New Anaerobic Digestion Guide Launched

Anaerobic digestion (AD) plants are growing in popularity in the UK, with farmers in particular finding the technology beneficial.

With more and more people considering establishing such plants to convert biodegradable material into fuel, the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA) has released an update to its guidance – The Practical Guide to AD.

The ADBA guide is essential reading if you’re going to be operating this kind of energy producing plant, as it covers everything from the production process for biofuels to the relevant regulations you need to be aware of and the training you’ll require.

Charlotte Morton, ADBA chief executive, explained that this guide is there to help individuals and businesses deliver successful AD projects, thereby “building on this mature, thriving industry that contributes so much in terms of decarbonisation, energy and food security, and restoring the UK’s soils”.

Given the readily available material for AD and the fact that they typically have enough land to construct this kind of plant, farmers are increasingly choosing to go down this route.

AgriLand recently reported that farmers in Northern Ireland have really embraced the technology, with 103 AD sites either under construction or already approved in the country.

Once they are up and running they will be capable of processing 1.4 million tonnes of feedstock each year, although the publication noted that not all of those that have received planning consent will be built.

Anaerobic digestion may be something farmers in England also want to consider, if they are looking for ways of introducing more renewable energy to Cumbria.