrangements were introduced. “There are some big projects that are nearly ready to go if the proper policy is in place,” he said.

He pointed to developers pursuing opportunities internationally, including projects in the United States using distillery by-products as feedstock.

For Huhne, Northern Ireland’s failure to establish a support framework means the investment opportunity remains unrealised, despite growing evidence of the sector’s potential.