The annual Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA) Northern Ireland conference is set to take place this week in Belfast.

The theme of the day conference, which will be held in the ICC Belfast on Tuesday 23 September, is 'Unlocking biogas to energise Northern Ireland’s future'.

The event will focus on overcoming the current barriers facing the biogas sector and discussing what is needed to scale the industry rapidly.

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Despite strong recognition of its promise, progress has stalled on biomethane in Northern Ireland, meaning many projects remain undeveloped and momentum has faded since the milestone first gas grid injection at Granville Eco Park.

ADBA says the conference is a timely response and is a chance to reset, reconnect and reignite the sector as the Northern Ireland Assembly starts to draft policy to accelerate biomethane production in Northern Ireland.

Agenda

ADBA chair Chris Huhne will open the event, followed by a policy and market update from ADBA’s policy and external affairs leads.

The keynote address will be delivered by Northern Ireland's Minister for Agriculture, Environment & Rural Affairs Andrew Muir MLA.

The first session will explore what is holding the biogas sector back in Northern Ireland and how to lay the groundwork for growth, with contributions from experts at Firmus Energy, A&L Goodbody and the Green Gas Taskforce.

After lunch, the focus turns to planning, policy and nutrient management, including DAERA’s new nutrients action programme, solutions for Lough Neagh’s recovery and regulatory frameworks that work for both developers and government.

This session will be chaired by Irish Farmers Journal renewables editor Stephen Robb and will feature representatives from the Ulster Farmers’ Union, BH Estates and AFBI.

Afternoon sessions

The afternoon continues with international best practice case studies, exploring how other regions have supported biogas adoption and what Northern Ireland can adapt.

Technical discussions will follow, focusing on maximising plant output, leveraging automation and AI, plus optimising feedstock management.

Later sessions will look at making AD projects financially viable, featuring investor insights, funding opportunities and tools to de-risk projects.

The day concludes with a sector-wide discussion on next steps and a live capture of agreed actions.

The conference is being held on 23 September 2025 in the ICC in Belfast and kicks off at 9.15am. More information on the event can be found here.