AD&Bioresources News February 2015

AD&BIORESOURCES News

THE UK ANAEROBIC DIGESTION & BIORESOURCES TRADE ASSOCIATION’S BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE www.adbioresources.org

Issue 25 february 2015

The food and drink industry: waking up to the value of waste food Conclusions from ADBA National Conference: What we can achieve in next 5 years

FIT and RHI degression

Focus on pumps ADBA R&D Forum 2015 Preview

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martin@gtsnitrogenservices.co.uk richard@gtsnitrogenservices.co.uk djw@gtsmaintenance.co.uk Eddie@gtsmaintenance.co.uk shane@gtsmaintenance.co.uk

www.gtsnitrogenservices.co.uk

Foreword Valuing an integrated approach to on-farm AD

Inside this issue > Foreword:

3

ADBA News:

4-6

Regions:

7

Feature – AD and the food & drink sector: 8-12 ADBA National Conference 2014 Review: 14-15 Technology focus: Pumps and mixers:

17-18

Plant Update:

20-21

Advice Clinic: Legal:

22

Members’ News and Views:

23-27

Policy:

28-29

Operator and Working Groups:

30

Government & Agency News:

31

R&D Update:

32

ADBA R&D Forum 2015 Preview:

33

Upcoming Events:

35

Membership Matters:

36-38

Editorial: To be considered for inclusion in a future issue contact: Editor: Kate O’Reilly T +44 (0)7894 039609 E kate.oreilly@adbioresources.org

AD&Bioresources News FEATURES

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By Jonathon Porritt, Founder and Director of Forum for the Future

s part of our Farm Power project, Forum for the Future has been exploring the role that farms could play in the UK’s energy system. We’ve found that while there is huge potential in straightforward energy terms, what’s especially interesting is that farm-scale energy – if we get it right – can provide a whole suite of broader benefits.

On-farm anaerobic digestion, for example, is a brilliant jack-of-all-trades technology. It offers multiple non-energy benefits – from slurry treatment and reduced carbon emissions, through to water pollution prevention and fertiliser production. Yet as things stand, the only support mechanisms that AD can tap into are those geared towards energy production, which inevitably skews the industry towards doing just that.

That’s all well and good if our only objective is to maximise energy production, but if we are seeking to meet a more integrated set of objectives then we’re clearly missing a trick – and will almost certainly end up pushing the industry in the wrong direction.

Think of it the other way round for a moment. An AD system designed primarily to treat slurries, reduce carbon emissions and prevent water pollution would look quite different from one designed to simply maximise energy production. The make-up of crop-based AD feedstocks would also no doubt change under a system designed to meet multiple objectives. While they would clearly still have an important role to play, it could lead us to start prioritising those feedstocks designed to maximise biodiversity or soil health, rather than by pure calorific content. The RSPB is already experimenting in this space and is quite bullish that biodiversity-oriented feedstock crops do not necessarily result in a loss of energy output.

Moving the industry in this direction will require some big picture thinking from government, the farming community and the AD industry alike, alongside the creation of incentives that value integrated outcomes rather than one specific element. That’s what we’ll be pressing for, as part of our Farm Power project, and I hope you’ll join us towards a more integrated approach. www.forumforthefuture.org

Features planned for Issue 26 (April) include: • Feature: Doing AD well – the importance of best practice, training and safety in a fast growing industry • Advice clinic: Planning • Technology focus: Tanks Copy deadline: 18 Feb

Features planned for Issue 27 (June) include: • Feature: Making on-farm AD viable in the face of ever-decreasing incentives • UK AD & Biogas 2015 – Show and exhibitor preview • Advice clinic: Training • Technology focus: Pre-treatment technology Copy deadline: 4 Apr

Sponsorship and advertising: Jamil Ahad T +44 (0)203 176 4414 E jamil.ahad@adbioresources.org Rachel Fenton T +44 (0)203 176 5418 E rachel.fenton@adbioresources.org

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ADBA News Why government policy must recognise all the benefits of AD

By Charlotte Morton, ADBA’s Chief Executive

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or a sector so dependent on government policy, an election year is always going to be critical – put simply, changes in the political landscape will determine whether the AD industry continues to power ahead over the next five years or stalls. When I look back to the last election, though, one difference is stark: then we talked of an industry of huge potential, whereas we are now building on strength.

Over the past five years our industry has seen a 500 per cent growth outside of the water sector and a 25 per cent increase in energy generation within the water sector. With around a hundred new AD plants opening last year alone, the industry already delivers an electrical equivalent capacity (electricity and biomethane) of over 400 MW from more than 330 plants. And the number of AD plants operating outside of the water sector now exceeds those operating within it.

While the potential for further growth is still enormous, the new government will need to provide the right support to maintain the momentum of the last five years. Decisions on FIT, RHI and the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation will have a significant impact on industry development. In particular, if we recycled all inedible food waste through AD, it would increase industry output sixfold, sufficient to heat Birmingham.

EU end of waste position paper Following a brief hiatus, European End of Waste (EoW) proposals are back in focus. ADBA, ESA, REA and others have submitted a joint position paper to the European Commission in response to their intention to revise the EU Fertilisers Regulation.

The UK’s existing EoW criteria and certification schemes [PAS 100 (for compost), PAS 110 (for digestate) and the respective Quality Protocols] have played a hugely important role in establishing markets and improving quality.

However, if composts and digestates derived from biodegradable waste are included in the Fertilisers Regulation, it is essential that: there is a smooth transition for operators who already comply with UK EoW criteria; existing market demands are not ignored; and plants are not subject to disproportionate cost either during the transitional phase or through ongoing compliance.

We are consulting our members on the setting of EoW criteria for composts and digestates derived from biodegradable wastes. We understand that any national EoW criteria with the same scope would subsequently be superseded by the revised EU Fertilisers Regulation.

For more information or to share your views contact matt.hindle@adbioresources.org

Looking forward, we need to overcome the misconception that AD is just about renewable energy, when it offers so much more. The next government can meet objectives across a range of policy areas by recognising the full range of benefits offered by AD technology, including making farming more sustainable; reducing UK greenhouse gas emissions by two per cent; and providing new, high-value biotechnology products, such as biochemicals and bioplastics.

However, we cannot afford to simply wait for government to meet our needs. It is absolutely vital that the industry grows safely and sustainably, becoming more professional and maximising performance, if we are to continue to attract the finance we need to ensure the industry achieves its potential. And we must work effectively with the regulators, taking the lead where necessary.

While AD’s development over the last five years is something of which the industry should be rightly proud, it is the next five-year period which will test our ability to reach our potential. Our ambitions can only be realised if government policy recognises the full range of benefits from an industry at the cornerstone of the circular economy: reducing waste, generating domestic renewable energy, reducing climate change emissions and supporting sustainable farming and food production.

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ADBA News Farm Power report identifies potential of on-farm AD Over the past year we have contributed to Forum for the Future’s ‘farm power coalition’ research, which has found that 10 GW of on-farm renewable energy – sufficient to power an estimated 1.3m homes – is currently going untapped.

This represents a missed opportunity, not only to diversify the UK’s energy infrastructure, but also to build resilience in both energy and food production, at the same time as revitalising struggling rural communities through green jobs and diversifying revenue streams.

Currently, only 38 per cent of UK farmers have invested in some form of renewable technology. The report found that progress is being hindered by a number of removable barriers; notably, access to the grid, planning opposition, finance availability and inconsistent and/or inaccessible information.

We will be working closely with the wider farming community to liaise with government to overcome these barriers, and to build on the report by demonstrating the importance of the non-energy benefits of smaller scale on-farm AD. www.forumforthefuture.org/Farm_Power

EU delays to Circular Economy package risk undermining green potential

Biomethane capacity rockets to new high Following a recent meeting at the Energy Institute, the UK’s four Gas Distribution Networks (GDNs) commissioned ADBA to collate and analyse biomethane to grid capacity.

Resources and environmental management industries, manufacturers and NGOs have united in opposition against EU plans to remove support for the ‘Circular Economy’ package.

Despite concerted opposition, the European Commission voted to withdraw a series of draft policies on the circular economy with the vague caveat that it would look to put forward a new ‘more ambitious’ set of measures. Whilst the decision is an unwelcome delay at best, at worst it could potentially deal a deadly blow to helpful proposals on waste collection and recycling targets. © Chesterfield BioGas

The results of our research show that since 2011, the number of biomethane upgrading plants has doubled annually, resulting in biomethane capacity more than quadrupling in the last year alone. In a very short space of time, the industry has built 27 biomethane to grid plants (as of end of December 2014), producing almost 2 TWh – sufficient to heat nearly 100,000 homes each year. With the right support, this rate of growth could continue, increasing the production of home grown green gas to 40 TWh and heating two million homes.

The EU risks turning its back on years of positive progress on environmental policy and a commitment to getting the most out of our resources. The Circular Economy package offers huge potential for green job creation, energy and food security, environmental protection and economic growth for both the UK and the wider EU membership – in fact, the World Economic Forum has suggested that developing the circular economy would save $1 trillion a year. In response, we have issued a joint statement with the resource and waste management sector, urging the UK government to send a clear message to Jean-Claude Juncker, the President of the Commission, in support of the circular economy package.

However, biomethane’s potential as an ultra-low carbon, storable, dispatchable, flexible, renewable gas will be put at risk without clear support from the next government. ADBA is therefore campaigning for strong commitments from all parties to a 2016-2020 RHI budget and a national policy on segregating food waste. Together, these actions will be vital to the future success of biomethane and the wider industry.

See Safety First, p37

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ADBA News Engage with your MP - your voice can make a real impact!

Keeping renewables on With just three months until the general election, this is when you need to contact your local MP and make them aware of the benefits that AD can deliver to UK plc.

We have therefore written to all of our members and asked them to invite their local MP to visit their site or company. We have also sent our members a pledge card for MPs to sign; providing a photo opportunity for members to publicise the visit, and helping us, as the industry trade body, to engage politicians on our primary objective of securing key manifesto pledges. We will be following this work up with a parliamentary reception, which will seek to develop members’ existing relationships with MPs, as well as fostering broader awareness of AD among parliamentarians.

The overall aim of our political engagement plan is to influence party manifestos ahead of the general election and to secure favourable policies that will support the AD industry over the course of the next parliament. We need your support on “MPs listen hardest to their this so look out for the pledge cards and own constituents – and those make sure to contact your local MP. For more information on the campaign, or for draft text which you could use in a letter to your local MP, please contact our PR & Parliamentary Affairs Manager: E derek.sivyer@adbioresources.org T +44 (0)203 176 5441

who employ them! Your voice can make a real impact.”

Chris Huhne, ADBA Strategic Advisor

the political agenda

We have kickstarted the new year with a strong lobbying campaign.

Alongside our work as part of the Action 4 Renewables campaign group, which we reported on last issue, we are also liaising with the Waste Trade Association Group, which has issued a joint statement urging the next government to commit to the following promises: 1. Establish an Office for Resource Management, headed by a Minister, to lead and co-ordinate government policy on resource efficiency and waste prevention across departments.

2. Expand the market for reused and recycled products and materials by reforming government procurement rules, putting appropriate economic incentives in place, and placing a sustained emphasis on public communication and engagement.

3. Stimulate private investment in new waste treatment, recycling and reprocessing facilities by setting long term policy goals and targets – along the lines recently proposed by the EU – working with industry and stakeholders to develop methods to achieve them.

4. Protect local communities, safeguard the environment, and reduce tax evasion by ensuring that enforcement bodies and local authorities are properly resourced to combat waste crime.

industrialtanks@balmoral.co.uk

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www.balmoralindustrialtanks.com

Regions

News from the regions Wales tops UK recycling league

Substantial EU investment in Welsh renewables

With an average of 54.3 per cent of municipal waste reused, recycled or composted in 2013-14, Wales is leading the UK recycling league.

Denbighshire County Council tops the table with a rate of 63.2 per cent, closely followed by Monmouthshire and Pembrokeshire. “Wales is the best in the UK for recycling,” praises Carl Sargeant, Minister for Natural Resources.

“We are still the only UK government that has set statutory recycling targets and this focus is delivering results.” http://bit.ly/1wvGBKg

The European Commission has approved funding of £154m for Wales, to help drive research and innovation in renewable energy and energy efficiency. The funding is part of the £1.1bn European Regional Development Fund programme designed to stimulate economic growth. Finance and Government Business Minister, Jane Hutt, comments: “This announcement marks a significant milestone for further EU funds to be invested to help deliver on our shared goals across Government for sustainable economic growth and jobs.” www.wales.gov.uk

Academics and industry collaborate to support NI biogas industry A unique partnership to better service the needs of Northern Ireland’s biogas industry has been agreed between Queen’s University Belfast’s QUESTOR Centre, South West College and three industry partners. With funding from the Department for Employment and Learning’s ‘Connected’ fund through Colleges NI, the academic partnership has begun developing and delivering technical services for the three industry partners. Projects being undertaken cover operational issues such as the identification of factors inhibiting gas production, technical compliance and analysis of feedstock characteristics influencing plant design. “This partnership will see real solutions to real problems and will help the biogas industry in Northern Ireland continue to develop,” predicts Aaron Black from South West College. A report on the work undertaken will be available through the South West College Innotech Centre to all biogas businesses in Northern Ireland, who previously had to work with German and Danish knowledge providers to get the same service.

Quality Meat Scotland supports digestate use Zero Waste Scotland has welcomed Quality Meat Scotland’s (QMS) announcement that digestate and compost products from AD are safe for farmers to use on crops. With food waste collections serving 1.3m Scottish homes and most large food businesses, the move by QMS will help develop markets for digestate as a sustainable alternative to manufactured fertilisers. www.zerowastescotland.org.uk

Official opening for Welsh food waste plant A £7m food waste AD plant at Waen, near St Asaph, has been officially opened.

Using 22,500 tpa of local authority and commercial food waste, the Biogen facility will generate enough renewable electricity to power around 2,000 homes, as well as digestate for use by local farmers. The development was funded by the Welsh Government, Denbighshire County Council, Flintshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council, Iona Capital and Biogen.

“This project is a clear demonstration of the forward thinking approach adopted by the local authorities across Wales in managing food waste and protecting the environment,” says Julian O’Neill, Biogen Chief Executive. www.biogen.co.uk

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AD and the food & drink sector Food waste costs the UK’s hospitality and food service sector an average of £10,000pa per outlet

Unlocking the value of waste in the food and drink sector

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here can be no denying that the anaerobic digestion industry has been one of the UK’s recent success stories – a total of 335 AD facilities now deliver a combined electrical equivalent capacity of over 400 MW. But the availability of food waste will have a major impact on the industry's future. Eunomia’s 2014 report, ‘Addressing the feedstock famine’, concluded that the AD market has reached a tipping point beyond which there is not sufficient feedstock being collected to support the operation of new AD facilities coming on stream. Just 12 per cent of UK food waste is currently recycled through AD, yet if we were to process all inedible food waste we could increase the industry’s output sixfold.

Measure, manage, reduce

One reason is that too many food and drink businesses still view their food waste as just that: waste. In fact, it is a valuable resource that could be generating additional income and energy through anaerobic digestion. And the AD process also produces digestate, a valuable biofertiliser that can be applied to land to help grow new food crops. According to Mike Hanson, Head of Sustainable Business for BaxterStorey and an ADBA board member, it’s an issue which affects everybody: “Everyone in the waste management chain, from the producer to the final disposer, has a role to play in the consideration and application of the waste hierarchy.”

Food waste is a particular issue in the UK’s hospitality and food service sector, where three quarters of the food thrown away could have been eaten. The problem costs the sector an astonishing £2.5bn a year – equivalent to £10,000 per annum per outlet. And it’s a similar story right across the supply chain, from food producers through to retailers. With more and more AD plants coming on stream, the solution seems obvious – so why aren’t more food and drink businesses working to reduce their food waste volumes, and using AD to maximise the value of the unavoidable portion?

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The waste hierarchy rightly dictates that the first priority is to prevent food waste occurring, but there will always be some wastage, says Mike: “Bones, peelings, skin, shells, etc are unavoidable; the key for the hospitality sector is to limit this. It’s an old adage but you can’t manage what you can’t measure, and segregating and weighing food Mike Hanson, Head of Sustainable Business for BaxterStory and an ADBA board member, believes everyone in the food industry has a responsibility to reduce waste www.adbioresources.org

AD and the food & drink sector Biogen operates a national network of food waste AD plants, including the GwyriAD facility in North Wales

Hundreds of other food and drink businesses are also enjoying the benefits of anaerobic digestion, not least Spirit Pub Company. Following a successful trial with AD operator Biogen, it now sends all its food waste to AD and has found the process to be simple and straightforward. “We moved from zero food waste recycling to recycling 30 tonnes per week from around 400 outlets, all in the space of three months,” explains Vance Fairman-Smith, Head of Supply Chain.

In combination with other waste management measures, this has seen the company’s waste bill cut by approximately 65 per cent.

Waitrose was the first national retailer to use AD as a viable solution for food waste

waste has been shown to reduce waste by up to 20 per cent. Throw into the mix food waste prevention training and you can expect to see savings of 50 per cent or more.”

However, some food companies still perceive food waste segregation as an onerous task. Not so, believes Janet Cox, Head of Health and Safety for KFC UKI, which sends food waste from its Scottish stores to AD. “So far, recycling our food has been a straightforward process. We educated our staff with posters, colour-coded stickers and matching recycling bins and followed this up with site visits. Catering staff tend to be young and see recycling as the norm.”

Merchant AD plants

Along with most other leading supermarkets, including Waitrose, M&S, Tesco and Asda, Sainsbury’s sends its unavoidable food waste which is unfit for human consumption to a network of merchant AD plants around the UK, where it is converted into renewable energy and a valuable biofertiliser (digestate).

Using Biffa’s advanced AD facilities and a unique power link up comprising a 1.5km electricity cable, Sainsbury’s Cannock store comes off the grid for day-to-day electricity consumption and is instead powered solely by electricity generated from its own food waste.

With serious financial savings to be made – not to mention the environmental benefits and associated ‘green halo’ for those companies involved – what’s stopping more food and drink businesses from following Spirit’s example?

An answer could be the prevalence of macerators. “Macerators are the most commonly used method of food waste disposal but equally one of the most environmentally damaging,” reveals Mike Hanson. “The cost is huge, too. With food waste recycling, the client is often presented with an additional invoice that, although not very high, is still very visible. They may not realise that they were paying much more than that with the macerator because the water and energy used are included in their overall bills.”

Customer satisfaction

In addition, some food and drink companies have found packaging to be a barrier to AD. “One of the stumbling blocks preventing other food businesses from sending their food waste to AD is packaging,” confirms Janet Cox. “Finding an AD plant that could handle our packaged food waste was a prime concern for us.” Vance Fairman-Smith agrees: “Biogen, our current AD partner, is aware of how hard we work to minimise contamination and is realistic about the amount that inevitably occurs, despite our best efforts,” explains Vance.

“However, other operators have been less flexible. This inconsistency doesn’t work for large, nationwide corporations such as ours.”

With more food waste facilities operating than ever before and greater competition for feedstock, the onus is now firmly on the AD industry to deliver customer satisfaction, including offering a depackaging service. “We always Continued>>

In a unique partnership with Biffa, Sainsbury’s Cannock store is powered solely by electricity generated from its own food waste

By sending its food waste to AD and employing other waste management measures, Spirit Pub Company has seen its waste bill drop by 65 per cent www.adbioresources.org

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www.avkuk.co.uk

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albi@avkuk.co.uk

AD and the food & drink sector talk about feedstock, but with the growing competition we need to change our mindsets to think instead about customers,” declared Julian O’Neill, Chief Executive of Biogen, at ADBA’s recent National Conference. This is an attitude that will only grow stronger as the AD industry develops over the coming years.

Collection options

Acting as the link between the waste producer and the AD operator, waste collection companies play a vital role in ensuring that the value of waste food is realised. While the perception of some food businesses is still that separate food waste collections will prove more expensive than mixed collections, the reality tells a different story. Landfill tax increased by £8 per tonne from 2011 to 2014 and is now £80 per tonne – and this is on top of the landfill site gate fee and the cost of collection by the waste carrier. “Providing competitively priced waste collections is more important than ever, not least for non-mandatory services such as food waste collections,” states Jakob Rindegren, ESA Recycling Policy Adviser. “Our members work closely with their business customers to understand their needs and budgets and make sure that food waste collections fit in with other waste services to maximise the amount collected and give value for money.”

Speaking at the ADBA National Conference, Adam Baisley, Commercial Director for Olleco, revealed how his company has helped a food producer turn waste into profit: “One of our clients was sending 90 per cent of their waste to landfill. When we took a closer look, 60 per cent was mixed recyclables (plastics, card, paper); 11 per cent was glass; 25 per cent was food waste; and only 5 per cent really needed to go to landfill. There was an awful lot of value in their waste Waste carriers such as Olleco are crucial in helping food which we were able to and drink businesses realise the value in their waste help them recover.”

On-site AD

With waste carriers offering competitively priced food waste collection services and AD operators becoming more customer-orientated, unlocking the value contained within food waste is easier for food and drink businesses than ever before. And a growing number of companies have taken this one step further, opting instead to develop their own on-site AD plants, including Wyke Farms, Muntons, Barfoots, North British Distillery, Nestlé and Diageo, to name a few.

QV Foods, which supplies Asda with vegetable and potato products, opened a 1.5 MW AD plant last year. The Tamar Energy facility processes up to 30,000 tpa of food waste from QV Foods’ operations and provides the company with electricity and digestate. “In general, I don’t think the food and drink industry fully appreciates the amount of food waste it generates, or its value,” declares Duncan Worth, Chairman of QV Foods. “We are a fairly remote farm site with relatively weak infrastructure, so having an on-site power plant makes us more robust and gives us a better platform for growth. Also, with energy costs rising, we wanted a way of reducing our bills compared to our competitors. The other factor in favour of AD is that we have outgrade produce and peel waste which was being used as feedstock many miles away. It seemed sensible to try and find a use closer to home.”

Official opening of Tamar Energy’s 1.5 MW AD plant for QV Foods. L-R: Willie Heller, Tamar Energy CEO; Alan Lovell, Tamar Energy Chairman; Andy Clarke, Asda Chief Executive; and Duncan Worth, QV Foods Chairman

replace some of our current artificial base fertiliser for our sugar beet crop.”

However, Duncan has a word of warning for any would-be developers: “AD is hard work and not for the faint hearted – in my view, it only suits certain environments and applications. I’m glad to be working with Tamar Energy; the team knows how to operate the AD plant to the highest professional standards and maximise the gas yield. Where AD works, there is real benefit.”

Do your homework

Duncan’s view is echoed by Cath Anthony, Rural Surveyor for Bidwells, who helped vegetable growers G’s to develop a 2.5 MW on-site AD facility at its mushroom farm in Littleport, Cambridgeshire: “Food and drink companies must first consider what waste they produce and whether this is a suitable AD feedstock; for instance, salad crops are mostly water and so have limited biogas yield. They should also look at their location – will there be a use for the heat and/or electricity on-site? Are there good local grid connections? And perhaps most importantly, is there an outlet for the digestate or are there local contacts ready to take it away? If not, this could prove a major cost.”

“If you can resolve these issues then you are potentially looking at a perfect AD project,” confirms Cath. “AD is the best way of getting rid of food waste and an on-site AD plant could solve your waste problems, save you money, create on-site heat and energy, and produce a biofertiliser. But it’s essential to take a feasibility study early on to see if the project still stands up under closer scrutiny.”

Changing policy and perceptions

With AD solutions now available for every kind of food and drink business, it’s not a surprise to learn that the UK is one of the European leaders in food waste AD facilities and technology, with over 80 plants in operation.

However, many feel that this growth cannot be maintained unless government implements a landfill ban and mandatory source segregated food waste Continued>>

“The most obvious benefit for us is cheaper electricity, but we are also keeping around 10,000 tonnes of potato peel and outgrades on site, reducing costs and transport,” reveals Duncan. “Our farming operation now has a supply of liquid biofertiliser which we will put on growing crops, saving us around £100,000 a year before application costs. In addition, the solid soil conditioner will www.adbioresources.org

Bidwells helped G’s to develop a 2.5 MW AD plant in Cambridgeshire

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AD and the food & drink sector

Speaking at ADBA’s National Conference, Biogen’s Julian O’Neill revealed that government policy is ‘critical to underpinning the longevity of the food waste industry’

collections. “Government policy is absolutely critical to underpinning the longevity of the food waste industry,” stated Biogen’s Julian O’Neill at the ADBA National Conference.

“Getting food waste out of the residual waste stream is clearly the right thing to do on a broader scale, not just for the AD industry, so I’d like to see government taking an active role in that.”

England is lagging behind its closest neighbours when it comes to food waste policy and any new government can expect to find itself under serious pressure to redress this imbalance, not least from ADBA. “We are in the process of sending letters to every major political party ahead of the General Election outlining a series of questions we’d like answers to, one of which is whether they would incentivise an uptake of separate food waste collections for businesses and households,” explains Derek Sivyer, ADBA’s PR & Parliamentary Affairs Manager. “Secondly, we’re sending every MP a pledge card which we’d like them to sign up to – one of the key promises is a commitment to use all food waste. And finally, we’re hosting an AD event in Westminster to which we’re inviting MPs from across the House, a key focus of which will be the value of food waste. We’re also working hard to bridge the gap between the AD and food and drink industries, encouraging greater communication between the two sectors for mutual benefit.”

Following on from last year’s AD and Hospitality Conference (pictured), ADBA is working hard to bridge the gap between the two industries

As the appetite for a change in the law increases, food and drink businesses in England could soon be forced to segregate their food waste for separate collection, as is the case north of the border. While some may decide to wait until policy dictates a change in their food waste strategy, more forward-thinking firms will want to consider future proofing their business now, on their own terms.

And finally, while there has been plenty of debate over the so-called ‘food versus fuel’ issue in recent months, statistics reveal that there is a far more pressing concern that we must address now. Between 30-50 per cent of all the food and drink we produce is wasted – it’s clear that we all have a responsibility to help reduce this figure, and to treat the unavoidable portion as the valuable resource it undoubtedly is. www.waitrose.com www.biogen.co.uk www.olleco.co.uk www.barfoots.co.uk www.tamar-energy.com www.bidwells.co.uk

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ADBA National Conference 2014 Review

AD 2015-2020 – Growing safely and sustainably

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ith all eyes firmly on the upcoming general election, it was no surprise that our sixth National Conference, entitled ‘AD 2015-2020: What can we achieve?’, proved to be our busiest and most vibrant to date. Held on 9 December 2014 at One Great George St, Westminster, speakers from government, industry and academia discussed topics such as the importance of on-farm AD, the future of food waste policy, biomethane, digestate, finance and operational performance, provoking fierce debate among the hundreds of delegates in attendance.

Attendees from all facets of the AD sector learned of the industry’s impressive growth rate over the past year, not least in the production of biomethane, which has more than quadrupled over the past 12 months. Yet, with our potential still so much greater – the UK’s AD industry could be generating in excess of 40 TWh pa, 10 per cent of the UK’s domestic gas demand – speakers were also keen to highlight the barriers still to be overcome.

The importance of on-farm AD

Sponsored by:

In the first of the day’s panel discussions, government was urged to create a policy and incentive framework which supports all the benefits of on-farm AD to farmers and the UK; not just energy generation.

“Government needs to recognise the greenhouse gas mitigation credentials of AD,” urged Michael Chesshire, Director of Evergreen Gas. “It needs to find a mechanism whereby if farmers are going to digest slurries and manures they will get the benefits.” Nick Tapp, Head of Client Advisory for Craigmore Farming, also felt that government has more to do: “One of the challenges faced by on-farm AD is the disconnect between government departments,” he noted.

Chris Huhne, ADBA’s Strategic Advisor, was keen to extol the benefits of on-farm AD for both farmers and the wider UK population: “The rural economy is one of the success stories of the British economy over the last few years, partly because of its ability to diversify and generate new income sources,” said Chris.

“As seen in Germany, there is real potential for on-farm AD to provide a substantial part of our energy requirements from renewable resources, with all the associated greenhouse gas implications – this is a home-grown technology that actually gives us real self-sufficiency.”

Food waste policy

With England way behind the rest of the UK in regard to its policy on the treatment of food waste, the next government can expect the AD industry to put pressure on it to catch up fast. “Policy hasn’t done enough yet to encourage more food waste out of catering establishments,” stated Adam Baisley, Commercial Director for Olleco. “Policy could help address the issue of contamination and encourage people to recycle the right sort of food waste, which will also improve the quality of digestate,” he added.

Biogen’s Julian O’Neill was bullish about the future of food waste AD in the face of increasing competition, but warned that the industry needs to improve its reputation: “The increase in AD capacity is evidence of success, but there’s starting to be real competition. As a result, we’re doing a pretty good job of driving down gate fees but outside of that we need to make sure we are lobbying the views of the industry to government, and that we’re pushing the key issues. However, there is an issue around the reputation of the industry – we have to have operations that are robust.”

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AD & Bioresources News | february 2015

www.adbioresources.org

ADBA National Conference 2014 Review

“The digestate session focused on strategy, particularly how your choice of feedstock will influence the ways you can use the resulting digestate and how you want to market it. The panel also urged the audience to think about new methods to improve digestate end use. The latest heat exchanger technology can assist this by significantly reducing the volume of digestate (up to 80 per cent), which means reduced transport and storage costs and a higher quality spreader/injectable fertiliser.”

Matt Hale, International Sales Manager, HRS Heat Exchangers

Focus on biomethane

The popularity of biomethane was evident in the afternoon’s first breakout session. Stuart Easterbrook of National Grid confirmed that, while six projects are already commissioned and eight more are under construction, a further 56 are progressing through the system – with 157 enquiries received since April 2014. Unsurprisingly, it was Stuart’s view that the future of biomethane in the UK is ‘very positive’, with plenty of network capacity. And with new support levels for biomethane – published on the day of the ADBA National Conference 2014 – receiving a warm welcome, government looks to have provided some stability for the sector. “This announcement will reassure developers and investors that they can continue to deliver the biomethane projects they have in planning,” said ADBA’s Charlotte Morton. “These proposals will help put the biomethane RHI support on a more secure footing.” (See Policy News, p28, for full details.)

Funding and performance

There was good news for farmers looking for AD project funding when RBS chose the ADBA National Conference to announce that it is changing its funding policy for AD and will now take into account 30 per cent of the potential profit from a prospective AD plant when evaluating an on-farm AD project. “This pioneering approach could dramatically increase the number of successful AD funding bids,” praised Charlotte Morton.

However, the industry as a whole will only attract funding if operational performance improves. The water sector has seen a 25 per cent increase in energy generation through new investments and improved operational efficiency, and there could be lessons there for the wider AD industry: “We must grow safely and sustainably, become more professional and maximise performance if we are to continue to attract funding and lose the attention of the regulators,” warned Charlotte. Tamar Energy’s Head of Operations, Kyrone Dodd, took the opportunity to outline his company’s commitment to ‘The 4 Ms’ – measure, monitor, manage, maintain. “Stable inputs equal stable outputs,” he declared. But the most important aspect for any AD operation? “Safety, safety, safety.”

“Quite often the seminars highlighted the need for an Environment Agency permit to develop an AD plant, yet it’s not obvious to newcomers that operators need to hold a competence certificate to run their plant. There are two routes to obtaining the certificate; either on the job site assessment or a four day AD specific course, which can be run in-company or at one of SERAC UK’s open courses across the UK.” Don Glaister, Managing Director, SERAC UK Conference exhibitor FGS Organics found the event useful for networking and making new contacts www.adbioresources.org

february 2015 | AD & Bioresources News

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j.booth@wangen.com www.wangen.com

sales@agrico.f9.co.uk

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uk@boerger.com

AD & Bioresources News | february 2015

www.adbioresources.org

www.boerger.com

Technology Focus: Pumps and mixers

Selecting the right pump or mixer for your AD project

James Wood, Operations Manager for Swancote Energy, provides some helpful advice for UK AD operators.

“Although there are many different pumping applications in an AD plant, these can be broken down into five main categories: chemicals, water, gases, liquid food (the soup), and digestate. AD operators must first find a supplier of the type of pump required. Working with the manufacturer is the best option, but may be more difficult when an AD plant has been supplied by a non-UK based company. For me, however, it’s essential that the pump supplier answers ‘yes’ to the following questions: • Are they UK-based, preferably local?

• Do they carry stock of spare parts/pump?

• Do they have a good reputation?

Choosing the correct pump or mixer is as important as choosing any other piece of equipment which is used on a daily basis. Giving your potential supplier the correct information is critical; all parameters from the list below are recommended in order for the right equipment to be selected: • pH levels • Temperature • Dry matter • Viscosity • Flow required • Application • Head (max. height to be pumped) • Pipe size, length, and material • Maximum particle size to be pumped • Contamination If the application is for gas, water or chemicals, the decision is relatively straightforward as it will come down to the initial capital cost. In my experience these pumps will give you at least five years’ trouble free use, so long as they are properly maintained. However, anyone who runs a food waste AD plant will know that the last item on the list above is the one that drives up running costs at the front end, with glass the number one perpetrator. Spare parts for this pump have to be cheap and in plentiful supply, and any good distributor should hold these for you.

A centrifugal pump is the ideal type to deal with glass/grit contamination as the moving part does not come into contact with the contaminants, but as the feedstock must generally be below 12 per cent dry matter, this is not always feasible.

The most common alternative is the positive displacement pump, which can deal with dry matters up to around 30 per cent. The downside

to these pumps is that the moving and static parts come into contact with the contaminants and wear out at a much quicker rate – and the spares are not cheap either.

Other alternatives do exist, such as diaphragm pumps (which do not deal with sharp objects at all) and piston pumps (from the concrete industry); these can deal with larger amounts of contaminants but have a much higher capital cost.

One of the largest costs in the maintenance of an AD plant is pump repairs, which is why choosing a front end pump is such an important decision.

The question I would put to pump manufacturers is: can you design a front end pump that can pump high dry matters and deal with glass and grit at a reasonable cost?”

ADBA members delivering industry-leading solutions

Landia’s externally-mounted GasMix digester mixing system is proving to be an integral part of EPS Water’s successful Design Build Operate (DBO) package at the recently expanded wastewater treatment works (WWTW) in Tullamore, home of the celebrated Irish whiskey, Tullamore Dew. EPS Water’s process for the WWTW includes two sludge digesters with duty/stand-by CHP, sludge holding tanks, sludge drier and all associated works. The company selected Landia’s GasMix for its reliability, gas yield enhancement and easy maintenance, as EPS Regional Operation Manager, Gerald Buckley, explains: “For our client, Irish Water, Landia’s GasMix not only produces more methane than other systems, but it does so much more quickly because it mixes the whole tank properly, leaving no crust on the surface.”

Gerald continues: “We have found the GasMix unit to be extremely reliable. Easy access to the pumps ensures staff carry out routine maintenance efficiently and safely, thereby avoiding downtime.”

Landia’s GasMix is in use at Tullamore WWTW, home to Tullamore Dew Irish whiskey www.adbioresources.org

Landia’s externally mounted GasMix at Tullamore WWTW is proving to be extremely reliable

For correct pump selection it is imperative that customers and pump suppliers work together to verify conditions under which the pump will operate.

SEEPEX is proud to be associated with the success of Clearfleau’s on-site liquid biogas plants at Nestlé and Diageo facilities. SEEPEX has developed a supply relationship with Clearfleau that reflects the values of application-based consultancy, resulting in correct pump selection, which delivers the lowest life-cycle costs. SEEPEX progressive cavity pumps are suited to all biogas system transfer duties, from raw material intake to digestate removal, for high and low viscosity products, abrasive and corrosive materials and those containing large particles.

Clearfleau has installed pumps fitted with Smart Conveying Technology on its new plants, offering customers the twin benefits of extended running hours and simple maintenance. This design, patented to SEEPEX, has proved itself in many applications, reducing maintenance time and costs for plant operators.

Continued>>

SEEPEX pumps on Clearfleau biogas plant february 2015 | AD & Bioresources News

17

Technology Focus: Pumps and mixers a ‘Mini-Drop’ retrofit mixing system that reduces costs by eliminating the need to empty and clean the tank, instead using existing guide rail and lifting davit arrangements and, in some situations, the existing tank openings. Already in operation at several sites, the System Mix Mini-Drop is proving to be a reliable and cost-effective alternative to submersible mixers where capital projects are unlikely to be allocated. The Mini-Drop system, which features a powerful external Vaughan Chopper Pump, eliminates the need for tank entry to install or remove the system and benefits from an adjustable nozzle as well as all submersible parts in 316 stainless steel.

Vogelsang’s new progressive cavity pump; the Cavity Comfort (CC) pump

Catering for a variety of AD systems, from food waste to on-farm, Utile manufactures gas compression systems and has recently partnered with Evergreen Gas. Utile will supply its ATEX compliant L Series sliding vane gas compressors for use in Evergreen’s farm-scale plug flow AD plants. The UK manufactured compressors have already proved a success, mixing digestate with varying constituents and high dry solids content on a sequential batch basis. Evergreen Gas now has over 15 live on-farm AD projects across the UK, with many more to roll out soon, and acknowledges the advantages of partnering Utile: a company which locally manufactures a robust, reliable product that can be field supported with skilled service engineers.

Adding to its long established range of rotary lobe pumps, Vogelsang has now developed a progressive cavity pump, the Cavity Comfort (CC) pump. Traditionally, progressive cavity pumps have taken a longer time to service and required more space than rotary lobe pumps – the rotor has usually needed to be separated from the stator in situ, requiring a lot of space in a horizontal plane. However, for the CC pump, the whole rotor/stator combination can be vertically removed as a single piece without breaking any pipework connections, before being serviced elsewhere. The CC series pump has also been integrated into Vogelsang’s family of digester feed systems, including QuickMix; EnergyJet; and the most recent addition, PreMix, an augur-based digester feed system developed to handle even low quality food waste feedstocks containing multiple foreign bodies and packaging.

Used for pumping and mixing slurry or digestate to storage tanks and separators, the Veneroni pump range – manufactured in Italy and imported

by Greencrop – offers optimum hydraulic performance, even at low applied powers.

Featuring a spheroid, cast iron pump head finished in epoxy bituminous enamel with the unique Veneroni cutter on the inlet, the combined action of the shaving disc blades and rotor, chops even the longest fibres. This absence of external rotating elements also eliminates clogging. Driven by an electric motor, the LE and LEM models are ideally suited to a wide range of applications, including biogas systems. The LEM is equipped with an impellor that keeps the sewage evenly mixed during pumping and comes with an adjustable nozzle, which delivers a high-speed jet to ensure effective sediment homogenisation. A pneumatic piston for automated operation controls the opening and closing of the nozzle valve, and the pumps can be supplied in either a galvanised or stainless steel finish.

The Veneroni pump range, distributed by Greencrop, chops even the longest fibres

System Mix Ltd, a division of P&M Pumps, the UK distributor of Vaughan Chopper Pumps and Rotamix Tank Mixing Systems, delivers innovative, retrofit, in-tank mixing systems. The company’s versatile approach to sludge mixing has resulted in a number of successful installations across the UK, including Peacehaven (Southern Water), Howden (Northumbrian Water), Jaywick & Clacton (Anglian Water) and Mogden (Thames Water). System Mix has recently developed Evergreen Gas has partnered with Utile, manufacturer of gas compression systems

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AD & Bioresources News | february 2015

www.adbioresources.org

www.swancoteenergy.co.uk www.landia.co.uk www.seepex.com www.clearfleau.com www.vogelsang.co.uk www.greencrop.co.uk www.pumpmix.co.uk www.thameswater.co.uk www.evergreengas.co.uk

UK AD & Biogas 2014 Show Highlights

GasMix

TM

The Anaerobic Digester Mixing System Designed specifically for biogas plants

INCREASED METHANE PRODUCTION IMPROVED DIGESTER MIXING EFFICIENCY IMPROVED HEALTH AND SAFETY CONDITIONS Landia’s GasMix™ systems are ideally applied in anaerobic digesters containing crops, manure, food waste, organic household waste, sludge from wastewater treatment plants, and any other waste or sludge containing decomposable organic material.

Tel: 01948 661 200 info@landia.co.uk info@landia.co.uk www.landia.co.uk www.landia.co.uk

Landia (UK) Ltd. Waymills Industrial Estate, Whitchurch, Shropshire, SY13 1TT

www.landia.co.uk/mixers/gasmix www.landia.co.uk/mixers/gasmix

www.vogelsang.co.uk

www.adbioresources.org

february 2015 | AD & Bioresources News

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Plant Update Unlocking feedstock is key to continued AD growth

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As the latest official WRAP data for 2013 shows, the UK’s AD industry is experiencing strong growth, with feedstock use and operational capacity up by over 50 per cent and full-time employment of operational staff working on AD plants up by 36 per cent. Operational capacity has continued to surge forward in 2014, too, with 335 plants now in operation across all sectors, providing over 400 MW of electrical equivalent capacity.

As our snapshot of some of the projects planned for the next 12 months highlights below, 2015 is also set to be a strong year. But if this surge is to be maintained, it is essential that the new government implements a landfill ban and source segregated food waste collections, warns our Chief Executive, Charlotte Morton: “The UK is already one of the European leaders on food waste AD facilities and technology, with over 80 plants in operation.

But with only about 12 per cent of our food waste recycled through AD the potential is far greater, and can only be delivered by government policy which supports segregated food waste collection schemes. If we were to recycle all the food waste which is suitable for AD, the AD food waste industry could be six times bigger than it is today.”

AD in 2015 - a snapshot of upcoming projects 1 Glasgow

Location: Glasgow Recycling and Renewable Energy Centre (GRREC) Current stage: Assembly Input: Organic fraction from municipal solid waste Output: N/A Projected completion: Autumn 2015 ADBA member involvement: Technological partner Agraferm Group Info supplied by: Agraferm Technologies AG www.agraferm.com

5 Washfold

Location: Leyburn, North Yorkshire Current stage: Biological commissioning and ramp up to steady operation Input: Cattle slurry and grass silage Output: 200 kW Projected completion: Early 2015 ADBA member involvement: Developer/operator JFS & Associates Ltd Info supplied by: JFS & Associates Ltd www.jfsassociates.co.uk

6 Wakefield 2 St Boswells Location: Melrose, Scottish Borders Current stage: Under construction Input: Energy crops, vegetable wastes Output: 250-800m3/h biogas to biomethane upgrade Projected completion: Summer 2015 ADBA member involvement: Biogas upgrading technology Chesterfield BioGas; operator Biogas Power Ltd Info supplied by: Chesterfield BioGas www.chesterfieldbiogas.com www.biogaspower.co.uk

3 Consett

Location: Consett, County Durham Current stage: Commissioning Input: Energy crops; grass, maize and whole crop silage Output: 1067 kWe Projected completion: Early 2015 ADBA member involvement: Developers Hallwick Energy; technology provider MT-Energie; CHP supplier 2G Energy Info supplied by: Hallwick Energy www.hallwickenergy.com www.mt-energie.com www.2-g.com

4 Wardley

Location: Gateshead, Tyne & Wear Current stage: In development (with planning consent) Input: Food waste Output: 3 MW Projected completion: 2016 ADBA member involvement: Owner/operator Tamar Energy Info supplied by: Tamar Energy www.tamar-energy.com

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AD & Bioresources News | february 2015

Location: South Kirkby, West Yorkshire Current stage: Construction Input: Organic fraction of municipal solid wastes Output: 2.5 MWe Projected completion: Summer 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design and build contractor for AD technology Imtech Info supplied by: Imtech www.imtech.com

7 Broom House Farm

Location: Alfreton, Derbyshire Current stage: Commissioning complete Input: Cattle slurry, silage, waste feed Output: 250 kW Projected completion: Early 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and commission Evergreen Gas Info supplied by: Evergreen Gas www.evergreengas.co.uk

8 East Midlands Biogas Centre Location: Colwick, Nottingham Current stage: Commissioning/ operational at 500 kW Input: Food waste Output: 4 MW Projected completion: 2015 (to reach full capacity) ADBA member involvement: Owner/operator Bio Dynamic; commissioning support, including analysis, consultancy, trace elements and additives FM BioEnergy Info supplied by: Bio Dynamic www.biodynamicuk.com www.fmbioenergy.co.uk

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9 Aston Lower Hall Farm

Location: Nantwich, Cheshire Current stage: Construction Input: Cattle slurry, maize, hybrid rye, fodder beet Output: 500 kW Projected completion: September 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and technology Marches Biogas Info supplied by: Marches Biogas www.marchesbiogas.com

10 Stockton Energy

Location: Newport, Shropshire Current stage: Construction Input: Cattle slurry, pig slurry, maize, beet, poultry muck Output: 500 kW Projected completion: September 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and technology Marches Biogas Info supplied by: Marches Biogas www.marchesbiogas.com

11 Glanmiheli Farm

Location: Newtown, Powys Current stage: Construction Input: Poultry layer muck, maize, whole crop, beet Output: 500 kW Projected completion: September 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and technology Marches Biogas Info supplied by: Marches Biogas www.marchesbiogas.com

12 Manor Farm

Location: Craven Arms, Shropshire Current stage: Construction Input: Broiler muck, maize, beet Output: 250 kW Projected completion: September 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and technology Marches Biogas Info supplied by: Marches Biogas www.marchesbiogas.com

Plant Update 13 Severn Trent Green Power Coleshill

Location: Coleshill, Warwickshire Current stage: Commissioning Input: Food waste, maize silage Output: 2.4 MW Projected completion: January 2015 ADBA member involvement: Owner/operator Severn Trent Water Info supplied by: Severn Trent Water www.stwater.co.uk

19 Priors Halton

Location: Ludlow, Shropshire Current stage: Commissioning complete Input: Cattle, pig and poultry manure, grass and maize silage Output: 125 kW Projected completion: Early 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and commission Evergreen Gas Info supplied by: Evergreen Gas www.evergreengas.co.uk

24 Halstead

Location: Halstead, Essex Current stage: Commissioning Input: Food waste Output: 2 MW Projected completion: Early 2015 ADBA member involvement: Owner/operator Tamar Energy Info supplied by: Tamar Energy www.tamar-energy.com

25 Hoddesdon 14 Valley House Location: Grantham, Lincolnshire Current stage: Construction Input: Poultry manure, grass silage Output: 220 kW Projected completion: August 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and commission Evergreen Gas Info supplied by: Evergreen Gas www.evergreengas.co.uk

15 Keisby Estate Location: Bourne, Lincolnshire Current stage: Commissioning Input: Pig manure, whole crop rye Output: 165 kW Projected completion: February 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and commission Evergreen Gas Info supplied by: Evergreen Gas www.evergreengas.co.uk

20 Helmdon

Location: Brackley, Northamptonshire Current stage: Commissioning Input: Liquid food waste, food processing waste, whole crop silage, grass silage Output: 360m3/h biomethane feeding-in Projected completion: 2015 ADBA member involvement: EPC contractor Agraferm Technologies AG Info supplied by: Agraferm Technologies AG www.agraferm.com

21 Brayfield

Location: Onley, Buckinghamshire Current stage: Construction Input: Maize silage Output: 165 kW Projected completion: October 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and commission Evergreen Gas Info supplied by: Evergreen Gas www.evergreengas.co.uk

17 Whitehall Farm

Location: Wymondham, Norfolk Current stage: Commissioning Input: Corn silage, sugar beet, poultry manure, rye Output: 1.5 MW Projected completion: 2015 ADBA member involvement: EPC contractor Agraferm Technologies AG Info supplied by: Agraferm Technologies AG www.agraferm.com

26 Bryn Power

Location: Hengoed, Mid Glamorgan Current stage: Construction Input: Cattle slurry, whole crop, beet, food waste Output: 1 MW Projected completion: 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and technology Marches Biogas Info supplied by: Marches Biogas www.marchesbiogas.com

27 Evercreech

16 Swaffham

Location: Swaffham, Norfolk Current stage: Preferred bidder Input: Corn silage, whole crop silage, beets, rye Output: 4.5 MW Projected completion: 2015 ADBA member involvement: EPC contractor Agraferm Technologies AG Info supplied by: Agraferm Technologies AG www.agraferm.com

Location: Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire Current stage: Construction Input: Food waste Output: 3 MW Projected completion: Summer 2015 ADBA member involvement: Principal contractor Imtech; owner/operator Tamar Energy Info supplied by: Imtech, Tamar Energy www.imtech.com www.tamar-energy.com

22 East Anglia

Location: East Anglia Current stage: Commissioning Input: Maize silage Output: 499 kW, 1,000m3/h biomethane feeding-in Projected completion: 2015 ADBA member involvement: EPC contractor Agraferm Technologies AG Info supplied by: Agraferm Technologies AG www.agraferm.com

Location: Shepton Mallet, Somerset Current stage: In development (with planning consent) Input: Food waste Output: 2 MW Projected completion: 2016 ADBA member involvement: Owner/operator Tamar Energy Info supplied by: Tamar Energy www.tamar-energy.com

28 Bromley

Location: Bromley, Kent Current stage: In development (with planning consent) Input: Food waste Output: 2 MW Projected completion: 2016 ADBA member involvement: Owner/operator Tamar Energy Info supplied by: Tamar Energy www.tamar-energy.com

29 Wight Farm Energy

18 Warren Farms Location: Knighton, Powys Current stage: Construction Input: Broiler muck, maize, whole crop and beet Output: 250 kW Projected completion: September 2015 ADBA member involvement: Design, build and technology Marches Biogas Info supplied by: Marches Biogas www.marchesbiogas.com

23 Muntons plc

Location: Stowmarket, Suffolk Current stage: 75 per cent complete Input: Waste malted ingredient products Output: 499 kW Projected completion: February/March 2015 ADBA member involvement: Pasteuriser system HRS Heat Exchangers Info supplied by: HRS Heat Exchangers www.hrs-heatexchangers.com

www.adbioresources.org

Location: Isle of Wight Current stage: Construction Input: Arable crops Output: 600m3 biogas per hour to grid Projected completion: Fully operational by early 2015 ADBA member involvement: Developer Wight Farm Energy Info supplied by: Wight Farm Energy

february 2015 | AD & Bioresources News

21

Advice Clinic – Legal

Advice Clinic: Legal

In our new regular advice column, ADBA members provide help with some common AD queries.

Q A

“Should we agree to use an Institution of Chemical Engineers (IChemE) contract rather than our bespoke terms for works on an AD project?”

“Yes, as long as it is appropriately amended for the project. Your own bespoke terms may be unacceptable or inappropriate for the project. Alternatively, the other party may be unwilling to review each term of a bespoke contract to ensure it is acceptable and to check that key provisions have not been omitted. This process should be quicker if an IChemE or other standard contract is used, due to greater familiarity with its terms. This familiarity may also assist in administering the contract during the works. The IChemE contract can always be amended to reflect your commercial bargaining position and project specific requirements. Whichever contract you use, we recommend ensuring its terms align with your expectations – all too often this is only considered when issues arise.”

Luke Baines, Legal Director, Addleshaw Goddard LLP T +44 (0)207 160 3504 E luke.baines@addleshawgoddard.com www.addleshawgoddard.com

Q A

“What information will I need to gather to meet RHI sustainability criteria from October 2015?”

“AD operators can meet the RHI criteria by reporting directly to Ofgem on a quarterly basis. Such reports will need to provide prescribed information about the AD plant’s feedstock, and confirm that it meets the sustainability criteria. It is important to note that operators with installations over 1 MW will also have to provide to Ofgem an annual independent audit of the feedstock used.

While operators must report to Ofgem confirming the sustainability of each consignment of feedstock used, there are also additional reporting requirements in respect of the biogas and biomethane produced; the information required is dependent on the nature of the feedstock used and/or fuel produced. Operators have the option of using the Biomass and Biogas Carbon Calculator to report their greenhouse gas emissions if they wish.

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AD & Bioresources News | february 2015

The draft Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme and Domestic Renewable Heat Incentive Scheme (Amendment) Regulations 2015 set out the details of the sustainability criteria and the precise information required, and should be considered in detail prior to any report to Ofgem.”

Matthew Germain, Associate Director, Osborne Clarke T +44 (0)117 917 3662 E matthew.germain@osborneclarke.com www.osborneclarke.com

Q A

“We will be using biogas produced and supplied to us by a third party in our biomethane injection project. Can we register the facility for RHI?”

“The ownership by another party of the gas production plant does not mean the installation cannot be registered for RHI. In these circumstances, the applicant is required by Ofgem to submit a declaration that the biogas producer gives authority for the applicant to apply for RHI for biomethane injection. Ofgem prescribes the form of the declaration on its website, which must be signed by the applicant and the biogas producer. By signing the declaration the parties give Ofgem permission to access the project site for audit purposes. In addition to the requirement for a declaration, we would usually advise the applicant has in place a formal commercial agreement with the biogas producer for the supply and use of the biogas by the RHI applicant. While guidance issued by Ofgem may help with questions like this, as this is a new area of law the regulations and guidance do not always provide a clear answer in relation to novel gas to grid projects.”

Ben Sheppard, Partner, Walker Morris LLP T +44 (0)113 283 2500 E ben.sheppard@walkermorris.co.uk www.walkermorris.co.uk

Next issue: Planning Send your planning-related queries to kate.oreilly@adbioresources.org

www.adbioresources.org

Members’ News & Views Plant diary Nigel Bloom, Director of Bloom Developments, takes us on a whistle-stop tour of his crowdsource-funded 499 kW AD plant, built in just 67 days at Bevercotes, Newark, in Nottinghamshire.

Aqua Enviro receives government R&D funding

We run a farm, log cabin park and fishing lakes and have high energy bills, so were looking for a way to generate on-site renewable energy.

Our location and the grass cuttings from the site – combined with suitable feedstock from neighbouring farms – made AD the perfect fit for our family business. While planning proved straightforward, sourcing finance, however, was a challenge...

Aqua Enviro’s novel process is set to boost AD efficiency

January 2013 Planning permission granted; the local planning office understood our site’s energy demand and recognised that AD was the right solution.

December 2013 Pre-accredit for FIT to avoid 20 per cent degression. We now have until 6 December 2014 – just 12 months – to secure finance, build the plant, and start producing gas...

April 2014 After months of no luck with the banks, our accountants suggest crowdsource funding through the internet. With nothing to lose, our fantastic sponsors, Freedman Partners, register us with www.thincats.com, although our expectations are low. We needn’t have worried – within eight days of going live we raise £1.8m! Amazingly, we find all the money for the build cost in just 14 days.

May 2014

After much research, we choose Binowa as our equipment supplier. We like their personal touch, global experience and the fact that they’re also a family business.

June 2014

A-Consult begins construction. Design includes pre-acidification, gas-mixing for semi-plug flow, and energy efficient effective mixing, with ring-in-ring temperature stabilising effect and heat conservation, to maximise the heat available for RHI. Original design was for a feedstock mix of maize and slurry, but this has now been adjusted to include chicken litter, sugar beet and red beet.

August 2014 Binowa arranges the delivery of pre-fabricated materials every week, with everything the builders need arriving exactly when they need it. Everything runs so smoothly we barely even notice construction is happening!

October 2014 Construction complete after just 67 working days – commissioning now begins.

November 2014 Everyone delighted as our plant produces gas for the first time. We’ve achieved G59 in just six and half months!

December 2014 Full operation reached in just over a month. We set Binowa the challenge to have our plant built, commissioned and injecting gas by our FIT deadline and they have delivered. We are already looking to expand with a second CHP to provide local peak electricity.

www.binowa.de www.aconsult.co.uk

Aqua Enviro has been awarded £100,000 from the Technology Strategy Board for research and development that could help businesses cut waste costs and generate renewable energy. The company has been coordinating trials with the York Biorenewables Development Centre and has identified a new process that has the potential to significantly boost the efficiency of an AD system and make more efficient use of biofuel energy. Charlotte Morton, ADBA Chief Executive, says: “By increasing biogas yields and making new feedstock available, the process developed in this project could improve the viability and sustainability of AD projects, while helping to cut greenhouse gas emissions, boost UK energy security and improve the profitability and sustainability of farming operations.” www.aquaenviro.co.uk

Citadel BioCat+TM helps UK plant increase output by 12% A biogas plant in the north of England has seen its output increase by 12 per cent since applying Citadel BioCat+TM to the digester. After only a few months, the facility, which treats food waste and farm slurry, has increased its power output by over 75 kWe (from 700 kWe to around 800 kWe), increasing revenue by more than £70,000 pa – without any extra capital outlay. Produced through the fermentation of natural plant material, Citadel BioCat+TM is a natural, bioactive solution that can boost the quantity and quality of AD gas output while stabilising plants and reducing downtime.

Long-term trials in Europe and the UK have revealed a range of significant benefits for both commercial and farm-scale AD plants, including: a more stable digester; the ability to add new and varied feedstock without upsetting the biology of the plant; considerably reduced H2S levels; and power generation equivalent to Citadel BioCat+TM products are applied to historic levels using 20 per the digester via a Catalyst Production Unit cent less feedstock. (pictured), which customers can trial for free www.citadel-biocat.com

www.adbioresources.org

february 2015 | AD & Bioresources News

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Members’ News & Views er memb

voice

Maximising the performance of biogas CHP engines

Equipment downtime costs money. With AD developers in danger of losing valuable revenue if a CHP engine is not operational, Alex Marshall, Group Marketing & Compliance Manager for Clarke Energy, explains how to ensure high levels of equipment availability and maximise long-term profits.

Engine selection “As only a small selection of gas engine brands are designed to operate on biogas, it is essential to investigate the track record of any potential supplier; for example, how many biogas engines does it have operating in the field? AD developers should also investigate the quality of the ‘balance of plant’ supplied; ie supporting items of machinery that facilitate the CHP’s performance. These include: control systems; fans and radiators to dump excess heat; exhaust gas heat exchangers; dehumidifiers; and gas boosters.

In addition, UK regulations governing the installation of biogas units, such as the Dangerous Substances and Explosive Atmospheres Regulations (DSEAR), are different to those in Europe. If injury results from incorrect installation of the CHP unit, the plant operator is potentially criminally liable, so selecting a CHP provider that understands UK regulation compliance and has in-house health and safety support is critical.”

After-sales support “CHP engines are sophisticated pieces of power generation equipment, so operators should ascertain the skill level of the CHP service engineers – engineers need detailed understanding of mechanical and electrical engineering, and engine control systems. Clarke Energy engineers are comprehensively trained on GE’s Jenbacher gas engine product range and are Gas Safe certified. We are also able to offer training to third parties upon request.”

Commissioning “Commissioning the generator is an important element in ensuring a project stays on schedule, so developers need to be aware of any potential issues that could cause delay. For example, does the CHP supplier need to bring in specialists from the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) or does it have its own dedicated in-country resource? Are the commissioning engineers able to assist with local grid synchronisation requirements such as G59 in the UK and G10 in Ireland? Any hold-up in getting support could delay a project and impact on revenue.”

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Maintenance agreements “The CHP supplier may offer a maintenance agreement, typically a good way to transfer risk from the owner of the facility to the CHP maintenance company. However, when comparing prices from suppliers make sure to evaluate like for like – for example, is the fee transparent or are there standing charges? If the company is providing an availability guarantee, what physical and financial substance exists to back this up?

A maintenance agreement might include the following components: Spare parts – both for scheduled maintenance (parts that need to be changed at specific times as per manufacturers’ guidelines) and for non-scheduled maintenance (parts that need to be changed if something breaks down); Labour – the physical resources to conduct the maintenance procedure; Oil – in order to facilitate smooth operation, gas engines consume significant amounts of oil that are often highly advanced in composition and tailored to the demands of a biogas engine.

Field service capabilities are also important when evaluating a maintenance contract. How many service engineers does the company have? How many consumable parts do the service engineers hold in the field and what is their location? Are the engineers supported by remote monitoring, thus enabling them to diagnose faults remotely and dispatch engineers to site if needed?”

Availability of parts “Investigate the CHP provider’s levels of parts stockholding – it’s a good idea to visit their facility. Are the parts supplied high quality, OEM-approved components or lower quality, non-approved spares? The latter will expose an AD project to operational risks and potentially lost revenues.” www.clarke-energy.com

www.adbioresources.org

Members’ News & Views

texlubgen@chevron.com www.chevronlubricants.com www.adbioresources.org

february 2015 | AD & Bioresources News

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Members’ News & Views Movers and Shakers

Clarke Energy upgrades flood-damaged Brisbane sewage plants

New National Distribution Centre for Finning

Clarke Energy has been commissioned to supply new sewage gas cogeneration units to two sewage treatment plants in Brisbane, Australia, following flooding in the region during 2011. The company will provide new Jenbacher cogeneration equipment from GE and deliver turnkey design and construction solutions, including engine auxiliary equipment, purpose-built gas conditioning, and heat recovery equipment. The project scope also includes civil, mechanical, and electrical integration with the existing brownfield sites. www.clarke-energy.com See Member Voice, p24

Finning has opened an £8m purpose-built National Distribution Centre in Cannock to provide after-sales support and maintenance. The state of the art warehouse facility houses all of the dealership’s engines plus 60,000 different product lines, all of which are available for next day delivery. Finning UK and Ireland will also be the first Caterpillar dealer in Europe to use ‘Smart Sourcing’ technology, allowing the company to deliver parts on time and in full to the customer’s specific requirements. www.finning.co.uk

Imtech’s new Operations Director moves up from down under Richard Hofton has been appointed Operations Director for Imtech Water, Waste and Energy (Imtech). With over 25 years’ experience in civil engineering and leadership, Richard has spent the last five years working on large infrastructure projects in Australia, prior to which he was Operations Director at Galliford Try. “I am looking forward to working alongside the obvious talent present in the business and on the Board, to bring about positive developments that will consolidate and enhance the success of the business,” says Richard. www.imtech.com

SEEPEX launches new website Pump specialist SEEPEX has launched a new website. To find out more about the company’s range of products, applications, service and training, go to www.seepex.com See Technology Focus - Pumps, p17

Award-winning start for Bio Dynamic Bio Dynamic UK has won the Environmental Business Award at the Nottingham Post Environmental Awards 2014. The family-run firm’s AD plant in Colwick in Nottinghamshire currently processes 50,000 tpa of food waste, with plans in place to increase that to 150,000 tpa. Gary Burgess, Technical Director, comments: “This site was acquired on 10 January 2014 and has gone from demolition to fully commissioned in less than a year. This award is the perfect start we were hoping for.” Bio Dynamic is hoping that this success will encourage Nottinghamshire County Council to introduce a household food waste collection service. www.biodynamicuk.com See Plant Update, p20

Further expansion for Agraferm Technologies Agraferm Technologies AG has taken over a three-quarter majority share in BTA International GmbH. Agraferm and BTA have been linked under company law since 2007 so all business relationships will continue unchanged but as part of the increase in shares, Agraferm Directors will be named as the new Managing Directors of BTA. Together, the companies have more than 100 reference plants around the world, including Agraferm’s ten existing UK biogas plants and a further three under construction. With BTA also boasting a multitude of reference projects in Britain, the two firms aim to be actively involved in shaping future developments in both the UK and other countries, particularly in waste processing and the recycling of waste materials. www.agraferm.com

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www.adbioresources.org

Members’ News & Views Edina appointed official Perkins Gas Partner as company continues to grow As a long term distributor for Perkins products, Edina has now been appointed an official Perkins Gas Partner and will offer the range of Perkins gas engine gensets in canopy and containerised form for both natural gas and biogas applications. Perkins has developed a full range of 4000 series gas engines, for either electrical power generation or CHP. Year on year growth for the Edina Group of companies has exceeded 40 per cent over the past four years, and production at the company’s Northern Ireland factory has increased by 100 per cent in the past 24 months. With 57 projects currently under construction and orders for 2015 already exceeding those for 2014, Edina has recently opened a subsidiary company in Australia, Edina Australia Pty Ltd, signifying the beginning of expansion into new territories. www.edina.eu

Construction underway at North Yorkshire biomethane plant A multi-million pound project to construct North Yorkshire’s largest food waste gas to grid plant is set to open in September 2015. Leeming Biogas, a joint venture between JFS & Associates and Iona Capital, is developing the facility (L-R) Peter Johnson and Matthew Flint, Directors at Leeming Bar, which will of JFS & Associates process up to 80,000 tpa of waste from the food production industry and inject up to 8,000,000m3 pa of biomethane into Northern Gas Networks’ pipeline. Mike Dunn, Managing Director of Iona Capital, comments: “This project represents a significant investment and offers environmental and economic benefits to the local community. We are delighted to partner with JFS & Associates on our seventh AD scheme with them.” JFS & Associates currently owns and operates six AD plants in the North East and Cumbria, with a further six projects currently at the planning stage, all of which are joint ventures. www.jfsassociates.co.uk See Plant Update, p20

www.planet-biogas.co.uk/products/hygienisation www.adbioresources.org

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Policy FIT degression looms for April 2015 DECC has confirmed that, from 1 April 2015, there will be a further five per cent cut to the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) for plants between 500 kWe - 5 MWe. This is on top of the five per cent cut that was applied in October last year. The new reduction will come into force for plants accrediting from 1 April 2015 (although not for those plants with pre-accreditation dates prior to 31 December 2014). This makes for a full year cut of ten per cent, before RPI inflation.

Deployment at this scale remained some way from the level needed to prompt 20 per cent year on year degression, with total 2014 deployment of 53.8 MW compared to a trigger of 76.9 MW. However, sub-500 kWe plants have already had the full 20 per cent cut confirmed. Half took effect in October 2014, with the final ten per cent cut due in April. Total deployment for the year was 55.3 MW, over six times higher than the 9 MW trigger for maximum degression.

Along with other technology groups, we recently attended a DECC workshop on FIT pre-accreditation. While all the groups have issues with the operation of the pre-accreditation mechanism, the following priorities for change were identified: • De-linking pre-accreditation from degression; notably, whether DECC would be willing to pursue this given that it would reduce their budgetary control.

• Adjusting pre-accreditation numbers to take account of attrition; taking into account the fact that not all pre-accredited sites are likely to reach full accreditation, which could be based on an assumed attrition rate.

• Extending the pre-accreditation window; a two-year window for AD (rather than the current 12 months) was suggested.

• Starting the pre-accreditation window at the point of approval, not application; perhaps not as ideal as simply extending the window, because of the potential complications.

For up to the minute information and advice on regulations, consultations and government news, contact our Head of Policy, Matt Hindle T +44 (0)203 176 0591 E matt.hindle@adbioresources.org Other options discussed but discounted were: • Tightening pre-accreditation requirements; the use of financial close as an additional requirement could provide an added layer of complexity for developers and Ofgem, increasing delays and detracting from the value of pre-accreditation.

• Removing pre-accreditation completely; pre-accreditation is considered too valuable for funders and developers to remove.

• Making no changes to pre-accreditation.

Get involved We want to hear from you. To support our case in other areas of the review, we are working with members to gather evidence on costs and the level of support needed. Go to www.adbioresources.org for more information, or contact william.bushby@adbioresources.org

EIS funding under threat once more While the Autumn Statement made no real mention of renewable energy or waste policy, changes to investment rules could have a profound impact on the AD industry. If all technologies claiming FIT and RHI are exempt from EIS-qualifying funds, it will remove vital funding for AD. This funding source has been responsible for up to £200m of AD investment in recent years, so its restriction would severely impede the industry’s ability to maintain this year’s record growth. Speaking at our National Conference in December, senior finance sector representatives noted that the Autumn Statement had delivered a ‘blow’ to the AD industry, which would considerably reduce the availability of funding.

More broadly, it is clear that departmental budgets will be under huge pressure in the next Parliament. It is therefore critical that we make a strong case for the role that renewable energy in general – and biogas and biomethane in particular – can play in securing energy supplies and offering good value to consumers.

For more information, contact william.bushby@adbioresources.org

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www.adbioresources.org

Policy Government agrees RHI sustainability criteria DECC has announced its plans to implement sustainability criteria for crop-based biomethane supported by RHI from autumn 2015, a delay of six months from previous proposals. This will include greenhouse gas (GHG) emission caps and land criteria.

Over the course of recent months, DECC has engaged positively with industry and other stakeholders in the debate about sustainability criteria, and particularly how crop-based biomethane will demonstrate GHG savings. We have also helped our members engage with E4tech over changes to the ‘B2C2’ calculator, which is designed to help plants demonstrate their compliance with the GHG cap. That said, there are still some serious issues to be resolved. One concerns revisions to the carbon calculator – these have been limited by time and resource, so further work will be needed.

In addition, DECC has said that it ‘intends to work with industry and other stakeholders to further develop RHI sustainability policy for biomethane plants supported under the RHI’, which is likely to take place in 2015.

Want to know more? Come along to the first meeting of our Crop Operators Working Group on 24 March 2015, where these issues will be discussed. Contact will.bushby@adbioresources.org or see p30.

New RHI tariffs announced Following its announcement that biomethane RHI tariffs will degress by ten per cent from 1 January 2015, DECC formally responded to the RHI biomethane tariff review in December. This comes after last summer’s consultation, which gathered evidence on whether economies of scale justified reducing tariffs for new, larger scale projects.

Following joint lobbying efforts by ADBA, REA and our members, DECC has agreed to apply a tiered approach. This should help avoid some of the distortions that can be caused by tariff banding, whereby developers can be incentivised to reduce the size of their project. The tariff levels have increased significantly compared to the consultation proposals, following the industry’s warning that they were far too low to stimulate new deployment, and are as follows:

Tier Tariff up to 40,000 MWh 7.5p/kWh 40-80,000 MWh 4.4p/kWh 80,000 MWh + 3.4p/kWh

Once the regulations have been approved in Parliament, the new tariffs will be protected from degression until 1 July 2015, providing existing developers with some certainty. For the latest information on deployment and degression, check the members' area at www.adbioresources.org

www.pichonindustries.co.uk

Banks show support for on-farm AD The banking community should be the prime lender for rural businesses, but until recently AD developers have been required to service the interest on £1-3m of debt from existing incomes. This has been a real barrier to the development of on-farm AD. However, RBS and NatWest have now agreed to take up to 30 per cent of future earnings from AD projects into consideration when assessing serviceability of debt. We understand that other high street banks are reacting positively to this news and may now be similarly reassessing their funding policies.

A greater flexibility in banks’ financing models will ensure that more farmers are able to benefit from the generation of renewable energy and biofertiliser through AD. This will help agricultural businesses diversify revenue streams, reduce input costs, improve soil quality and cut carbon.

www.adbioresources.org

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Operator and Working Groups Food Waste Operators Group off to flying start Established to enable food waste operators to meet and discuss issues affecting their businesses, the first meeting of our Food Waste Operators Group took place in November. The group’s full remit will be finalised at the next meeting in February, but we believe it will allow us to coordinate our activity in support of operators, by taking up issues with government and regulators.

Training, Safety and Environmental Management Group meets with the EA Our Training, Safety and Environmental Management Group coordinated a meeting between industry representatives and the Environment Agency (EA) to discuss secondary containment. While fears have arisen about onerous requirements, the EA continues to express its concern about containment failure incidents and the need for high standards of design, construction and operation.

The group’s first meeting proved extremely popular and focused on five areas: best practice; COMAH; market development; feedstock quality; and end of waste. Members agreed on several key points, including being more vocal as an industry on the flaws of current waste collection policy, and setting up a subgroup on BREF and best practice guidance.

Further information from the meeting can be found at www.adbioresources.org

To try and move towards a solution, the group’s Chair, Terry Brownhill, suggested a ‘risk register’ style framework based on CIRIA guidance, but with advice and criteria to help ensure it could apply to, and work for, different types and scales of AD plant. A smaller subgroup will meet to work on this shortly.

Overall, the EA gave a strong message that the AD industry needs to be more involved in setting its own guidance. This will not only benefit the industry in regards to cost, but will also help develop its reputation. This emphasises the need for the development of industry-led best practice, at a time when the EA is proposing more stringent regulation if standards are not improved.

Further group meetings will take place in the early part of 2015. For more information on the Training, Safety and Environmental Management Group and its work go to www.adbioresources.org

Get involved Our operator and working groups cover the whole spectrum of the AD industry, shaping debate, raising standards and influencing policy. To find out more, or to attend a forthcoming meeting, go to the members’ area at www.adbioresources.org or contact our Policy Officer, Will Bushby: T +44 (0)203 176 5440 E will.bushby@adbioresources.org

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www.adbioresources.org

Government & Agency News DECC kick-starts urban community energy projects DECC has launched its £10m Urban Community Energy Fund (UCEF), enabling community groups to bid for grants of up to £20,000 or loans of up to £130,000. In addition, changes to the Feed-in Tariff (FIT) are also expected to benefit community projects; for example, guaranteeing FITs for an extra six months to aid the establishment of community projects. http://bit.ly/17g2t18

Community projects, such as LEAP in North London, are set to benefit from the UCEF and changes to FIT

EU sets ‘historic’ GHG emission reduction target The European Union has agreed measures to cut greenhouse gases by at least 40 per cent domestically by 2030. The deal, welcomed by the UK government, aims to improve energy security by reducing the EU’s reliance on imported energy by setting a binding domestic EU Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emission reduction target. A reform of EU energy policy is hoped for as a result of the package, with the UK and others expecting more flexibility in how they decarbonise. “This is an historic moment,” stated Energy and Climate Change Secretary, Ed Davey. “Europe has sent a clear and firm message to the world that ambitious climate action is needed now.” http://bit.ly/1AB0PCn

GIB supports second AD facility for London

CIWM and ESA announce closer partnership

The UK Green Investment Bank (GIB) and Foresight Group are funding a second commercial-scale AD facility for London. Due for completion in May 2016, the £11m Xergi plant at Cattlegate Farm, Enfield, is expected to process around 27,000 tpa of the capital’s waste, producing 1.5 MW of electricity. www.xergi.com www.greeninvestmentbank.com

info@schmack-biogas.com

The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Environmental Services Association (ESA) have created a new independent body. Resources & Waste UK has been set up to deliver robust information on the industry’s requirements to government, regulators, the media and other key UK stakeholders. www.ciwm.co.uk www.esauk.org

www.schmack-biogas.co.uk

www.adbioresources.org

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R&D Update

What are your R&D priorities?

T

he main focus of our R&D efforts over the last few months has been in organising a packed programme for our R&D Forum (see next page). Since my last update we’ve also attended meetings with key funding bodies, Innovate UK and Horizon 2020, to discuss the potential for AD and the R&D programmes that would help support the industry.

At these meetings, I always highlight the importance of ensuring that the aims of the funding programmes, and the guidance notes that support

Sustainability proves a hot topic Calculating the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from different forms of energy is a key research priority, not just for AD but across bioenergy. Last November, I attended a Bioenergy SuperGen Hub conference, where speakers included academics looking at interactions between AD and the production of other bio-products across the UK. A researcher working for DECC also spoke about considering AD in relation to counterfactual uses of land and biomaterials, an area in which small assumptions can make a big impact. This needs to be analysed in more detail, so watch this space for further updates.

For information and advice on our R&D activities, contact our Market Analyst, Ollie More T +44 (0)203 567 0751 E ollie.more@adbioresources.org them, encourage the AD sector to apply. I’m pleased to report that we’ve had some success with this – over £5m has been invested in AD R&D over the last three years. However, not all programmes are being designed with AD in mind, and some AD projects can fall through the cracks between the funding streams. To see the full list of R&D funding programmes, go to the R&D page of our website at: www.adbioresources.org/library/research-and-development-rd It’s also useful for us to have a clear idea of some of the research that our members think needs to be prioritised: for example, trialling new higher-yielding crops for AD; testing separated digestate fibre for use in the horticultural greenhouse sector; and examining the lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions from energy generation (eg digester methane slip). I’ve uploaded a list of industry priorities onto our R&D webpage and am always looking to get feedback from members on whether these are, in fact, correct. Please take a look and let me know your thoughts. www.adbioresources.org/library/research-and-development-rd

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www.adbioresources.org

www.geotechuk.com

ADBA R&D Forum 2015 Preview Uniting industry and academia

W

ith just a few months to go until the ADBA R&D Forum (14-15 April 2015, Southampton), we’ve been working closely with the BBSRC NIBB Anaerobic Digestion Network and the Knowledge Transfer Network to create an exciting and topical programme.

As well as educating the AD industry about the latest research taking place, the event will also inform academics about the commercial drivers influencing the industry.

The ADBA R&D Forum 2015 will focus on two key areas. The first is the role that AD can play in biorefining – supporting the production of multiple products from organic material (often called ‘bio-based’ material). This is particularly relevant this year, given that we have recently widened our remit to include bioresources. The second focus area is digestate. WRAP has commissioned an array of research (including the DC Agri projects) to look into the ways in which digestate can be used by the agricultural industry to the most beneficial effect, and is now considering how a new generation of technologies

can support digestate use, both in agriculture and a range of other industries.

Attendees will hear from WRAP and its researchers on what this aims to achieve and how it could benefit new and existing AD plants.

In addition to this, we will be looking at the industrial applications for AD technology, financing of R&D in the AD sector, and AD research beyond 2020.

For the full programme and list of speakers, go to www.adbioresources.org

sales@acp-concrete.co.uk

www.adbioresources.org

www.acp-concrete.co.uk

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Upcoming Events

www.enviroseal.co.uk

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AD & Bioresources News | february 2015

www.envirosealpipe.co.uk

www.adbioresources.org

Upcoming Events

4 Feb 2015

11-12 Feb 2015

ADBA Members’ Meeting: Northern Ireland Dinner

Our first Members' Meeting in Belfast will provide important updates on the latest industry developments, as well as discussions on the upcoming ban of food waste to landfill and the ongoing RHI degression. This event will also deliver an unrivalled opportunity to network amongst industry leaders.

To find out more contact wayne.hurley@adbioresources.org

Energy Now Expo 2015

The latest renewable opportunities available to the agricultural and rural sectors are presented at this event, held in association with CLA and NFU. Highlights include: a two-day conference with panel debates and keynote presentations on energy management, finance, planning, energy crops and renewable technologies; an exhibition featuring over 160 product and service suppliers; the DECC RHI zone; a renewable advice clinic; and a grid connection workshop. Pre-register for free attendance at: www.energynowexpo.co.uk T +44 (0)1293 854405

Telford International Centre, Shropshire

Waste-Works

The only waste and resource event dedicated to the food and drink industry, Waste-Works will take place alongside IFE, the UK’s largest and most important food and drink event, and Pro2Pac, the UK’s only food and drink packaging event.

Look out for ADBA representatives speaking at the show. www.waste-works.com

ExCel London 22-25 Mar 2015

14-15 apr 2015

12 May 2015

21 May 2015

1-2 jul 2015

1 July 2015

ADBA R&D Forum 2015

Held in partnership with ADnet and supported by the KTN, our annual Forum provides the ideal platform to learn, share and debate the latest developments in AD R&D. Day one will focus on moving beyond biogas towards bio-refining, and funding R&D in the AD sector. Content for the second day includes a visit to Southampton University’s labs, plus sessions on the use of digestate and bridging the gap from innovation to commercialisation. See p33 for details. www.adbioresources.org

University of Southampton

In partnership with

ADBA Members’ Meeting Venue TBC

Following hot on the heels of the general election, our spring Members’ Meeting will focus on the new political agenda and include discussions led by industry experts and ADBA representatives, including our Strategic Adviser, Chris Huhne. www.adbioresources.org

ADBA Regulatory This free to attend, member-only event will tackle the most important regulatory issues facing the AD industry today. AD operators, consultants and developers will be kept Forum Leeds

abreast of the latest changes to regulation and compliance through presentations from the EA, HSE and APHA, and will also have the opportunity to feed their views back to the regulators. The meeting will feature Q&A sessions and a case study. www.adbioresources.org

UK AD & Biogas 2015

The UK’s biggest, free to attend AD trade show will this year feature 250 exhibitors, a free two-day conference, free seminar sessions, an R&D hub, one-to-one advice clinics, a biomethane transport area, the UK AD & Biogas Industry Awards 2015, and much, much more. Attracting 3,000 global visitors from key sectors including farming, food and drink, local authorities, waste management, transport, utilities and more, UK AD & Biogas 2015 will be the AD event of the year. www.adbioresources.org

Hall 3, NEC Birmingham

UK AD & Biogas Industry Awards NEC Birmingham

Does your AD business or project deserve wider recognition? Then make sure to enter our fourth annual industry awards, which will recognise innovation and achievement from the last 12 months in a wide range of categories. Join us to celebrate our industry’s success at this glittering black tie event, which has fast become the highlight of the AD calendar. See p38 for more details. www.adbioresources.org

www.adbioresources.org

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Membership Matters Making the most of ADBA membership We want to help you make the most of your ADBA membership. Either myself or one of my colleagues in the ADBA team will be in touch with your organisation’s primary contact over the next six weeks to check that you are aware of the full range of support and services you can take advantage of as an ADBA member. We will also be asking how you’d like to be kept updated by us, what you’d like to know more about and how we can best help you in the future.

With your on the ground knowledge and experience of the AD industry, you, our members, are crucial in helping us shape our membership services.

Your insight into what we can improve and achieve helps us to both promote the industry at all levels and voice what matters to those who can make a difference. We are currently working on a variety of issues that you have raised with us, such as the EA consultation on land spreading and digestate storage rules, delays in RHI accreditation, and the FIT review. By working together on issues such as these, we are ultimately building a more supportive policy and regulatory framework, and a more robust industry.

You also told us that you wanted more support for operators, so we have created a monthly series of dedicated operator email updates. Last year we also set up two new operator groups – one for food waste operators and one for crop operators – to discuss areas of common interest, share expertise and influence policy. If you are an operator and haven’t yet joined one of our groups please contact me to get involved.

By working together we can ensure that you and your business are getting the most from your ADBA membership. Whether you want to share your experience, tell us how we can support you better or feed into our responses to government, we want to hear from you.

Wayne Hurley, Head of Membership E wayne.hurley@adbioresources.org T +44 (0)203 176 5416

“ADBA has provided clarification, advice and guidance to Biogen on legislation regarding RHI and FIT, and has lobbied government and influenced legislation on behalf of ourselves and other ADBA members. We benefit from ADBA sharing knowledge and best practice among members and raising awareness of industry issues.”

Anita Smith, Marketing and Communications Manager, Biogen

ADBA shortlisted for Association Excellence Awards We are very pleased to announce that we have been shortlisted in the following three categories for the Association Excellence Awards 2015, taking place in London on 27 February: • Association Leadership Award • Best Association Exhibition • Best Association Newsletter

“We have received some key information on the AD market and financial incentives from ADBA. The data was provided remarkably swiftly and with a smile. Our membership really pays off.”

Wolfgang Dieter, Business Development, Dreyer & Bosse

Welcome new ADBA members!

Best Organic Solutions Frylite Ltd Juta UK Manor Farm New eco-tec Verfahrenstechnik GmbH OMB Technology Ltd Omex Environmental Salvtech Ltd Shaw Renewables Ltd Waste Recycling & Destruction Ltd Wheelwash Ltd 36

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www.adbioresources.org

Membership Matters

Safety First

By David Parkin, Director, Network Strategy, National Grid Gas Distribution. David is a Chartered Engineer and has worked in the aerospace and defence and power sectors prior to joining National Grid in 2014.

Working together to improve safety in the biomethane to grid sector The biomethane to grid sector brings together two unlikely bedfellows, namely the gas and agriculture industries. Each has a different culture, expectation and area of expertise, and it is essential that these are successfully fused for project execution.

In the gas industry, our expertise lies in pressure systems, control, gas quality, metering, and managing risks, at an individual asset and network level. To amalgamate these into a grid connection that is successful and safe throughout its operation requires a level of integration capability that has, over a period of time, dissipated in our industry. An ‘offtake’, where we take gas from the National Transmission System into the distribution system, is the closest analogy we have for the grid connection of a biomethane plant – we last built one of these ten years ago.

However, we have now delivered nine biomethane connections in the last year. This has been achieved by using our reduced offtake skill-base and, as each of the plants is different in scope, feedstock and design, we have inevitably had to feel our way through the process. To our customers in the biomethane sector, clamouring for their connection date and process certainty, this has been a source of frustration. While it is important for the AD industry to understand the culture and process change that the gas industry is going through, it is essential that we understand and respond to the commercial

enquiries@nrm.uk.com

realities in which our customers operate.

A delay of a week, while seemingly perfectly justifiable from our perspective, is a real cashflow issue for our customer and, where tariff deadlines are concerned, can even threaten overall project viability.

It is perhaps inevitable that these different cultures will cause some friction, particularly in the run up to commissioning, but it is essential that this does not impact project safety. Clear and early alignment of expectations and requirements from both parties, including, for example, what design documentation is needed for commissioning, and by when, will help ensure safer projects. www.nationalgrid.com

www.nrm.uk.com www.adbioresources.org

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Membership Matters

Celebrating excellence in AD Has your business recently completed a successful AD project? Is your AD team outstanding? Is the service you provide to your clients second to none? Then we want to hear from you!

Taking place on 1 July 2015 – the first night of our annual trade show, UK AD & Biogas 2015 – our fourth UK AD & Biogas Industry Awards will celebrate the finest achievements and innovations across the UK’s AD industry. With a wide selection of categories reflecting the growth of the sector, the call for entries is now open. This is your chance to see your projects, products, teams and services recognised at this high profile event, rewarding the best that the anaerobic digestion and biogas industry has to offer.

“As a founder member of ADBA, we’ve seen first-hand the rise and rise of both the Association and the UK AD industry.

To be recognised by our peers – all experts in their field – is especially rewarding.”

Sarah Farr, Edina Winner, 2014 – Best merchant waste AD project

TEAM Chief Executive, Charlotte Morton T + 44 (0)203 176 0503 E charlotte.morton@adbioresources.org PA to Chief Executive, Eleanor Maroussas T +44 (0)203 567 1041 E eleanor.maroussas@adbioresources.org Strategic Advisor, Chris Huhne E chris.huhne@adbioresources.org Head of Policy, Matt Hindle T +44 (0)203 176 0591 E matt.hindle@adbioresources.org Policy Officer, Will Bushby T +44 (0)20 3176 5440 E william.bushby@adbioresources.org Market Analyst, Ollie More T +44 (0)203 567 0751 E ollie.more@adbioresources.org PR & Parliamentary Affairs Manager, Derek Sivyer T +44 (0)203 176 5441 E derek.sivyer@adbioresources.org Head of Membership, Wayne Hurley T +44 (0)203 176 5416 E wayne.hurley@adbioresources.org Sales Manager Jamil Ahad T +44 (0)203 176 4414 E jamil.ahad@adbioresources.org Sales Executive, Rachel Fenton T +44 (0)203 176 5418 E rachel.fenton@adbioresources.org Head of Marketing Services, Helen Reddick T +44 (0)203 176 0592 E helen.reddick@adbioresources.org

How to enter Don’t forget that you can enter more than one category and more than one project. To see the full category list and download the entry form go to www.adbioresources.org For more information contact: E barbara.landellmills@adbioresources.org T +44 (0)203 176 7767

Welcome Ed

AD & Bioresources News | february 2015

Senior Marketing Executive, Vera Litvin T +44 (0)203 176 0590 E vera.litvin@adbioresources.org Senior Marketing Executive, Kelly Oxenham T +44 (0)203 176 5417 E kelly.oxenham@adbioresources.org Marketing Executive, Barbara Landell Mills T +44 (0)203 176 7767 E barbara.landellmills@adbioresources.org Database Marketing Assistant, Andre John T +44 (0)203 567 0769 E andre.john@adbioresources.org

“Having previously worked for the British Chamber of Commerce in Belgium and Westminster Forum Projects, where I helped research and deliver high-level conferences for members and officials, the opportunity to become a member of the ADBA team was too good an opportunity to pass up. Working alongside the policy and marketing team, I will help structure programmes and procure speakers to ensure ADBA continues to be at the forefront of the AD debate.”

Ed Gavaghan, Event Producer T +44 (0)203 176 4415 E edmund.gavaghan@adbioresources.org

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Event Producer, Ed Gavaghan T +44 (0)203 176 4415 E edmund.gavaghan@adbioresources.org

Accountant, Amy Pritchard T +44 (0)203 176 6962 E amy.pritchard@adbioresources.org Office Executive, Peter Mackintosh T +44 (0)203 176 0503 E peter.mackintosh@adbioresources.org AD Finance, Bruce Nelson, Director of Compass Renewables T +44 (0)1732 464495 E bruce@compassbusinessfinance.co.uk AD & Bioresources News Managing Editor, Kirsty Sharpe T +44 (0)1920 821873 E kirsty.sharpe@adbioresources.org AD & Bioresources News Editor, Kate O’Reilly T +44 (0)7894 039609 E kate.oreilly@adbioresources.org

www.adbioresources.org

Exhibitor Profiles

info@hrs-he.com

www.hrs-heatexchangers.com

www.jonesmcgirr.com info@aprovis-gmbh.de

www.adbioresources.org

www.aprovis-gmbh.de

february 2015 | AD & Bioresources News

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Exhibitor Profiles

info@edina.eu 40

AD & Bioresources News | february 2015

www.edina.eu www.adbioresources.org