23 July 2008

Updated List of British Isles Anaerobic Digestion Plants Now Available

We are constatly being asked for lists of AD Plants in operation and planned, so we have compiled an updated list of British Isles Anaerobic Digestion Plants which can be accessed through the following link:

British Anaerobic Digestion Plant List

For readers to assess the rate of uptake of AD technology we have retained a copy of a similar list for 2006 on the bottom of the page.

This shows that while there appears to be a gradually rising number of AD Plants on the list from operational plants to those under consideration with feasibility studies etc underway, the uptake of the technology is not rapid. (For example the 3 plants listed for England and Wales has now risen to 26.)

The total generated capacity remains tiny compared with other sources and even when compared with wind power.

We have no doubt that recent fuel price rises and the ensuing intensified interest in biogas digestion will result in many more plants being planned, and that we will see real starts on construction being achieved in a high percentage of new projects over the next few years.

As the PFI Waste Procurement process continues, more local authorities will reveal plans to produce biogas within their mix of facilities, and a number MBT plus Anaerobic Digestion facilities will also be seen.

Also, the effect of the anticipated improved rate of ROCS for electrical power from these plants has yet to work through in increased AD popularity.

11 July 2008

Peterborough UK Consults on Food Waste Recycling

Peterborough City Council has started investigating the best method for recycling food waste in a bid to raise its 46% recycling rate to over 65%.

And, the council has become one of the few local authorities in the country to launch on-the-go recycling bins in its city centre.

This week, Peterborough council launched a consultation to find out if using anaerobic digestion (AD) or in-vessel composting (IVC) is best way to treat food waste for the city with the aim of reducing the amount of waste that goes to landfill.

Councillor Wayne Fitzgerald, cabinet member for the environment said: "Under the city council's waste strategy we have promised to introduce a system for collecting and treating food waste to prevent it being dumped.

"There are two main options for achieving that objective and we want to choose a system that is both effective and easy for householders to operate. They both involve natural processes but require different methods of collection and processing," he added. More at LetsRecycle.com.

01 July 2008

Methane-Rich Biogas from Agricultural Livestock

Original title: Sizing-Up Anaerobic Digestion

By Bryan Sims / Photos By Jim Manganella

Environmental Power Corp. aims to become a premier player in the biomass industry by developing large-scale anaerobic digestion systems. Biomass Magazine talks with company officials about their thriving business model and how it could become the standard for others who want to convert waste into energy.

When Richard Kessel became the chief executive officer for the Tarrytown, N.Y.-based Environmental Power Corp. in July 2006, he was armed with more than 30 years experience in the energy field and the wherewithal to mold companies into formidable players in the renewable energy industry.

EPC, and its single subsidiary Microgy Inc., is rapidly expanding its renewable energy portfolio by developing, owning and operating large-scale anaerobic digestion facilities that produce methane-rich biogas from agricultural livestock and organic wastes. EPC’s ability to design anaerobic digestion systems and to provide ongoing operational maintenance on a large scale sets it apart from the small-scale, farmer-owned anaerobic digestion model, according to Kessel. “What really makes us unique is the size of our projects,” he says. “We’re really looking to sell—in the wholesale market—a natural gas product and that’s what really differentiates us.”

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