Post - Blog
The untapped potential in anaerobic digestion
- 10 days ago (2024-12-10)
- Junior Isles
Andrew Parsons, Business Director at Bennamann Ltd .
WBE 2025
The United Kingdom boasts a significant network of AD plants, ranging from modest £3 million setups to expansive £30 million facilities. These plants, primarily designed for electricity and heat generation, have become a familiar sight across the country’s rural landscape. However, a closer look reveals a significant opportunity: many of these plants are operating below their full potential.
Recent surveys suggest that a substantial number of AD plant operators could produce more biogas than they currently use. This excess capacity represents not just lost potential revenue but also missed opportunities for further carbon reduction and resource efficiency. There is a mismatch between biogas production capacity and usage, often stemming from export limitations or generator capacity.
An innovative solution
Biogas upgrading promises to bridge this gap between the available biogas and what can be used by the plant. It offers a scalable solution that can be seamlessly integrated into existing AD infrastructure. Companies like Bennamann are at the forefront of this technological breakthrough, having developed compact biogas upgrading systems. These units, comparable in size to a 12-foot shipping container, can process smaller volumes of excess biogas, upgrading it to high-purity biomethane. The Bennamann Biocycle process can take biogas containing 50-70% biomethane and refine it to an impressive 99% purity.
The beauty of this technology lies in its scalability and ease of integration. With minimal additional investment, AD plant operators can tap into new revenue streams and enhance their contribution to the green economy.
Building local biomethane hubs
A key benefit of AD upgrading is the expansion of the farm’s ability to refuel its own vehicles or to become a local hub for refueling. This independence from volatile fossil fuel prices helps protect the financial security of the farm and helps the farmer take control.
Collaborative initiatives between AD plant operators, technology providers and transport companies is essential to help create localised biomethane ecosystems. Government support, in the form of grants for infrastructure development and continued incentives for biomethane production, will be crucial in overcoming these hurdles.
The positioning of AD plants as local energy hubs could take two forms:
- On-farm solutions: Scaled-down upgrading systems enable farms to process their biogas locally, creating a self-sufficient energy model.
- Local distribution hubs: AD plants can serve as refueling stations for their own transport fleet and neighbouring businesses, supporting the decarbonisation of local transport operations.
A practical approach to waste and energy management
The emergence of biogas upgrading technology represents a significant improvement in the AD sector, by offering practical solutions for organic waste management while creating valuable energy resources.
For AD plant operators, this technology offers the opportunity to optimise existing infrastructure and create new revenue streams. For policymakers, it provides a powerful tool in the pursuit of circular economy principles and climate change mitigation. And for society at large, it contributes to the broader transition towards a more sustainable and resilient energy future. By taking advantage of the full potential of anaerobic digestion through biogas upgrading, farmers are paving the way for a cleaner, more sustainable future.