Shropshire Anaerobic Digestion Plant commended

 

Shropshire largest anaerobic digestion plant at Harper Adams University College was last night highly commended at the National Recycling Awards.   

The Harper Adams entry was a finalist in the Best Energy from Waste Initiative, which was won by HRS Heat Exchangers. Having chosen a winner, the judges also singled out the Harper Adams project for recognition with a “highly commended” certificate. The category sought to reward organisations that demonstrated innovation and environmental benefit in recovering energy from what might previously have been seen as a residual waste destined for landfill.


Paul Moran, Estates Manager at Harper Adams, said: “We are delighted that the value of our project, which has the potential to offset out campus carbon emissions more than three times over, was highly commended at the National Recycling Awards.  The project benefits farmers and others who could adopt the technology to save or even make money; students learning from it as a demonstration facility; every community whose food waste is fed into it and diverted from landfill; and the environment. We were able to see the value AD offered when we embarked upon this ambitious project, and recognition such as this is welcome proof that our efforts are valued at national level.”




Former England Rugby star and Strictly Come Dancing competitor Austin Healy presented the awards ceremony and congratulated the winners first hand. And after the ceremony guests enjoyed a live casino and carnival stalls with traditional fairground prizes.

The University College has expanded its commitment to sustainable energy with a £3million-plus renewable power system. Harper Adams was just one of three higher education institutions in England to have won a share of the £10 million set aside for 'transformational' projects under the Higher Education Funding Council for England's Revolving Green Fund. The Anaerobic Digester plant, constructed in 2011, started generating heat and power at the end of April 2011.

Using farm and food waste, it is anticipated to offset campus carbon emissions more than three times over. Renewable electricity is produced from food and farm waste and provides a highly effective waste management system.

The waste is digested in the AD unit and recycled into a liquid fertiliser and compost, which can be used for the University College's farm and grounds operations, reducing reliance on manufactured fertilisers.

Key Facts

• Creates renewable heat and electricity from waste
• Uses 11,000 tonnes of dairy and pig slurry
• Uses up to 12,000 tonnes of food waste that would otherwise have gone in to landfill
• Bacteria break down the organic matter in a tank releasing Biogas
• Biogas burnt to create heat and electricity
• Anticipated to save over 13,000 tonnes of CO₂ per annum, offsetting campus carbon emissions more than three times over
• Other by-products of the process are a liquid fertiliser and compost that will be used on the college farm and grounds