At Rainton Farm, a 340 hectare mixed livestock farm in south west Scotland, David Findlay has recently invested in a 25 kW AgriDigestore from Marches Biogas, fed with cattle slurry and grass silage. The AgriDigestore components have been designed to transform slurry storage tanks of different capacity and construction into anaerobic digesters. “For less capital cost than our 50 kW wind turbine, and delivering three times the electrical power, we converted our slurry tower into an anaerobic digester (with no planning issues). We now generate enough electricity and hot water to run the dairy, have enhanced the fertiliser value and reduced the pollution potential of our slurry, while cutting our energy-use and GHG emissions substantially," says David.
Dealing with slurries and waste crops
Fre-energy developed a system that resolves a common on-farm AD problem: the processing of grit-laden slurries and waste crops. The brainchild of Wrexham farmer Richard Tomlinson, of Lodge Farm, fre-energy’s patented auto de-gritting and gas activated mixing technology allows continuous digester operation at maximum capacity. The many benefits include: reduced energy bills; fertiliser cost savings of approximately £340 per tonne; an additional income stream from exporting surplus energy; reduced carbon footprint and GHG emissions; improved land fertility and productivity; energy security; and sustainable management of slurry and waste crops.
On-farm AD funding support from WRAP
WRAP has supported innovative approaches to small scale AD through its Driving Innovation in AD (DIAD) programme, now in its second phase. Farm Gas Power received funding to complete a proposal to scale down automatic de-gritting for use in small farm AD systems and further improve digester performance and economics through SIDOM (surface intensification of digestible organic matter) maceration. Farm Gas Power are now looking at how the system will achieve capital and operational cost savings through a low parasitic load, reduced tank size, increased gas yield (>10%) and access to a wider range of feedstocks.
If you are keen to learn about this technology and its innovations, then UK AD & Biogas 2014 offers the perfect platform from which to meet experts, source technology, hear case studies and ask your questions.
On-farm AD focus at the UK’s only dedicated free AD and biogas trade show
UK AD & Biogas 2014 features 250 exhibitors, a free conference, free practical seminars and free one-to-one advice clinics. Our on-farm AD focus includes:
- The business case for on-farm AD - seminar
- ADBA Farmers’ Consultancy clinic
- AD’s place in sustainable farming, Meurig Raymond, President, NFU – conference session
- Panel session: Digestate storage and application – what do you need to prepare for? – conference session
- WRAP on-farm AD fund clinic
- And much more.
Find out more and register now
Find the full programmes and register for your free ticket at www.adbiogas.co.uk