Farmers encouraged to optimise AD operations

Official statistics released by the NNFCC in 2019 revealed that there are 486 anaerobic digestion (AD) plants in the UK, 338 of which are farm-based and another 239 farm-based AD in development.

With Feed in Tariff (FiT) and Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) subsidies eventually running out, experts are encouraging the many farmers in ownership of AD plants to tap into ways to optimise their operations, to not only increase revenue now, but to ensure the plants can ‘selfsustain’ in future.

Dr Kiara Zennaro, head of biogas for the REA, is chairing a conference session looking at the enhancement of AD plants at the Energy and Rural Business Show, which takes place on 3 and 4 March, and believes there are many ways for farmers to look at enhancing and optimising AD plants. Existing plant owners are encouraged to attend the event to understand how to maximise the returns from their AD assets and explore the additional opportunities available.

“Opportunities in optimising performance, and therefore revenue, fall broadly under three main categories: feedstocks, operations and products.”

Feedstocks

Kiara explains that according to the experts, poor clamp management can account for losses of up to 20% in biogas yield. “Making sure the design and management of the clamp is at its peak is very important, reducing the exposure of the silage to oxygen for example could maximise the amount of biogas captured in the digester,” she says.