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A £1.85M project demonstrating how farmers can convert farm waste into energy has been given the green light after One North East approved funding of nearly £860,000 through its Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE).
A state-of-the-art anaerobic digester which converts manure from pigs and cattle into green energy is set to be installed at Cockle Park Farm, near Morpeth, by Newcastle University in a jointly funded project that will form part of the new Centre for Renewable Energy from Land (CREEL).
The project places the region at the forefront of technology, providing an opportunity for farmers to seek advice, support and guidance to make informed decisions on managing waste, renewable energy and diversification.
It is forecast that around 200 land based businesses and 54 food industry companies will take part in training as a result of the project, with a further 72 other businesses and public sector organisations receiving training and information. It is also expected that approximately 12 land based businesses will install anaerobic digesters in the North East.
Project lead Dr Paul Bilsborrow, based in the university’s School of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, said: “A great deal of work has gone into planning this project so it’s very exciting that we have received this funding.
“Anaerobic digestion offers huge potential in terms of utilising the methane from animal waste and converting it into renewable energy which can be used to heat and power buildings on farms. By working together with the agricultural industry we hope to develop new ways of making anaerobic digestion a viable option for some farms across the UK.”
Anaerobic digestion is a process by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material to produce a methane and carbon dioxide rich biogas which is suitable for energy production. The residue can be used as a soil conditioner and offers considerable potential for farmers to reduce their fertilizer inputs.
Based at the university’s Cockle Park Farm, the aim will be to use the new anaerobic plant to show how waste from pig, dairy and beef units can be used to produce heat, electricity and organic fertilizer.
One North East’s RDPE Senior Specialist Kirsten Young, who has helped to develop the project, said: “Anaerobic digestion offers considerable potential for farms and rural businesses in the production of energy as well as for the management of animal manures and other waste.
“However the number of facilities on farms in the UK is limited because the technology is relatively new. As a result there are opportunities for UK farmers to benefit from this technology, which is coming to the North East for the first time.
“The up-take of such technologies by a small proportion of land based businesses would make a valuable contribution towards renewable energy targets in the UK, so it is very exciting that the region is at the forefront of this technology.”
The project also supports the environmental objectives of the RDPE programme by helping to reduce animal waste as well as contributing towards reducing the carbon footprint on farms, replacing current fossil based energy with biogas for heat and electricity.
NFU Regional Director Richard Ellison added: “The installation of this demonstration plant is great news for the region’s farmers as it will give them the chance to explore not only the potential benefits of AD, but also its practical on-farm application.
“There’s no doubt that the UK has lagged behind the rest of Europe when it comes to exploiting this new technology. In Germany for example 3,500 plants are already up and running compared to just a handful here. This is something that urgently needs addressing but we believe it will only begin to take off as awareness and understanding grows – not just by farmers but also by the public and key decision makers such as local planners.
“We would like to see at least 1,000 on-farm AD plants established across the country by 2020. That is a challenging target, but this project looks set to help us achieve it by providing a focal point of information and expertise right on our doorstep.”
The Rural Development Programme for England 2007-2013 is jointly funded by Defra and the European Union, with the aim of delivering targeted support to rural businesses and communities. It is managed in North East England by One North East, Natural England and the Forestry Commission.
The RDPE investment being managed by One North East combines larger projects to help many businesses in different sectors of the rural economy - including bioenergy and land-based skills, and projects adding value to agricultural and forestry products - with smaller investments to help individual businesses to start-up, grow or diversify, and support to develop more sustainable rural communities.
For further information on the full package of support, visit www.businesslink.gov.uk/northeast. or call Tel: 0845 600 9006.
For more information on RDPE in North East England, visit: www.rdpenortheast.co.uk
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