The Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has announced the appointment of Maxine Mayhew, Group Commercial Director of Northumbrian Water to its Board as part of its strategy to strengthen its leadership across all of the sectors which can benefit from AD.
The ADBA has also appointed George Gittus, Suffolk NFU County Chairman and owner of Symonds Farm Power Ltd to its Board to cover the farming sector. Last month ADBA announced three new board appointments covering the waste and local authority sectors.
Announcing Maxine Mayhew's appointment, the ADBA said that her wealth of experience at Northumbrian Water will help advise industry on the importance of operational efficiency and on maximising value from AD outputs, commenting:
“Energy generation from sewage gas has increased by over 25 per cent over the past five years, and the water companies have a strong focus on research and development. If the knowledge and innovation that has built up in the water sector is disseminated across the rest of the industry, it could help AD extract greater value from existing inputs. “
As far back as 2011, water industry regulator Ofwat identified the considerable potential anaerobic digestion offered the water sector for additional revenue generation if the water companies took other organic waste feedstocks from other sources.
In contrast, while AD has been well established in the water sector for decades, the farming sector is just taking off. The number of agricultural plants doubled to 139 in the last year alone – and there are still many more in the pipeline. The ADBA described this as just the beginning of a rapidly developing on-farm AD market, given the NFU’s prediction that there could be as many as 1,000 on-farm AD plants in the UK by 2020.
ADBA’s Chief Executive, Charlotte Morton, commented:
“Anaerobic digestion has an exciting five years ahead, and as the industry’s trade body we need a strong, diverse board representing all sectors of the industry to provide the knowledge and leadership that can help our members realise the industry’s full potential – supplying 30 per cent of domestic gas demand, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 4 per cent, supporting a £100 billion bioeconomy and helping our farmers to keep farming through improved food security and production. We’re delighted to add Maxine and George to our board’s considerable bank of knowledge and expertise.
"As an established technology offering a host of different energy and non-energy benefits, our aim now is to capitalise on the significant innovative and entrepreneurial achievements of the past five years and continue to expand our industry.”
Commenting on her appointment to the ADBA board, Maxine Mayhew said:
“At Northumbrian Water we are very proud of the fact that 100% of our sludge is used in AD to generate green power, and for the UK in general anaerobic digestion and the use of bioresources are a key part of delivering a sustainable energy generation strategy both today and for the future. However, it’s important that we ensure that AD continues to grow and maximise its economic and environmental potential through stable policy frameworks as well as a collective effort to overcome technical barriers.
“I look forward to helping ADBA deliver its ambitious goals and support its members to embed AD and bioresources as the best economic and environmental solution and to realise its potential.”
The ADBA represents businesses in the anaerobic digestion sector, helping to remove the barriers to growth currently faced by the industry and to promote the benefits of AD to the UK. ADBA board members are appointed for three years, with a third of the board up for renewal or replacement on an annual basis.
On 1st and 2nd July the ADBA is holding its annual conference and trade show at the NEC in Birmingham. UK AD & Biogas 2015 is the UK's only dedicated anaerobic digestion and biogas trade show. Showcasing the latest AD technology and services from 250 exhibitors, and attracting 3,000 visitors from key sectors, UK AD & Biogas 2015 offers:
- Free two day conference
- Free seminar sessions
- One-to-one advice clinics
- An R&D Hub
Click here for more information.
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