Harper Adams University Anaerobic Digestion facility

Did you know? Shropshire based Harper Adams University generate clean green energy from farm waste at their site in Newport, near Telford. 

The ENR-G (Energy and Nutrient Re-Generation) initiative aims to address three key policy issues identified in the Energy White Paper 2007. The project is a 350KWe waste to energy Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plant using College Farm waste and food waste streams diverted from landfill to generate renewable power. It will enable Harper Adams to be largely self sufficient in electricity and heat on the main College campus.

The project is financially sustainable and will create ongoing carbon equivalent savings of 11,229 tonnes pa, representing 3.4 times the current emissions from campus buildings. In addition, the College will fix electricity and heat prices for 10 years, reducing exposure to market volatility and improving its energy security. A demonstration and research programme will guide others through AD system implementation, where links to the College's award-winning biomass CHP system will be explored.

The creation of the plant was made possible by the award, in June 2009, of loan finance from the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Revolving Green Fund. Harper Adams was one of only three UK projects to benefit from the £10 million fund. 

The University College then brought on board partners BiogenGreenfinch, who supplied the plant, and power company E.ON. The plant began to generate energy in April 2010, and the handover from Biogen was completed in the autumn 2010.