On Tuesday 17 th June 2025, NUSโ Energy and Sustainability Services (ESS) department made a visit to Gonerby (Lincolnshire, UK), to discuss and tour the UKโs first unsubsidised biogas facility. These operations are notable for being Future Biogasโ first site which has implemented carbon capture technology for carbon dioxide, as a co-product, that is produced in the anaerobic digestion process. Supplying AstraZenecaโs UK portfolio with biomethane, it highlights the importance and feasibility of transitioning from natural gas to more sustainable alternatives for Scope 1 emissions.
What is biogas?
Biogas is a renewable fuel produced when organic materials such as food waste, manure, sewage, or plant matter are broken down by bacteria in an oxygen-free environment (a process called anaerobic digestion).
How is biogas produced?
The biogas facility, with a capacity in excess of 100GWh, utilises break crops in anaerobic digestion tanks to produce biogas, whilst also providing the local farmers with digestate at the end of the process to use as fertiliser for upcoming harvests. A circular economy, such as this, supports carbon emission reductions and reduced environmental impacts by substituting carbon intense fertilisers with natural alternatives, in addition to protecting the soil from erosion through the variety of crops cultivated.
What are the benefits of biogas?
- Reduced lifecycle carbon emissions due to a lower carbon intensity than that of natural gas. In some cases, this can be carbon negative with the addition of carbon capture technology.
- Supporting wider, positive environmental practices, due to the reduced dependency on artificial fertilisers and improved soil health through regenerative farming, leading to a circular economy.
- Long term fixed price contracts, providing price certainty to participating farmers and off takers.
- Allowing for alternative avenues to be taken for business-critical natural gas fired processes which might be cost prohibitive or impractical to electrify.
What is the future of biogas?
The future of biogas as a renewable fuel appears bright with policy driven acceptance of the fuel increasing the perceived commercial viability for organisations wishing to incorporate this decarbonisation lever. Mandatory compliances such as the Streamlined Energy and Carbon Reporting (SECR) in the UK, and Emission Trading Schemes (ETS) are becoming increasingly accepting of biomethane, with the UK ETS looking to align their practices with those of the EU ETS. The popularity of biogas / biomethane looks to increase with more organisations identifying possible opportunities for gas purchase agreements (GPAs), similar to that of Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) for electricity, to integrate into their net-zero roadmaps.
Key takeaways from our visit
Visiting this facility, the ESS team gained a broader perspective on the biogas production process, enabling further communication in relation to key government policy, procurement and the generation of biomethane. This additional insight supports the efforts NUS is making to ensure that organisations are prepared for changes in the rapidly evolving sustainability landscape, ensuring effective planning and swift adaptation.
NUS will continue to work alongside Future Biogas and other partners to support organisations in their decarbonisation journeys, providing tailored routes to net zero, specific to their individual decarbonisation challenges.
