Biogen

Problem statement

Reducing organic waste by using anaerobic digestion to create renewable biogas and biofertilizer

Executive summary

Biogen’s fourteen anaerobic digestion plants and three composting sites around the UK recycle around a half of a million tonnes of organic waste each year, generating 25MW of green electricity for the national grid.

Value chain description

Anaerobic digestion is recognized as one of the best methods for food waste recycling and dealing with farm waste and sewage sludge. The word Anaerobic means ‘in the absence of oxygen’. The biogas naturally created in the sealed tanks is used as a fuel in a CHP (combined heat and power) unit to generate renewable energy i.e., electricity and heat. What’s left from the process is a nutrient rich biofertilizer which is pasteurized to kill any pathogens and then stored in large, covered tanks ready to be applied twice a year on farmland in place of fossil fuel derived fertilizers

Market deployment considerations

In Ireland the 5.7 TWh of indigenously produced biomethane is targeted by 2030. However, internationally subsidies are usually required to support the economic viability and scale-up. Due to the rising costs of fertilizers, there is a growing interest in digestate as a marketable product

Environmental considerations

Every tonne of food waste recycled by anaerobic digestion as an alternative to landfill prevents between 0.5 and 1.0 tonne of CO2 entering the atmosphere. In addition renewable energy is produced and nutrients are recycled displacing fossil energy and mineral fertilisers.

Social Considerations

Can help to reduce waste and create renewable energy for communities. Can also help farmers to create their own renewable energy from their residual

Stakeholders Involved

Farmers, technology providers, product market actors (agri-food, energy sectors)

Feedstock used

Food waste

TRL

Value Chain name

Biogen

Type of process

Anaerobic digestion

Technology output

Biogas (electricity and heat), biocompost

Processing capacity point of view (annual feedstock requirement)

0.5 million tonnes or organic waste per year

Country

Year

2005

Link

https://www.biogen.co.uk/Anaerobic-Digestion/What-is-Anaerobic-Digestion

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