UK Anaerobic Digestion Industry: Darren Smith Interview
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In this People Powered Profile exploring the UK anaerobic digestion industry, Aaron Rayner, Recruitment Partner at Astute People, sits down with Darren Smith, Senior Manager at BioConstruct NewEnergy Ltd, to explore how the sector is evolving from small-scale agricultural projects into capital-intensive energy infrastructure.
As demand for sustainable waste management and renewable energy accelerates, the UK anaerobic digestion industry is experiencing rapid growth alongside increasing pressure on skills, investment, and operational efficiency.
Darren shares insight into how the sector is changing — from plant design and funding models through to recruitment challenges and long-term market direction.
UK Anaerobic Digestion Industry: Market Snapshot
The UK anaerobic digestion sector is expanding through larger, more capital-intensive projects driven by waste-to-energy demand. However, it faces ongoing skills shortages, particularly in plant management and engineering roles.
Operators increasingly recruit from adjacent sectors like oil & gas and energy-from-waste. Feedstock security, regulatory compliance, and operational efficiency remain key investment drivers shaping future growth.
The AD Industry in the UK Is Still Fairly New…
Most AD projects used to be small farm-scale setups.
Now, larger projects involve £35 million investments and require structured operational teams rather than individual operators wearing multiple hats.
The shift has fundamentally changed hiring expectations, particularly around accountability and data-driven performance.
Finding experienced plant managers remains a challenge, and many organisations recruit from adjacent sectors like waste-to-energy and landfill operations.
Have Operational Backgrounds From Other Sectors Transitioned Well?
Yes, particularly candidates from construction and waste sectors.
However, success often depends on adaptability, with the strongest performers progressing through lab, operational, and multi-skilled roles over time.
The modern plant manager role is increasingly focused on asset performance rather than end-to-end business management.
What’s the Biggest Challenge for the Industry Right Now?
Skills and resource availability remain the biggest constraints.
Certification schemes like ADCS are helping standardise operations, alongside growing investment in CPD and internal training.
Retention is improving, but movement between employers remains common as skilled operators remain in demand.
How Is the Sector Evolving Beyond 2028?
While development may slow after current policy milestones, expansion and repowering of existing assets will continue.
There is also increasing interest in grid connections and long-term infrastructure optimisation.
Are Feedstock Strategies Changing?
Yes — securing feedstock contracts before investment is now standard practice.
Investors require certainty of supply before committing capital, making site selection and logistics critical to project success.
Is There Pressure on Salaries in AD?
The financial model in AD is constrained compared to other renewable sectors.
While salaries have increased slightly, they remain lower than wind or solar, limiting competition for top-tier talent.
Darren’s perspective reflects a wider pattern we’re seeing across the UK anaerobic digestion industry: as projects scale up in size and capital intensity, the skills and structures needed to run them are having to scale up just as fast — and the sector is still catching up on both fronts.
Frequently Asked Questions About the UK Anaerobic Digestion Industry
Why is the UK anaerobic digestion industry facing a skills shortage?
As projects have grown from small farm-scale setups into multi-million-pound infrastructure, the operational and management skills required have grown too. Many operators now recruit plant managers from adjacent sectors like waste-to-energy, oil & gas and landfill operations to fill the gap.
How does the UK anaerobic digestion industry compare to wind or solar on pay?
AD salaries remain lower than wind or solar, reflecting a more constrained financial model, though pay has increased slightly as competition for experienced plant managers and operators grows.
What’s changing in how UK anaerobic digestion industry projects secure funding?
Investors increasingly require feedstock contracts to be secured before committing capital, making site selection and supply logistics a critical early step rather than an afterthought.