There has been a surge in number of UK homes being supplied with gas from farm and food waste, according to latest data from the Green Gas Certification Scheme
One million UK homes are now being supplied with 'green gas' energy produced from biodegradable farm and food waste, new estimates released today by the Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS) have shown.
The latest data produced by the GGCS, which issues renewable gas Guarantees of Origin certificates for biomethane injected to the grid, shows there has been a 13-fold increase in the number of UK customers being supplied with biomethane since 2017, with the market hitting the one million mark for the first time at the start of 2019.
It also said there had been a four-fold increase in green gas production since 2015, estimating that current UK production of biomethane has reached around 2.5TWh.
By 2050 green gas could supply as many as 10 million homes, equating to 149TWh of energy, the GGCS, predicting the sector could play a key role in helping to meet the UK's climate targets.
Jesse Scharf, GGCS scheme manager, said she was pleased to see so many households were now supporting green gas production in the UK. "Together with the increasing number of businesses, small and large, that are also sourcing green gas they are creating an important drive towards greening our gas system," she said.
Otherwise known as biomethane, green gas is created from biodegradable material, such as farm waste and food waste, before being injected into the gas grid for use in the same way as natural gas for home cooking and heating. The approach delivers significant net emissions savings by ensuring methane that would otherwise have been released from the breakdown of organic waste is processed and utilised.
A growing number of energy suppliers are offering green gas to households, including Engie Npower, Tonik Energy, Solarplicity, Good Energy, Bristol Energy, Ecotricity, Bulb, Green Energy UK, Ovo, and E.ON.
Doug Stewart, CEO of independent energy supplier Green Energy UK, said there had been a "surge in demand" for biomethane in the UK.
"Since launching green gas two years ago we have seen a 209 per cent increase in customers wanting us to supply them with green gas," he said. "Green gas is not only better for the environment, but it means millions of tonnes of organic waste which would otherwise be send to landfill, incinerated or simply left to rot gets put to good use heating our homes."
The update follows government plans announced during the Spring Statement earlier this year to increase the proportion of green gas used in the grid in order to drive down emissions from the UK's gas heating network. The government plans to launch a consultation on the issue later this year, which will potentially look at ways to continue support for green gas after funding for the Renewable Heat Incentive comes to an end in 2021.
Claire Perry, the UK's Energy and Clean Growth Minister, welcomed today's latest data from the GGCS.
"Using food and farm waste to create greener gas means millions of people can continue to heat their homes and cook meals while cutting harmful emissions," she said. "Reducing our dependence on natural gas will help to tackle climate change, which is exactly why we have invested £656m in biomethane to scale up green gas."