Biogas campaigner feels snubbed

Bready-based energy campaigner Victor Christie wants the state to develop a proper biogas industry in Northern Ireland in order to reduce the dependence of farming on high cost electricity and allow many farmers an alternative source of income.

Speaking on behalf of the Biogas Alliance lobby group, he expressed anger with the Energy Minister Arlene Foster for her decision to make another formal call for submissions from the biogas industry sometime this summer.

Mr Christie says this will be the third set of submissions from the biogas industry inside the last six months and effectively discounts the last series of submissions from the Biogas Alliance amongst others.

“It's an obvious insult by the Minister designed to lower the significance of the last set of submissions demanded from us by the DUP in such short notice - just one month ago,” he said.

He said renewable energy legislation approved by the assembly does not sufficiently incentivise the development of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) biogas and more certificates for such schemes - known as Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC) - are needed.

“We can understand the embarrassment DETI and the MInister must be feeling, because of the strength of feeling concerning the need for four ROC's expressed by the experts in the biogas industry not only in Northern ireland - but also the UK,” he said.

He added: “The Minister cannot deny the expertise or the credibility of the people involved, and the reason we do not have a biogas industry in Northern Ireland is because DETI/ DUP never wanted one nor do not want the highly skilled jobs that a biogas industry or the indigenous wealth creation that biogas would bring to the rural community.”

Mr Christie claimed Mrs Foster was pretending the Biogas Alliance submissions were “meaningless even though her advisors demanded those within a week of 2nd March.”

He asked if the Energy Minister rushed the call for new submissions in order “to pretend that she does not have enough evidence for a case for 4 ROC's.”

The Sentinel put Mr Christie’s criticisms to DETI. Energy Minister Arlene Foster replied: "I recognise the potential for Anaerobic Digestion, (AD) in Northern Ireland and I am happy to look again at the level of support offered for AD under the Northern Ireland Renewables Obligation (NIRO).

“That is why I announced my Department’s plans for a public call for evidence on the costs of AD, in the Assembly, last week.

“On 23 March, when the Assembly approved the Renewables Obligation (Amendment) Order (NI) 2010, I acknowledged the responses to the consultation that stated two Renewables Obligation Certificates for AD were insufficient to incentivise the development of AD in Northern Ireland.

“Unfortunately, the evidence from industry representatives, in response to the consultation, has simply not been strong enough to support a rapid change of policy in time for this year’s NIRO. We need to get further and compelling evidence on the costs of AD in Northern Ireland.

"It is only with high-quality inputs that we will be able to satisfy ourselves and, more importantly, Europe, as to whether further support can be justified. We must also take into account the higher cost that will be incurred by consumers if we provide support for AD.

"The Biogas Alliance has recently made representations to my Department on this issue and that evidence, presented by the Biogas Alliance, will be kept as a useful contribution to the call for evidence."