Biogen’s Yolanda and John Ibbett gave a presentation to States members yesterday on its anaerobic digestion system of dealing with food waste. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0603036)
LEFTOVER food could supply Guernsey with renewable green energy and help solve the island’s waste problem, deputies were told yesterday.
Representatives from Biogen (UK) Ltd were in the island yesterday to give a presentation on eco-technology anaerobic digestion (AD), a method that captures gas released from any biodegradable matter and turns it into electricity.
The company has a plant in Bedfordshire that takes 30,000 tonnes of food waste and 12,000 tonnes of pig slurry from which it produces 1.2 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 1,000 homes continually.
It is building a second plant in Northamptonshire to meet the demands of food manufacturers and retailers. Chairman John Ibbett said technology could take organic substances and turn it into electricity was good for the environment.
‘Anything that is organic waste we are putting in a big tank, pasteurising it and then keeping it heated it to 38 degrees – like your tummy – and capturing the methane that it gives off,’ he said.
‘There are two points in capturing it. First of all it’s not going into the atmosphere [methane is 22 times more damaging to the atmosphere than CO2], and the other thing is you put it through a combined heat and power unit and produce electricity.’
The company has contracts with Mid-Bedfordshire District Council and Ealing.
It is also running a trial in Luton and is in discussions with Northamptonshire.
Mr Ibbett, who was brought to the island by Schroders to give the presentation, said the technology worked as part of a waste-solution strategy, it was not a stand-alone answer.
‘We can offer a solution for food chain waste, but we cannot recycle packaging or tins, anything that is not biodegradable,’ he said.
‘We see Biogen as part of an integrated solution. Anaerobic digestion is not a total waste solution, but it is at the top of the recycling waste hierarchy.’
The process also generates agricultural fertiliser, which could become a valuable commodity for Guernsey to export, Mr Ibbett said.
‘Most fertilisers are oil-based, so are very expensive,’ he said.
Mr Ibbett said Guernsey could have a plant on-island. The facility currently being built in Northamptonshire would take 42,000 tonnes of food chain waste and is costing £8m.
‘At this stage we are throwing the idea out there as a suggestion,’ he said.
‘If Guernsey’s politicians are interested we can provide a solution.’
Steve Whittaker, contract services manager for Mid-Bedfordshire District Council, said the council was delighted with the service Biogen provided.
‘By processing food waste, Biogen has enabled this council to remove a significant and environmentally harmful element of household refuse from landfill,’ he said.
‘It is particularly pleasing that the system produces both an agricultural fertiliser and energy. Mid-Beds is delighted to be working with Biogen and be at the forefront of innovative service delivery.’
* Public Services minister Deputy Bernard Flouquet did not want to say anything about the Biogen system.
Article posted on 9th July, 2008 - 2.29pm
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