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Anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion is a proven renewable energy technology. At the same time, it can reduce green greenhouse gas emissions by capturing methane from the decomposition of organic materials, such as livestock manures and slurries, sewage sludge and food wastes.

Harnessing the natural process whereby the organic matter is broken down by bacteria in the absence of oxygen in a closed vessel enables production of biogas that can be used as renewable energy source for both for heat and power.

Alternatively, the carbon dioxide and other impurities can be removed to produce biomethane which can be used as a transport fuel or injected into the gas grid.

The treated liquid (or digestate) from the process can be used as a fertiliser. In certain circumstances, it may prove attractive to separate fibre from the digestate and sell as a soil conditioner and low grade fertiliser.

Anaerobic Digestion can be carried out in a small scale system, for example located on a farm and operated by farmers, or serve businesses (or clusters of businesses) with large food waste arising. Alternatively it can be carried out in large centralised systems, for example to treat municipal food waste being diverted from landfill by local authorities or manures and slurries from several farms.

Where to get business advice on using Anaerobic Digestion

Anaerobic Digestion Information Portal

Anaerobic digestion (AD) reduces waste and produces renewable energy, but until now information on AD has been spread over different organisations and websites. England's Official Information Portal on Anaerobic Digestion, www.biogas-info.co.uk, brings access to all the information about AD onto one website.

Page last modified: 21 September 2009
Page published: 17 February 2009