A two-day collaborative event between the EEIF and Envirolink on the subject of Anaerobic Digestion was held earlier this week, with over fifty people in attendance.

Delegates from the industrial, commercial and farming sectors filled the space available to hear a quality line-up of speakers and discover first-hand through practical case studies the range of benefits the technology can offer.

AD has been ear-marked by the Government as a way of diverting waste away from landfill, generating renewable energy and creating green jobs. It works by collecting, treating and breaking down food and farm waste to produce energy (biogas, which is burnt to create heat and electricity) and digestate – which can be used as fertiliser.

Speakers included Lucy Hopwood from the NNFCC, Paul Bilsborrow from Newcastle University and Kevin Quigley from Emerald Biogas who are in the early stages of building the first commercial scale AD plant in the North East capable of treating a full range of commercial, industrial, municipal and agricultural organic waste streams.

Case studies focusing on the benefits available to two key sectors for the technology – farming and the food and drink sector – were also made available, with Sally Johnson from QR Gas giving a very heartwarming tale of her family business’ journey to developing an on-farm commercial food waste AD.

The event was chaired by Maxine Mayhew of Northumbrian Water Ltd.

On the second day, delegates were invited to choose between two site tours to either the AD demonstration project at Cockle Park Farm in Morpeth, or the Anaerobic Digestion Development Centre at the Centre for Process Innovation in Redcar.

If you attended the event, and would like a copy of the presentations, please e-mail Nikki Silcock on nikki@renewplus.co.uk