Anaerobic digestion plant to drive CHP in process industries 12 September 2013

Anaerobic digestion (AD) technology, aimed at combating rising water effluent and energy costs, is being made available to the processing industry at no capital cost by ENER-G.

The organisation's newly unveiled outsourced anaerobic digestion service includes specification, design, installation and operation of AD-based renewable energy facilities, with ENER-G financing the project – so eliminating any up-front cost and risk.

Scott Tamplin, director of AD development at ENER-G, states that his company recovers its investment by sharing savings with the plant user over a contract period, with the customer receiving "20—50% of the annual savings".

The AD process generates renewable energy from the organic by-products of production, with biogas created during the digestion process fuelling a CHP (combined heat and power) engine, which, in turn, delivers renewable heat and electricity.

This type of combined waste management and energy efficiency system reduces the user's energy costs and carbon footprint, as well as the COD (chemical oxygen demand) content of effluent – by a claimed 80—95%, so dramatically reducing effluent costs and offering potential for water recycling once solids are removed.

"The increasing cost of waste and effluent disposal, coupled with rising energy costs and environmental legislation is prompting renewed interest in AD," comments Tamplin.

"Our outsourced build-own-operate model means that cash-strapped companies can benefit, without raiding their own capital or trying to raise finance themselves."

And he adds that the UK processing industry has been slow to adopt AD plant, largely because of high capital cost and lack of knowledge.

"By removing both these barriers, we hope to accelerate deployment of AD in the sector. As a global engineering company with a long track record, we have a portfolio of established investors who will partner with us to deliver the complete financed package to industry."

Brian Tinham

Related Companies
ENER-G plc

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