British farmers can lead the biomethane revolution

This renewable gas, produced from agricultural waste, food waste, and organic matter through anaerobic digestion, offers a remarkable advantage over other renewable technologies: it is chemically identical to natural gas. 

This means biomethane can integrate seamlessly into existing pipeline infrastructure without requiring costly modifications to the gas network. With a carbon intensity of just 16% compared to conventional methane, biomethane provides a genuinely sustainable alternative that can significantly reduce the overall carbon footprint of Britain’s gas supply. 

The triple benefit for farmers 

Biomethane offers British farmers three distinct but interconnected benefits that make it an attractive diversification opportunity, enhancing rather than competing with traditional agricultural activities.

This triple-win approach addresses the key challenges facing modern agriculture: economic pressures, operational efficiency and environmental responsibilities. 

The economic benefits centre on creating diversified income streams that establish profitable circular economies on working farms. The current Green Gas Support Scheme provides tariff-based support to producers for 15 years following successful applications, offering financial security alongside traditional farming income. 

The Danish model, called ‘green refineries’ by Mette Smedegaard Hansen, the corporate affairs director of Nature Energy, a leading Danish biomethane producer, demonstrates how farms can generate multiple revenue streams simultaneously through energy production, improved waste management, and enhanced fertiliser production.  

This approach creates resilient business models that maintain profitability even when individual revenue streams face challenges. 

Operational improvements focus on the high-quality digestate produced as a byproduct of anaerobic digestion, which serves as premium organic fertiliser that can reduce input costs while improving soil health.

This integrated waste management approach eliminates disposal costs for organic waste while creating valuable agricultural inputs. 

Environmental advantages position farmers as active contributors to climate solutions while supporting national energy security objectives. Biomethane production significantly reduces CO2e emissions, directly contributing to the UK’s net zero targets while creating measurable environmental improvements on individual farms.  

The process captures methane that would otherwise be released into the atmosphere from decomposing farm waste. Similarly, producing biomethane from cover crops in between main crop cycles can improve soil stability whilst boosting income. 

Simultaneously, biomethane production reduces the UK’s dependence on imported gas through domestic renewable energy generation, supporting energy independence while creating economic value from what was previously considered waste. 

The circular approach maximises value extraction from all farm resources, creating synergies between energy production, waste management, nutrient cycling, and traditional agricultural outputs. Enhanced farm sustainability emerges through improved biodiversity, better soil health, and reduced reliance on external inputs. 

An opportunity for UK farmers to take advantage 

Advancements in Europe demonstrate the transformative potential of biomethane when supported by appropriate policy frameworks. France leads the charge with over 700 connected sites producing 13TWh annually, connecting an impressive two new sites every week.

This rapid expansion reflects the success of carefully structured policy support that has created confidence among farmers and investors alike. 

The European Union has set ambitious targets of 366TWh by 2030, representing ten times the UK’s current ambition despite having only six times the population. This disparity highlights the significant opportunity British farmers are currently missing. 

The UK’s potential remains largely untapped, with industry targets of 30TWh by 2030 set by the Renewable Energy Association that could provide 14% of total national gas demand.  

Beyond the environmental benefits, biomethane offers crucial energy security advantages by reducing dependence on imported gas through home-grown renewable energy production. This domestic energy generation becomes increasingly important as global energy markets remain volatile and geopolitical tensions affect supply chains. 

As the UK’s largest gas network, Cadent is working hard to improve processes and simplify the experience for biomethane developers, facilitating injection across 47 connected sites with 4TWh annual capacity. This represents 50% of the UK’s total biomethane production, generating enough renewable gas to heat 350,000 homes across the country. 

Cadent’s recently opened OPTINET Compressor Project is vital to this collective effort. The UK-first on-site reverse compressor will enable the much-needed capacity in the gas grid so that biomethane developers can inject their green gas into the network.

Cadent’s established infrastructure and expertise position the company uniquely to support the rapid scaling of biomethane production as more farmers recognise the opportunity. 

How Cadent can support your biomethane journey 

Cadent’s approach removes complexity from biomethane development, providing farmers with expert support throughout the entire process from initial feasibility through to operational success.  

The company’s proven track record speaks to reliable partnership, already facilitating 50% of the UK’s biomethane production through established relationships with diverse agricultural operations across the country. 

This extensive experience translates into deep technical expertise in biomethane injection standards, quality requirements, and grid integration challenges that farmers face when connecting to the national network. Cadent understands the unique requirements of agricultural operations and can support the needs of farming businesses while maintaining the technical standards required for grid injection. 

Cadent’s policy advocacy demonstrates commitment to long-term sector development rather than short-term project gains. Current advocacy focuses on extending the Green Gas Support Scheme beyond its 2028 expiry, ensuring continued support for farmer investment in biomethane infrastructure.  

Cadent is also learning from European best practice, particularly the successful French ‘right to inject’ model that socialises connection costs, making projects more accessible to farmers by reducing upfront investment barriers. 

The transformation of British agriculture through biomethane represents an opportunity to create profitable, sustainable, and resilient farming businesses while contributing to national energy security and environmental objectives.  

With Cadent’s comprehensive support and proven expertise, farmers can confidently enter this growing market and lead the biomethane revolution that positions British agriculture at the forefront of renewable energy production.

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