WBA – GMI panel: Carbon Neutrality – the Climate Benefits of Biogas

While using biogas – or the further refined “biomethane” – is generally seen as a good thing, achieving climate benefit or “carbon neutrality” is not a given. Vast differences in feedstock sources, processing activities, digestate, and biogas distribution make it challenging to account for the benefits of biogas projects in the context of regulatory structures, such as national greenhouse gas registries, climate assessment reports, and corporate accounting tools like the Carbon Disclosure Project. In addition, factoring in the co-benefits of biogas production, including improved manure management or displaced fertilizer from digestate use, can introduce more complexity into the accounting. A clear and consistent methodology for national and or international accounting frameworks is needed to transition biogas and biomethane projects from a niche application to widespread adoption. Without such frameworks, using biogas or biomethane will not be formally recognized as a greenhouse gas mitigation measure.

Co-hosted by representatives of the World Biogas Association (WBA) and the Global Methane Initiative (GMI), the joint panel will introduce several projects that demonstrate successful documentation of climate benefits through lifecycle analysis and efforts by “Biogas Done Right™” to incorporate these measures into replicable best practices. WBA will moderate and lead an interactive discussion about how survey and econometric modelling can be used to document existing and potential biogas generation.

Additional discussion about developing a biogas or biomethane protocol will take place during a meeting of the GMI Biogas Subcommittee on 6 October at 11:00 or 12:00 UTC; all are welcome to attend.

Confirmed Speakers:

Moderator: Matt Hamilton, GMI Biogas Subcommittee Co-Chair

Charlotte Morton, Chief Executive, WBA

Speakers

Thomas Minter, CEO, Malaby Biogas – Lifecycle Analysis of a Plant Managing Carbon

Bruce Dale, Michigan State University – “Biogas Done Right™” -  How Biogasdoneright
Fits into the Net Zero Context 

Dr Jeremy Woods, Lecturer in Bioenergy, Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London -”Biogas Done Right™” - Carbon Neutrality to Effective Net Zero Emissions 

Jorge Hilbert, Profesional Asesor de Nivel Internacional en Gestión
de Actividades de Innovación, Instituto de Ingeniería Rural -”Biogas Done Right™” - LCA of Biogas Plants in Argentina 

Stefano Bonzetto,  Chairman, Biogas
Refinery Development srl   - ”Biogas Done Right™”   - Why Italian Farmers are Practicing Biogasdoneright