Last year was officially one of the three hottest years on record as climate change pushed global temperatures to a critical new level that surpassed the crucial 1.5°C. A recent UN report issued towards the end of last year confirmed what many feared: overshooting 1.5°C is now inevitable, without unprecedented action. For the UK and the global energy transition, this means scaling up renewables faster than ever and tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030.

In the UK, this isn’t just about wind and solar – it’s about embracing all sources of clean energy, including those hiding in plain sight. A quiet revolution is underway – one that turns everyday food waste into renewable energy.

Food waste is often seen as exactly that, ‘waste’. In truth, just as wind and solar were 20 years ago, it’s a massively untapped energy resource. Every year, around 10mn tonnes of food waste are produced across the country, yet most ends up in landfill releasing harmful greenhouse gases.

Through the AD process, food waste produces biogas and, through further upgrading, biomethane. This green gas can be used to generate renewable electricity or fed into the national gas grid. The gas has essentially the same chemical composition as fossil fuel derived gas, so can use all of the UK’s existing infrastructure.  

And that’s not all. Biomethane can be used in transportation for compressed natural gas (CNG) fleets, green CO₂ can be captured for use in industrial, manufacturing, and food and beverage sectors, and at the end of the AD process a biofertiliser remains that can be returned to the land to support sustainable farming. AD closes the loop between what we consume and how we power our lives, and is the embodiment of the circular economy.

If the UK recovered all of its available food waste through AD, it could cut carbon emissions by up to 1.3mn tonnes every year, deliver a 6% reduction in total UK emissions and supply enough renewable energy to power hundreds of thousands, or even millions, of homes.

Challenges and opportunities 
Despite its promise though, the UK is far from realising the full potential of renewable energy from food waste.

The policy landscape needs clarity. The Green Gas Support Scheme (GGSS) has been instrumental. It was extended from November 2025 until March 2028, and then at the end of last year, plans were announced by Lord Alan Whitehead, Minister of State at the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ), to extend it again until 2030.  

While the planned extension is very much welcome, it is also important to recognise that this would only be a bridging solution while crucial work continues to find a long-term successor to the GGSS. Only with that in place can there be long-term certainty, and long-term investment confidence.

Collection and segregation also remains a significant barrier, with 70–80% of food waste being sent to landfill or incineration.

If the UK recovered all of its available food waste through AD, it could cut carbon emissions by up to 1.3mn tonnes every year, deliver a 6% reduction in total UK emissions and supply enough renewable energy to power hundreds of thousands or even millions of homes.

New Simpler Recycling legislation is starting to change that. The first phase came into force in March last year and means all businesses and workplaces in England with 10 or more full-time employees must separate food waste.

The second phase comes into force from March 2026 and will require local councils to provide separate weekly food waste collections. This will result in hundreds of thousands more tonnes of food waste being diverted from landfill to AD plants.

Linked to this is public awareness. Understanding why we recycle food waste and the many benefits derived will be key to creating systemic change.

While wind and solar are firmly established in the public consciousness as renewable technologies, most have never heard of AD. What media interest there has been around green gas has focused on hydrogen, whereas biomethane, an abundant source that’s available now and can be fed into the existing gas grid, has received comparably little attention.

The future 
To unlock the potential of renewable energy from food waste, the UK must take a coordinated approach across policy, infrastructure and public engagement.

Renewable energy from food waste represents a powerful opportunity for our journey towards net zero, addressing multiple challenges while creating numerous circular economic opportunities.

At Bio Capital, we already transform over 500,000 tonnes of food waste every year, cutting 300,000 tonnes of CO₂ and generating enough renewable energy to power 100,000 homes across the UK.

The technology is proven. The benefits are clear. The resources are abundant. If measures outlined are taken, the UK can transform a costly environmental problem into a cornerstone of its clean energy future.

The views and opinions expressed in this article are strictly those of the author only and are not necessarily given or endorsed by or on behalf of the Energy Institute.

• Further reading: ‘Could biogas play an expanding role in the energy mix?’ Find out how advancements in process technology and plant maintenance are boosting biogas efficiency and reliability.
• ‘Europe’s market for anaerobic digestion and biogas production’. Discover the latest biogas developments across Europe.