Defra has outlined how it believes more energy can be generated through anaerobic digestion technology.

The Developing an Anaerobic Digestion framework calls for a shared approach between government and industry, learning lessons from areas where AD technology is already established, such as the sewage industry and continental Europe.

It says farm-scale AD plants have a part to play in this strategy and recognises that some energy crop may be required in combination with slurries and that such crops can be grown as part of the normal agricultural rotation.

But, Defra says it is not going to encourage energy crop-based AD, particularly where these crops are grown to the exclusion of food crops.

“We see that there is scope for the expansion of rural scale AD plants that can utilise energy crops for renewable energy production, but we need to fully understand the impact of crop production systems on our ability to grow food crops.”

Defra proposes setting up a steering group to oversee the work and forming three working groups to look at; knowledge and understanding, smarter working models and regulation and finance.

The AD strategy will feed into the full review of waste policy which is currently underway and due to report in spring 2011. This will consider AD, and other energy from waste technologies, as part of the government’s overall approach to a zero-waste economy.

Renewable Energy Association chief executive, Gaynor Hartnell, said the document signalled government was serious developing the biogas sector.

“It is the perfect win-win technology, reducing the costs of waste disposal, developing the rural economy, delivering renewable energy in a variety of forms and replacing carbon-intensive mineral fertiliser.”