News THE UK ANAEROBIC DIGESTION & BIOGAS TRADE...

News

INdustry award wINNers demoNstrate

best practIce

THE UK ANAEROBIC DIGESTION & BIOGAS TRADE ASSOCIATION’S BI-MONTHLY MAGAZINE

Impact of ro proposals

focus oN taNks

uk ad & bIogas 2012 hIghlIghts

ad guIde update

Issue 13 SEPTEMBER 2012

www.adbiogas.co.uk2 AD & BIogAs News | septemBer 2012 www.adbiogas.co.uk septemBer 2012 | AD & BIogAs News

www.adbiogas.co.ukAD & BIogAs News | septemBer 2012 www.adbiogas.co.uk 3septemBer 2012 | AD & BIogAs News

Guest Foreword

with the exception of the water sector, where anaerobic digesters have been treating sewage sludge for over 70 years, most of the uK’s AD industry is still in its infancy. with this in mind, ADBA has taken the decision to leverage the specialist experience and knowledge contained within its working groups to collate a high level document covering all aspects of developing an AD facility, namely the AD guide.

while there already exists a number of technical journals, conference papers and books on anaerobic digestion, most provide detailed technical narrative on very specific areas of AD. ADBA’s AD guide, however, aims to encompass all aspects of developing an AD facility in a language and at a level of detail that can be used and understood by a wide ranging audience, both technical and non-technical, providing a single point of reference for existing operators, developers, planning officers, land owners, farmers, equipment suppliers, funders, academia and anyone else interested in the industry.

the guide is intended to be a living document and will provide a conduit for the outputs from the current and future working groups. It will also provide the basis for the development of technical papers and guidance notes developed through the working groups. However, input into the guide will not be limited to the working groups; all stakeholders associated with this sector will be encouraged to support and provide revisions, photographs and data tables as changes arise. In order to achieve this ADBA will nominate a member of staff to collate and review all updates and revisions provided by all stakeholders, which will be reviewed by a technical panel prior to publication.

the AD guide will be available to download by chapter from the ADBA website later this autumn. It is hoped that the guide will assist current and future AD stakeholders in building a safe and successful uK industry.

guIdINg the uk’s ad INdustryBy Terry Brownhill, ADBA Director and Training and Safety Working Group Chair

INsIde thIs Issue >Industry award winners demonstrate best practice: 1

Guest Foreword: 3

ADBA News: 4-7

Feature ‘Best Practice – the key to AD success’: 8-11

Policy News: 12-13

Government & Agency News: 15

UK AD & Biogas Industry Awards Review: 16-17

UK AD & Biogas 2012 Show Review: 18-19

UK AD & Biogas 2012 Show Highlights: 21-22

Working Group Updates: 24-25

Members’ News and Views: 26-30

Equipment Focus - Tanks: 32-33

Membership Matters: 35-38

ad&bIogas News featuresFeatures for Issue 14 (November) include:-• AD’s place in the future of energy production –

Anticipating future sustainability regulations and ensuring AD stays ahead of the game, including sustainability of feedstock, land use for energy and lifecycle carbon analysis of a plant

• ADBA National Conference preview – Including speaker and exhibitor highlights

• equipment focus – small-scale AD • policy focus – rHI consultation on heat useCopy deadline 21 September

Features for Issue 15 (February) include:-• AD solutions for every organic feedstock –

showcasing the range of different AD technology available within current wet and dry systems

• equipment focus – Food waste pre-treatment technology (depackaging, preparing food waste for digestion etc)

• policy focus – Latest from the water industryCopy deadline 21 December

Sponsorship & Advertising: Jamil Ahad t +44 (0)203 176 4414 e [email protected]

Editorial: editor - Kirsty sharpe t +44 (0)1920 821873e [email protected]

Features - Kate o’reilly t +44 (0)7894 039609 e [email protected]

www.adbiogas.co.uk

ADBA’s working groups, including the Training and Safety Group (pictured) have been instrumental in developing the AD Guide

Cover image © GENeco


ADBA News

uNcertaINty Is the eNemy of INvestmeNt

By Charlotte Morton, ADBA’s Chief Executive

a t ADBA’s December Conference 2011, energy minister Charles Hendry mp told delegates that ‘we understand the

greatest enemy of investment is uncertainty.’ given the events of the last eight months, you would be forgiven for thinking that he forgot to tell the rest of his department – let alone ministerial colleagues elsewhere.

In the debacle over the solar pV Feed-in tariff (FIt) it was clear that DeCC would have to act, both to limit budget overspend on solar panels and to create a more stable long term basis for tariffs across all technologies. However, the final published proposals have some clear problems, not least a capacity trigger for higher degression that stands at just 4.5 mw for sub-500 kw plants. In other words, nine 500 kw plants installed in any single year would prompt a 10% tariff degression the following year.

But potentially even more damaging is the proposal to limit the renewables obligation (ro) to projects above 5 mw. DeCC claims that this is part of the agenda to provide clarity on financial incentives, by having only one option available to support renewable electricity generation. Quite apart from ignoring the differences between eligibility for FIt and ro, proposing such a change with little more than eight months’ notice creates enormous uncertainty, not only in the ro but in renewable financial incentives more generally.

mr Hendry also told us that his department understood the advantages of AD which ‘set it apart from other renewables’, such as the fact that it generates a flexible gas, which is generated constantly and can be stored. If the government wants to realise these benefits – as well as the contribution to economic growth which a thriving

AD industry could provide – it needs to deliver long term confidence through levels of support which make more projects viable.

bIomethaNe Qp draft to be revIsedthe environment Agency’s (eA) consultation on proposals to develop a Quality protocol (Qp) for biomethane has been extended following pressure from the gas Distribution Networks and ADBA. the Qp applies to biomethane for grid injection and for vehicle fuel and is designed to provide an end-of-waste position for biomethane generated from waste materials, which is technically considered a waste by the eA.

the regulations as initially drafted have raised significant industry concern that they are too stringent and will put an unnecessary burden on biomethane producers, primarily because the criteria are based on trace elements found in landfill gas. the assessment of the impact of the regulations does not appear to reflect the actual financial and compliance costs that would be incurred. the gas Distribution Networks share

these concerns and have also raised them with the eA and Defra.

the eA reconvened a technical Advisory group (tAg) to discuss the proposals, review the available data and make recommendations, following publication of the proposal. the eA has agreed to revise the proposals and the tAg will reconvene in october to consider the new draft.

greeN gas tradINg updategreen gas trading Ltd has now been formed, following the closure of the successful subscription period. share certificates are being issued this week and processes for establishing the certification scheme and trading platform are now underway.


ADBA News

the publication of the conclusions of the renewables obligation banding review produced an unexpected proposal, effectively barring new AD plants (and other technologies which can claim the FIt for plants up to 5 mw) from receiving the ro from 1 April 2013.

this proposal is subject to consultation, to be published mid-september. government officials have suggested that it is likely to last six weeks and that they are particularly keen to get a sense of the effect that the proposed changes would have on deployment in the AD market. the consultation is also likely to request information about impacts on financing projects and the timing of the announcement.

Industry representatives, including ADBA’s Chief executive Charlotte morton and policy manager matt Hindle, have already met with DeCC officials to discuss the changes, focussing on the effect they would have on the market, both directly

and through the impact on investor confidence. specific issues raised included the fact that the majority of plants to date use the ro (with others relying on the existence of the ro as a back-up to give confidence to investors for AD business plans), the differing rules on grants and tax (eIs and VCt), lower levels of confidence in the FIt than in the ro and the timing of the announcement and proposed change.

ADBA is keen to build a strong case and would be grateful for members’ input, particularly regarding direct examples of projects affected. DeCC officials have also hinted at holding an open day during the consultation, enabling developers to confidentially show their plans to the Department. to submit evidence to ADBA or to register interest for the open day contact e [email protected]

ro proposal coNsultatIoN – aIr your vIews!

the consultation on changes to the renewable Heat Incentive (rHI) closes on 14 september. DeCC is proposing a form of tariff degression, though it is unclear at what levels the triggers will be set. In addition, DeCC is proposing preliminary accreditation, with two years given for project completion and milestones to be met during that time. Draft sustainability standards for the rHI across all technologies require 60% gHg savings compared to the eu fossil heat average; this equates to maximum lifecycle emissions of 125.28kg Co

2eq per mwh of biomass heat generated.

ADBA has been gathering information from members on the proposals. given the direction of government policy in general, it is difficult to argue with the concept of tariff degression, but clearly this needs to be set in a way which does not discourage investment. while preliminary accreditation has a role to play, given the timescales involved care should be taken to ensure that it is set up so that accredited but unfinished plants do not contribute towards the capacity counted for degression.

A further DeCC consultation on the rHI is expected to be published in september. this is likely to include proposals for supporting heat use from biogas combustion (including from CHp) outside the current 200 kwth limit, although the level of support and mechanism for this remains unclear.

ADBA has also submitted a response to ofgem’s consultation on the administration of the rHI. the regulator has proposed amending its interpretation of an ‘installation’ to include the biogas production plant as well as the energy generation plant. this would mean that facilities which had claimed a grant on any part of the production plant would be ineligible for the rHI, and that installations claiming support for heat use from biogas combustion would need to use ‘new’ equipment. the consultation also proposes clarifications to the treatment of multiple biogas combustion plants.

rhI coNsultatIoNs update


Conference Programme


ADBA News

Royal reception for Ayrshire AD plantHrH prince Charles officially opened scotland’s largest combined organic waste treatment and energy generating facility at Barkip, North Ayrshire. the 2.2 mw AD plant, owned by sse and managed by Zebec Biogas Ltd, received over £2m funding from Zero waste scotland and is capable of processing up to 75,000 tpa of organic waste, producing sufficient energy for approximately 5,500 homes and diverting 37,000 tpa of food waste from landfill. “we were delighted to welcome His royal Highness to the state of the art AD plant at Barkip,” enthuses

News from the regIoNs

rhys stanwix, sse’s Director of thermal Development. “we can make a real difference to waste levels and produce renewable electricity and a quality fertiliser while doing so.” Zero waste Director Iain gulland adds: “Investing in reprocessing facilities like Barkip is a key part of Zero waste scotland’s work to unlock economic opportunities for scotland.” www.sse.com www.zebecenergy.co.ukwww.zerowastescotland.org.uk

Policy Forum for Wales to hold keynote seminartaking place on 22 November in Cardiff, ‘the way forward for sustainability in wales’ is a keynote seminar bringing together key welsh policymakers and stakeholders to discuss the future of sustainable development and energy policies in wales. organised by the impartial policy Forum for wales, speakers including John griffiths Am, minister for environment and sustainable Development, welsh government and peter Davies, sustainable Futures Commissioner for wales, will discuss the next steps for the sustainable Development Charter, the creation of a single sustainable development body for wales, and how best to balance the need for increased sustainability with the pursuit of economic growth. tickets are priced at £190, for more details go to http://bit.ly/MYFudZ

His Royal Highness takes a tour of the plant

HRH Prince Charles officially opens the SSE/Zebec Barkip plant

ea seeks respoNse to adQp coNsultatIoN the environment Agency (eA) has launched a consultation on its proposed revision of the AD Quality protocol (Qp). the review has taken place alongside wrAp’s evaluation of pAs 110 and has seen amendments including the clarification of acceptable inputs and the removal of the requirement for land managers using digestate to maintain records for the specific purposes of the Qp. ADBA is keen to gather members’ opinions to contribute to the Association’s response.

proposed to be removed from the list of ‘acceptable inputs’ are plastics, tanning liquor and sludges from leather production, and residues from commercial mushroom cultivation. Following the review, the eA decided that there is “insufficient evidence” of the suitability and marketability of digestate for additional end-uses, such as an additive in growing media and a fertiliser other than for soil/field-grown agriculture, which would be needed to meet the

end-of-waste test required for the Qp. wrAp is supporting trials to assess the viability of a number of additional uses and these may be considered for inclusion when the Quality protocol is reviewed again.

the eA is particularly seeking views on whether biodegradable plastics and similar biodegradable materials should be included in the list of acceptable inputs, and which particular wastes from pulp, paper and cardboard production and processing are appropriate for inclusion. the suitability of these materials should be considered on the basis of their potential contribution to the process, their potential impact on digestate quality and the level of interest from AD operators in processing them.

After this consultation, which closes on 18 october, the revised Qp will be updated. the eA will then evaluate whether the new document can be published without further delay or whether it is necessary for it to be subject to european notification, a process that can take 3-6 months, before it can be published. to share your views contact e [email protected]


Best Practice

b ritain’s AD industry is growing at an unprecedented rate. statistics from wrAp reveal 214 anaerobic digestion

facilities currently in operation in the uK, processing more than 5 million tpa of material and generating over 170 mw of electricity. this figure is expected to rise steeply over the next few years as a further 180 facilities have either applied for or recently received planning permission.

while this growth is undoubtedly welcome, it has prompted an influx of employees into the industry, many with little or no experience of AD. If this growth is to be managed safely, then it is clear that best practice will need to be implemented across all skill sets. recent ADBA initiatives such as the development of the AD guide, the delivery of the Competency and skills matrix and the technical support the Association provides to wAmItAB to enable a training programme for more than 40 assessors to become accredited for AD sites, have been

invaluable in providing a solid foundation for the industry. Yet there is still more to be done. “the AD industry is constantly evolving, attracting more people than ever before from a variety of backgrounds and with a wide range of training needs,” says PROjEN’s Les gornall, a leading authority on AD safety. “A farmer taking his first steps into the industry will have different training requirements to someone with 10 years experience in the waste industry, for example.”

Identifying riskswhatever an individual’s training need, inducting a new employee into the AD industry in a safe and effective manner is crucial, as Eaton Management’s terry Brownhill, ADBA’s training and safety working group chair, explains: “the importance of safety and best practice cannot be underestimated and it’s essential that every new starter is inducted effectively, whatever their background. For an AD operator, understanding legislation such as DseAr and AteX regulations

is vital, as is recognising the danger hotspots. the commissioning phase, for example, carries the most risk as it’s the first time the plant is put to the test – successful management of this should not be underestimated.”

Leading the waythe majority of uK AD plants are operated with an emphasis on safety and best practice, including GENeco’s Bristol Food waste recycling plant in Avonmouth, as project manager Jonathen edwards explains: “For us, health and safety is not a burden, regulatory tick box or optional extra - it’s at the top of our key performance indicators and is an integral part of our project delivery process.” shaun Cherry of Fernbrook Bio, whose Kettering-based AD plant was named ‘Best AD project’ at the recent ADBA Awards, researched the industry for five years before

best practIce – the key to ad success

Safety lies at the heart of GENeco’s Avonmouth project

Fernbrook Bio’s AD facility houses an on-site laboratory


Best Practice

deciding to take the plunge and made a conscious decision to appoint an experienced manager to run the 1.5 mw plant. “safety is at the heart of our operation,” declares shaun. “I chose to employ an environmental consultancy firm to undertake all our environmental objectives, odour plans and eA permits and I also employ a safety consultant who makes unannounced visits every four weeks and ensures we remain compliant. All our staff have undergone specific training, we have two first aiders on site at all times and I even arranged for local fire officers to inspect the site.” shaun also ensures that site visitors are kept safe, constructing a viewing gallery in the main reception area to keep visitors away from potentially dangerous equipment. “our site is clean, safe and appealing and we hold regular open days, attracting local community groups such as schools and Young Farmers, as well as council representatives. For many of our visitors, this is their first impression of an AD facility and we want to give an accurate picture from the outset.”

the site also houses an on-site laboratory, to test the health of the digester on a daily basis. “we want our operation to be as efficient as possible. If our digester is imbalanced we can find out within 24 hours and cut back on the volume of feedstock. without the lab, it would take a week to get the results, and our output would suffer as a result.” As well as monitoring the health of the digestion process, it is also important to know exactly what is inside the biogas being produced. “AD plant operators need to know exact levels of methane, carbon dioxide, oxygen and hydrogen sulphide or their operation may not turn out to be as profitable as they thought,” advises Gas Data sales manager Derrick timms. gas Data manufactures an extensive range of portable and fixed instrumentation, providing measurement and analysis in a variety of different biogas applications. “to make consistent returns from AD, you have to know what the quality and quantities of your biogas are,” adds Derrick.

Fernbrook Bio’s success hasn’t gone unnoticed, however - ADBA judges praised the plant for its lab and commitment to health and safety, while

the Environment Agency uses it as a test case. shaun has some valuable advice for any other would-be operators: “Never underestimate the importance of health and safety – not only is it the right thing to do, our adherence to best practice has undoubtedly helped us to win feedstock contracts, especially from local authorities,” he reveals. “I would also advise operators to agree maintenance servicing contracts with their technical suppliers for as many parts as possible. plants are constantly digesting, so it’s vital that every part is working efficiently.”

The first line of defencewhile Fernbrook Bio clearly strives to run a safe AD operation, the standard of safety among uK plants is generally high, according to Les gornall: “while AD plants remain potentially dangerous environments, industry safety has come a long way in the last few years, with ADBA playing a pivotal role in raising awareness of crucial operator problems such as confined space requirements and the risks associated with commissioning.” Les is also encouraged by the recent growth in the use of gas detectors, crucial in identifying potential leaks. “Just a few years ago, it was common to walk onto a site without spotting a single gas meter. As gas is odourless, it can often be too late by the time a gas leak is detected and such detectors really are the first line of defence. Nowadays, it’s rare to find a site without one.” Allison Engineering Ltd specialises in process instrumentation for control, gas detection and analysis, and has introduced a new range of biogas analysers and AteX certified flow meters. Already established on the continent, the Awite analysers are now operating well at six uK sites. meanwhile, the gA3000 pLus, Geotech’s new fixed biogas analyser, monitors up to three biogas sample points and analyses hydrogen sulphide at 0-50ppm and 0-10,000ppm. geotech supplies

gas monitoring equipment to nearly half of the uK’s AD sites.

Prevention is better than cureImtech Process however, has developed its own safety programme, Be-sHArp – the Behavioural safety Hazard and Accident reduction programme. Focusing on hazard alert and near miss reporting, the programme has helped Imtech, who also triumphed in the Best AD project category at the ADBA Awards, achieve over 12 months without a reportable injury and develop a ‘zero tolerance’ culture towards unsafe conditions and actions. “Be-sHArp is designed to help provide an understanding of why accidents occur and the critical choices that were made on the run up to the accident,” explains

Imtech’s Health and safety manager, David Nicholas. “this enables managers

and operatives to understand what might have been done

differently to avoid the accident happening. the ultimate aim of Be-sHArp is to reduce the number of preventable accidents on site to the lowest

possible level.”

News of a change in policy by the Health and safety executive (Hse) may prompt more companies to

follow Imtech’s responsible attitude to accident prevention. From 1 october 2012, subject to parliamentary approval, the Hse will implement a cost recovery scheme, Fee for Intervention (FFI), to recover costs from those companies who contravene health and safety law to such a degree

Gas Data’s gas analysis equipment, such as the Click! System, helps operators get the most from their AD plant

Fernbrook Bio’s viewing gallery allows visitors to see the plant from the comfort of the reception area

The safe pedestrian route through Fernbrook Bio’s site

Imtech takes safety seriously

Continued>>


Best Practice

that the Hse is required to notify them in writing. the proposed hourly rate for 2012/13 is £124. “It is right that those who break the law should pay their fair share of the costs to put things right,” warns programme Director gordon macDonald.

Training for allIt is hoped that the AD industry will not suffer unduly as a result of this strategy, with high levels of safety and competence already being the norm. Indeed, the

number of AD training courses now available is seen as evidence of the importance the uK industry places on best practice. wrAp, the Chartered Institution of wastes management (CIwm) and eu skills all run regular courses in AD, while over half of the 70 centres run by wAmItAB, the waste management Industry training & Advisory Board,

provide AD qualifications. wAmItAB offers six AD qualification units, which are assessed on-site to meet environment Agency competence requirements, and a full qualification of 12 units is also available. For those not currently working on site or planning to move into the industry, the organisation also offers a Level 3 Award in waste and resource management. “the hazards present on AD facilities can create high risk environments if not managed correctly,” warns Qualifications and Development officer Katie Cockburn. “managers need to ensure their

operational staff are competent and have received the relevant training to apply their knowledge and understanding to ensure protection of health and safety to personnel, and to ensure adequate protection of the environment.” Katie continues: “Furthermore, operators need staff to be competent to run plants safely and cost-efficiently – anything short of this is damaging to the reputation and bottom line of the business.”

In addition, the National skills Academy for process Industries, working in conjunction with bioeconomy consultants NNFCC, has recently launched a one-day training module aimed at commercial operators and farmers within the AD industry. the course will provide the chemical understanding of how an AD process works, allowing technicians to increase the yield of methane, creating greater economic benefit and increasing plant profitability. A bright futureAlthough the training options opening up to support the AD industry should be seen as a positive move, the array of training providers can prove confusing. “It’s difficult for operators to know the value of the different accreditations and courses,” states terry Brownhill. “going

Biogas analysers such as Geotech’s GA3000 PLUS are now a common sight at UK AD plants


Best Practice

forward, it would be beneficial to provide some signposting to highlight the level of training that’s appropriate for a specific role or training need and this may form part of the future remit for ADBA’s training and safety working group.” the delivery of the Competency and skills matrix, one of the main AD strategy and Action plan outputs, was one of the group’s recent successes and terry has created a second sub group to

continue the good work: “the health and safety sub group has proved such a success that we have now established a training sub group – I urge any interested members to contact me for further information.”

terry was also instrumental in identifying the need for a comprehensive and wide ranging document, covering all aspects of developing an

AD facility. the AD guide will be available for all interested parties to download from the ADBA website this autumn and is intended to be a living document, accessible to both a technical and non-technical audience. while most of the uK AD sector is still in its infancy, it’s clear that significant progress has been made in a short time, with the signs for the future looking bright. the industry is moving at an unprecedented rate - it’s our collective responsibility to ensure it grows safely.

www.projen.co.ukwww.fernbrookbio.co.ukwww.imtech.euwww.allison.co.ukwww.geotechuk.comwww.gasdata.co.ukwww.process.nsacademy.co.uk (courses available this autumn)

to find out more about the training and safety working group or for details of the next meeting contact Chair terry Brownhill t+44 (0)1978 721864 e [email protected]

Since the introduction of Be-SHARP at Howdon, Imtech has had no reported accidents on site


Policy

For up to the minute information and advice on regulations, consultations and government news, contact ADBA’s policy manager matt Hindle t +44 (0)203 176 0591 e [email protected]

d eCC has published its final proposals for changes to the Feed-in tariff, with new tariffs due to take effect from 1 December 2012 and not from october as the consultation originally proposed. the

tariffs below are all given at 2012 prices and will continue to be linked to the retail price Index (rpI).

Banding (kW) Current Tariff Tariff proposed Final Tariff (p/kWh) in consultation (p/kWh, applies from (p/kWh) 1 December 2012)

< 250 14.7 14.7 14.7 250-500 13.6 13.6 13.6 >500 9.9 9 8.96

the government is also introducing yearly tariff degression steps which will come into effect each April, based on the level deployment in the previous calendar year. In addition, the mechanism allows for an additional october degression step if deployment in the first six months of the year significantly exceeds expected deployment. DeCC is setting the baseline degression at 5%, as proposed in the original consultation, but is allowing for a lower rate (2.5%) in most cases if deployment is significantly below expectation.

Degression will begin in 2014, as the consultation proposed. tariff rates for AD, in common with other technologies, are designed to degress at a baseline of 5% per year, however different degression rates (both lower and higher) will apply if deployment is different from DeCC expectations. the

fIt aNNouNcemeNt brINgs mIxed fortuNes for ad

thresholds for degression are based on DeCC’s estimates of the likely level of deployment of new capacity from 2013 to 2015. For an AD tariff degression of 5%, deployment in the previous year would need to reach 2.3-4.5 mw of capacity below 500 kw and 19.2-38.4 mw of capacity above 500 kw.

DeCC is also introducing a system of preliminary accreditation to provide security for AD installations - facilities will qualify for the tariff that applied at the time of application, provided the plant reaches commissioning within the set timescale of one year. As set out on p4, ADBA is concerned by the low tariff degression triggers, particularly for the sub 500 kw level and especially in the context of the unexpected ro announcement which followed the FIt announcement, which could mean more capacity accrediting under FIt. while pre-accreditation is welcome, it should not count towards the capacity triggers - the Association is seeking clarification from DeCC on this point.

< 250 kW = 14.7 p/kWh

250-500 kW = 13.6 p/kWh

>500 MW = 8.96 p/kWh

eNd of waste crIterIa – have your say!the eu Joint research Centre (JrC) has published a revised draft of end of waste criteria for biodegradable waste subject to biological treatment. the JrC has asked to receive feedback on the proposal’s data and technical issues by 21 september, prior to making final recommendations to the european Commission which will decide whether to turn them into draft legal proposals.

the most serious change to previous drafts addresses one of the industry’s key concerns, namely the proposed criterion for a minimum stability. this has been dropped because there is currently no european-wide standard available for determination of stability in compost or digestate. the JrC has therefore suggested that market requirements may be better placed to determine stability.

there is also an important change to the ‘positive list’ of acceptable input material. this now includes sewage sludge and mBt residues, and the uK industry must carefully consider the effect this would have on the market acceptability of digestate.

proposed criteria and limits on particular elements and contaminants have seen only

small changes from previous drafts, although the current draft now contains some additional limits on organic pollutants which were previously “not deemed necessary”. the details of the sampling programme may be adjusted to the concrete situation of each plant, within parameters suggested by the JrC.

ADBA is preparing its own response to the JrC proposals, as well as working with Defra and others on the official uK response. the Association will also be discussing the JrC document with colleagues from the european Biogas Association.

further INformatIoNFor more details on the proposals or to contribute to ADBA’s response, please contact e [email protected] t +44 (0)203 176 0591


Policy

household waste gate fees remaIN steadywrAp’s 2012 gate Fees report has revealed that the median AD gate fee for household food waste is £41/tonne with a range of £35-£60/tonne, down only marginally from last year. gate fees for food waste in municipal biobags range from £20-40/tonne, while for commercial waste feedstocks which require depackaging, this figure is £40-65/tonnes. the report also found that ‘the median AD gate fee for separately collected food waste is slightly lower than the median IVC gate fee for food only and food mixed with garden waste or card.’

wrAp also notes that AD gate fees are ‘likely to be higher’ in London and the south east, ‘due to a combination of higher land values and high demand relative to supply’. this is indicative of the regional variation in the organic waste treatment market, due to the fact that competition only really exists where plants are located close together, as the industry deals with heavy material that is difficult to transport. taking this alongside the small sample size, which results from the relatively limited number of plants in operation, caution must be exercised in trying to extrapolate general conclusions about such a disparate and diverse market.

decc survey reveals publIc support for reNewablesthe strength of public concern over energy security and broad support for renewable energy are both apparent in the results of DeCC’s first survey of public attitudes towards energy and climate change issues. results show that 40% of people surveyed are ‘very concerned’ that Britain is becoming more dependent on imported energy, while 29% are also ‘very concerned’ that the uK is not investing quickly enough in alternative sources of energy. encouragingly, 79% of participants supported renewables for electricity, fuel and heat, while a majority (55%) would be happy to see ‘large scale renewable energy development’ in their community.


Clinics


Government & Agency News

wamItab ceo joINs labour coNsultatIoNgavin shuker, shadow minister for waste, has brought together a group of industry experts including wAmItAB Ceo Chris James to feed into Labour’s waste policy reviews, to which ADBA has also contributed. the group aims to illuminate key issues such as recruitment, training, retention, energy generation in the next 5-10 and 20 years, and zero waste.

‘ad offers huge poteNtIal’, says thINk taNk

Anaerobic digestion has the potential to power more than 2.5 million UK homes by 2020, suggests a new report by leading think tank CentreForum. AD currently produces around 1.3 TWh of energy in the UK, enough to power 300,000 homes, more than four times solar PV, yet CentreForum believes the sector can expand by more than 800 per cent over the next eight years (11 TWh or 2.5 million homes) if the recommendations of its report ‘Hit the gas’ are followed. “There

are some simple things government can do to release the brakes on anaerobic digestion,” explains report author Thomas Brooks. “Banning organic waste to landfill in England, as they are already planning to do in Scotland, would give anaerobic digestion a huge boost.” Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, adds: “The government is committed to promoting an increase in energy from waste schemes through anaerobic digestion. CentreForum’s report offers some interesting ideas for how this increase can be achieved.”

Read the full report here http://bit.ly/MS5vtH

Ed Davey, Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change

obe for wrap’s NINa sweetDr Nina sweet, wrAp’s sector specialist for organics and energy from waste, has been awarded an oBe for her long-standing services to the waste industry. “this award is a reflection of all the hard work and dedication shown by so many people

in moving the organic waste treatment industry towards a real resource management industry,” says Dr sweet.

wrAp is looking for BCs-certified AD operators to take part in events to market digestate to potential farmer clients. Contact [email protected] quoting ‘farmer to farmer support’.

Dr Nina Sweet, OBE

ad strategy aNd actIoN plaN - oNe year oN

A year after its launch, Defra has published a progress report on the AD strategy and Action plan. of the 56 actions laid out, 21 have now been completed, 28 are nearing completion and seven are ongoing. “significant progress has been made in the first year since the Anaerobic Digestion strategy and Action plan was launched,” writes Defra minister Lord taylor of Holbeach in the report’s foreword. “the number of AD plants has risen by more than a third and capacity has doubled. Nonetheless, there remain challenges and barriers to be overcome if this growing industry is to achieve its potential. we remain committed to helping the industry to achieve this potential and contribute to our green economy.”

read the full report here http://bit.ly/MQ0FjX


Awards Review

t he who’s who of the AD world gathered on 4 July, the first day of uK AD & Biogas 2012, to enjoy a sumptuous

three-course meal, first class networking opportunities and the chance to see the industry’s pioneers honoured for the very first time, at a glittering industry awards ceremony hosted by leading uK environmentalist and former executive Director of Friends of the earth, Charles secrett. It was clear from the awards shortlist that the judges, former NFu Vice president gwyn Jones, former chair of the ADept waste panel Julia Barrett, Afor managing Director Jeremy Jacobs,

the best of the best!Following a highly competitive contest which showcased the breadth of talent and innovation in the UK’s AD sector, the winners of ADBA’s first ever UK AD & Biogas Industry Awards, organised by letsrecycle and held in conjunction with Monsal, have been announced.

Business partner for Clydesdale Bank richard Nuttall and wrAp special Adviser Claire Henson, faced a difficult task in selecting just one winner from each of the ten categories, with the high standard of entries reflecting the buoyant state of the uK AD industry. However, after much debate, the panel was in agreement that the following companies had shown exceptional innovation, success and commitment to the AD industry and had proved themselves to be worthy winners - congratulations to all!

“the level of entry was very high with some exciting plans and projects submitted.”Jeremy Jacobs, AfOR

“Innovation is the lifeblood of any industry - it’s good to see such an interesting and diverse entry.”Gwyn Jones, NFU

Thanks go to our sponsor Monsal

best INtegratIoN of ad INto a food aNd drINk busINess InSource Energy – RogerstoneIn a competitive category, the judges praised Insource energy’s on-site AD plant for decreasing Co

2 emissions at the rogerstone ready meal factory by 8,000 tpa, as well as making positive

use of 22,000 tpa of unavoidable food waste. producing savings of £150,000 pa, the plant also displaces 15% of the factory’s energy needs and the judges were unanimous in declaring it a stand-out example of clear integration of AD into a wider business.

best local authorIty Newcastle under Lyme Borough Council

the panel was impressed by Newcastle under Lyme’s community engagement and educational work on waste minimisation,

including collecting food waste from 60 schools. the entry clearly demonstrated how biogas and digestate are used to benefit local energy generation and food production, with the Council’s waste policy prompting an increase in the recycling rate from 27% to 52%. the judges also praised the Council’s close ties with Lower reule AD facility, with the recent contract extension underlining the Borough’s commitment to AD.

INNovatIoN IN waste collectIoN Agri Energy Food Waste Recycling Services

Agri energy’s commitment to helping businesses avoid landfill and reduce costs saw it triumph in a tough category. Agri’s use of satellite tracking, metal detection and innovative bespoke collection vehicles, as well as its ability to provide customers with clear information via the internet, was enough to convince the judges it was a worthy winner.

best INtegratIoN of ad INto a farmINg busINess Fre-energy Ltd

Clearly demonstrating the benefits of integrating AD into an organic farming system, the judges declared Fre-energy Ltd the stand-out entry in the farming category, in particular praising the company’s innovations in de-gritting and foam prevention.

sponsored by Vogelsang


Awards Review

“entries for our first awards have shown the huge activity, progress and innovation across the AD industry. we were very impressed by the range and quality of the applications.”Matt Hindle, ADBA Policy Manager & Non-voting Chair

“Judging was a real challenge, not only because it’s obvious how much time and effort was put into the applications, but also because the standard was so high. thanks to everyone who submitted an application.” Claire Henson, WRAP

“It was a privilege to be asked to join the judging panel for the inaugural ADBA Industry Awards. I have been impressed by the range and quality of submissions which demonstrate some of the key achievers within the industry.”Richard Nuttall, Clydesdale Bank

INNovatIoN IN bIomethaNe Chesterfield BioGas LtdIn a closely-fought category, Chesterfield Biogas triumphed thanks to its wide range of technology, appropriate for different sites and scales. the panel was particularly impressed with Chesterfield’s low cost ‘mini upgrader’ and recognised the company as a clear pioneer demonstrating technological innovation.

best commuNIty INvolvemeNt Agrivert

the lengths to which Agrivert was prepared to go to ensure community engagement saw it take the prize in the community category, with the judges praising the company’s ability to accommodate 2,500 site visitors in just 18 months. taking key members of the community to a german biogas plant, along with identifying and resolving local issues, including building a new entrance to alleviate traffic through a local village and changing road surface to reduce dust, also swung the vote in their favour.

most INNovatIve product or process Aerothermal Group Ltd

Aerothermal’s unusual front-end autoclave process saw the company take the prize for innovation. the judges were impressed by the application of an existing form of technology to the sector, which could help treat black bag waste where source segregation of organic waste has not been implemented.

sponsored by Imtech

INNovatIoN IN dIgestate Aerocover

minimising emissions and odour from stored digestate, as well as helping to preserve nitrogen, saw Aerocover, a product developed by r&D company Biotec, succeed in the digestate category. the judges praised Biotec’s efforts to make digestate a more attractive product and also noted the product’s numerous positive customer testimonials.

best mIcro ad project (<250 kwh) SEaB Energy Ltd/ University of Southampton

the neat, containerised plant supplied by seaB to the university of southampton science park impressed the panel not just with its aesthetic qualities but also with its clear economic payback. the judges also commented on the plant’s integration with nearby businesses, praising the fact that it takes waste from an adjacent hotel.

best ad project Fernbrook Bio and Imtech Process

In an extremely tight category, the judges were unable to separate two candidates, eventually opting to declare Fernbrook Bio and Imtech process the joint winners. Fernbrook Bio’s comprehensive project with considered operations, including an expanded on-site lab and a commitment to health and safety, as well as its efforts to develop a market for digestate, impressed the judging panel, as did the company’s decision to employ a staged approach, looking to expand once operational, and its commitment to community engagement.

Imtech Process were given the joint honour for the Cardiff and Afan Advanced Digestion plants constructed for welsh water. the judges were greatly impressed by the £68m project, which achieved sewage treatment opeX saving of £7.7m pa and reduced welsh water’s overall carbon footprint by 50,000 tonnes (15%). the project commissioned six months early and within budget, and involved a wide range of stakeholders including welsh government, eAw, ofwat, ofgem, local councils and the public.


Show Review

Sponsored by:

I f you were looking for evidence that the AD industry is attracting serious buyers, then uK AD & Biogas 2012 certainly

provided it. with buzzing aisles, overflowing seminars and contracts signed within days of the show, exhibitors and attendees alike enjoyed a phenomenal event! “Yet again the ADBA exhibition delivered on its promises by bringing potential clients to our door - many of these have already developed into viable business,” enthuses Borger’s managing Director, David Brown. “what more can an exhibitor ask for but to recoup financial commitment within days of the exhibition?”

unlike other events on the market, uK AD & Biogas is purely focused on the AD industry, with sector-specific opportunities for visitors, delegates and exhibitors. offering targeted content, suppliers, buyers and contacts there is

the uk’s ad INdustry Is buzzINg!no better event for helping your AD and biogas business to grow. “Not only was this year’s ADBA conference and exhibition well attended and well organised but the visitors were high calibre, exactly what we were hoping to engage with,” comments Imtech’s gavin Lawrenson. “we’ll certainly be attending again in 2013.” this was a view echoed by seepex’s Lesley eaton: “our stand was busy for both days, with many key decision makers and customers with projects to be built. the show seems to go from strength to strength each year and we have already booked for 2013.”

this year’s event reached out to the sectors most likely to realise huge growth in AD and attracted visitors from organisations across the farming, local authority and food and drink sectors. more than 2,400 AD-specific attendees came together to do business, showcase the latest technology,

network and share knowledge - 37% more than last year, with the event also attracting visitors from the AD, waste, water and recycling industries. A newly branded and vibrant exhibition saw 200 exhibitors showcase a range of innovative products and services - eye-catching highlights included a biogas tractor and a biomethane upgrading unit brought over from the Netherlands. “It was a great opportunity to browse the technology, learn about the legislation and really prepare my company for the introduction of anaerobic digestion on-site,” explains Arla Foods’ Danielle winspear.

the show’s successful recipe of high level, detailed and practical content in the form of 22 free seminars, two day-long dedicated conferences and three professional AD clinics, ensured visitors were not disappointed, while the evenings were just as jam-packed – both the exhibitors’ networking drinks event and the inaugural uK AD & Biogas Industry Awards proved highly successful. organised by letsrecycle and held in association with Monsal, the awards, hosted by Charles secrett, former executive Director of Friends of the earth, saw over 270 guests enjoy a delicious meal with wine, celebrating success across the industry. After a successful two days, ADBA’s Chief executive Charlotte morton concludes: “this year’s show truly demonstrated why AD is the missing link for a vast range of businesses.”

94% of visitors rated

UK AD & Biogas 2012 as good-excellent

76% of visitors were managerial level

or higher

200 companies exhibited at

this year’s event

37% increase in visitors


Show Review

secure a prIme staNd at uk ad & bIogas 2013!

Interested in joining our growing list of exhibitors for 2013’s event? with 40% of stand space already sold, secure a prime position for your company today! For latest floor plan contact e [email protected] t +44 (0)203 176 4414

Bespoke advice!A series of AD professional Clinics offering free advice on developing AD projects were also held at uK AD & Biogas 2012. A legal clinic,

finance clinic and ADBA’s Farmers’ Consultancy service enabled visitors to discuss the viability of their project, as well as funding, potential pitfalls and contractual issues.

The Debate: Integrating AD into the food & drink, public and farming sectorsAlongside the main exhibition, two dedicated conference days discussed the integration of AD into farming and food and drink businesses and the benefits of AD for local authorities. the debates’ conclusion soon became clear – to continue to

thrive, the uK’s AD infrastructure needs plants of all scales, appropriate to their location and feedstock.

Day 1 concentrated on ‘getting Value from Your Food waste’, targeting the food & drink and local authorities sectors. E.ON’s Head of Biotechnology, Harald von Canstein, opened the day with a wider view of AD’s role in the energy sector, emphasising its cost benefits compared with wind and solar pV and its higher sustainability ranking. Debating AD on the ground level, John woodruff, Head of waste services at Bromley Council, acknowledged that while more local authorities are now considering AD, greater government support is still required to facilitate its development. Attendees praised the content on offer: “A wealth of talent on show and a mine of useful information about AD facilities,” enthused oliver mangiapane of Pinsent Masons.

the conference’s second day focused on ‘the Business Case for on-Farm AD’, with headline speaker Henry robinson, Deputy president of the CLA, emphasising the AD opportunities for Britain’s farmers and welcoming the gradual decrease in capital costs. Case studies and practical guidance on creating a successful business plan were discussed, as were the advantages of digestate, with Angela Bywater, author of the rAse report on AD, noting its superior performance against conventional fertilisers. the use of crops for AD was another hot topic, with speakers focusing on the wider environmental benefits of using break crops for AD, such as growing maize to control blackgrass across the east of the uK. the response from delegates was overwhelmingly positive, with Julie robinson from roythornes LLp declaring: “A meaty day – well structured, with a balanced programme covering most aspects of on-farm AD.”

defra aNd ceNtreforum reports lauNched

Independent think tank CentreForum and Defra both saw the conference as the ideal platform to launch industry specific reports. Defra’s AD strategy and Action plan progress report

emphasised the industry’s ‘huge progress’, while CentreForum believes that the AD sector can expand by more than 800 per cent over the next eight years.see government and Agency News p15read the full reports - http://bit.ly/MQ0FjXhttp://bit.ly/MS5vtH

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Co Sponsors:


Exhibitor Profiles


Show Highlights

huNdreds of ad solutIoNs uNder oNe roof!

fIrst uk showINg of valtra’s bIomethaNe tractorValtra’s exciting dual fuel tractor at the Agco Ltd stand was one of the main attractions at AD and Biogas 2012. As the first uK showing of a biomethane-powered tractor, the exhibit drew plenty of interest and a steady stream of visitors, including many farmers who were attracted by the closed-loop solution the vehicle offers to on-farm AD plant operators. “many of the farmers who visited our stand said that rising diesel costs are prompting them to look at other fuel options,” says Agco’s Alan sanderson. “our tractor runs on both biomethane and diesel and the only differences between this and a traditional tractor are that ours is quieter and cheaper to run!”

ADBA’s Chief Executive Charlotte Morton inside Valtra’s biomethane tractor

Imtech’s carboN Neutral competItIoN draws the crowdsImtech Process, winner of the AD project of the year at the inaugural AD & Biogas Industry Awards, created a buzz at uK AD & Biogas 2012 with an on-stand competition to become carbon neutral for a year, won by phil Allan of welham waste recycling Ltd. Imtech develops and delivers award winning, environmentally sustainable solutions and recently delivered the uK’s largest food waste AD plant at Cannock. the success of their competition ensured Imtech’s stand remained busy throughout the two days, with Business Development manager gavin Lawrenson already confirming Imtech’s attendance at next year’s event.

Imtech’s stand attracted high calibre visitors

oN-farm ad solutIoNs showcased by marches bIogasthe AgriDigestore was one of a number of new products promoted at the show by Marches Biogas. this award-winning concept, aimed at dairy farmers, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, encourages more efficient waste management by integrating slurry and waste storage and allows complete digestion of substrates due to the increased material residence time. whether retro-fitted or newly installed, the modular design allows several AgriDigestores to be linked together, proving an attractive proposition to farms of all sizes. Also on display was the company’s semi-plug flow digester which combines both digester tank and gas storage in one unit, making it ideal for small scale and on-farm AD operations - the self-contained design increases efficiency while leaving a smaller plant footprint. marches is currently working on a number of new on-farm projects in the shropshire region.

Marches Biogas’s stand featured a model of the AgriDigestore

INteractIve demoNstratIoNs from system mIxSystem Mix ensured a steady stream of visitors to their stand with a live Vaughan chopper pump demonstration and a fully operating representation of dual zone solids mixing with the rotamix system. the rotamix boasts improved reduction of volatile gases, increased gas production, reduction in sludge volume and cost-effectiveness. System Mix’s demonstrations attracted numerous visitors


Show Highlights

New gas aNalyser from geotechGeotech chose uK AD & Biogas 2012 as the ideal platform to launch its new gA3000 pLus fixed position gas analyser. “Building on the proven quality and reliability of the gA3000 is important to us,” says geotech’s tom Burniston. “the gA3000 pLus measures methane, carbon dioxide and oxygen as standard and the addition of new features, including the option to sample from up to three different points and H2s ranges from 0-50ppm to 0-10,000ppm, means that most applications can be met.” Able to monitor multiple digesters, provide protection to CHp engines and suitable for both pre- and post-desulphurisation monitoring, the gA3000 pLus proved popular with show visitors: “we had excellent enquiries, with both a high quantity and high quality of leads,” adds tom. “we will definitely be back next year.”

Geotech launched its GA3000 PLUS gas analyser

evaporator system proves popular wIth show vIsItorsFirst-time exhibitor HRS Heat Exchangers showcased its unicus® scraped surface evaporator system. Achieving high levels of solids concentration, the system reduces digestate storage and handling issues, providing greater flexibility in digestate end use. with a small-scale evaporator plant on display and staff keen to discuss recent AD projects such as the sse Barkip evaporator, Hrs’s stand proved continually popular: “overwhelming interest at the show has already led to four good enquiries with more in the pipeline,” enthuses technical marketing manager michael Adkins.

HRS’s Unicus® scraped surface evaporator system

rehau debuts uk-made

rauvItherm pIpeworkreHAu demonstrated the very first lengths of specialist rAuVItHerm

pre-insulated district heating pipework made at the company’s new factory in North wales. the polymer processing company claims to be the first

manufacturer to produce the pipework in the uK, with the British market previously relying on imports. reHAu now has the capacity to produce thousands of metres of

pipework per year for use in uK AD plants, offering customers more flexibility on pipe sizes and delivery times.

REHAU’s pipework production facility in North Wales

depackagINg solutIoN from atrItor

Atritor’s turbo separator made quite an impression at uK AD & Biogas 2012, surrounded by a colourful display of everyday household waste contents and packaging. Designed to separate packaging from its contents in order to release material for AD or recycling, the turbo separator has an

increasing application in the AD arena, particularly in response to landfill and packaging waste restrictions, as mark Hulme, responsible for Atritor’s creative display at the show, explains: “we are seeing our biggest growth area in AD and have made lots of new contacts at this event.”

Atritor’s Turbo Separator, increasingly used within the AD sector

dutch bIomethaNe upgradINg uNIt comes to ukthe journey from Holland to Birmingham proved worthwhile for Dmt environmental technologies – the company’s full-size biomethane upgrading unit was one of the show’s main attractions, with staff proudly discussing the soon-to-be commissioned poundbury biogas upgrading plant, which will use Dmt’s membrane upgrading technology.

DMT’s upgrading unit shipped from Holland especially for the event


Exhibitor Profiles


Working Groups

the training and safety working group is one of ADBA’s most established and has been central to the delivery of the AD guide. the group has also been busy implementing a training sub group which will receive input from wAmItAB, eu skills, the National skills Academy and CIwm, along with working group members, and is due to hold its first meeting shortly to agree a strategy for developing training for the AD sector. this will be based on the training matrix, developed in conjunction with CIwm as part of the AD strategy and Action plan.

the group has already contributed to improving AD training, assisting wAmItAB in the development of health and safety assessor training, resulting in over 40 assessors becoming qualified to assess AD operators. group members have also volunteered to produce a generic site induction pack, which could be used to brief visitors to AD plants on health and safety. In order to provide further information on typical hazards found on AD facilities, the group has continued to develop its plan for an interactive plant ‘fly through’. Designed to be used as a training tool, to assist staff induction for example, members are finalising the scope of the project before identifying potential funders. Anyone interested in the project should contact [email protected] for more information.

IN the sp tlIghtLatest news from the Training and Safety group, chaired by Terry Brownhill of Eaton Management Ltd.

outside of these projects, the group is working with other stakeholders to develop training and safety material for the industry. this includes revised Afor guidance on health and safety in organics recycling and work with the National skills Academy, which has development funding available for training and process safety projects. the group also made its presence felt at uK AD & Biogas 2012, with member Les gornall leading a seminar session on ensuring high standards of operation. working group attendees ray Burberry (wAmItAB), Claire poole (CIwm) and Kevin thrower (National skills Academy) also held a later session at the event on training for AD, with a strong focus on existing training and standards that can be imported from other industries.

ADBA’s Planning and Permitting working group will meet in october to discuss forthcoming developments after a busy few months for group members. At the time of going to press the group is considering ADBA’s response to an environment Agency (eA) consultation on changes to standard rules for environmental permitting regulations. the eA proposes expanding the thresholds for standard rules permits and accepting waste feedstocks which have been pre-treated by a third party under the ‘off-farm’ standard rules permits. the proposals are a result of the european Industrial emissions Directive, which from January 2013 will cover AD sites where treatment exceeds 100 tonnes on any one day. the results of the consultation will be published in November 2012; new IeD standard rules will be published in January 2013 and the revised standard rules in April 2013. In July, the group contributed to ADBA’s response to a consultation from the scottish environmental protection Agency (sepA) on its new technical guidance Note for AD

busy tIme for plaNNINg aNd permIttINgprojects. the response expressed concern about the scope of the guidance, asking that sepA be clear that it should be treated as best practice rather than as a minimum requirement. on specific issues, feedback from group members suggested that sepA’s suggested level of validation monitoring was extremely onerous and impractical, and that pre-acceptance procedures should be highlighted as the key control instead. the group also concluded that other proposals were too burdensome, for example specifying the number of air changes per hour and putting a 24-hour limit on storage of waste prior to digestion. ADBA’s response suggested alternative approaches in each of these areas - the full consultation response is available to download from the members’ area at www.adbiogas.co.uk working group members also led sessions at uK AD & Biogas 2012 introducing new audiences to some of the issues around planning and permitting in the AD sector. ray williams of ADAs

led a session on planning for AD, focusing on how projects can minimise risk, while the eA’s Howard Leberman joined forces with stephen Barnes of wardell Armstrong to help navigate visitors through the environmental permitting process. Bidwell’s Cath Anthony also took part in a discussion on project feasibility, including the factors which affect successful planning and permitting applications. Alongside the topics listed above, the group’s next meeting will also see it consider the eA’s work to develop best practice guidance for england and wales, as well as AHVLA proposals on regulating ‘hub and pod’ model plants where feedstock is pasteurised on a separate site from the digester.


Working Groups

plaNNINg & permIttINg

Chair mark Bedford, wardell Armstrongt +44 (0)845 111 7777

e [email protected] meeting: 23 october

process & techNIcal

Chair Dorian Harrison, monsalt +44 (0)1623 412108

e [email protected]

agrIculture

Chair greg Hilton, gg eco solutionst +44 (0)7770 866107

e [email protected] meeting: 25 september

traININg & safety

Chair terry Brownhill, eaton management Ltdt +44 (0)1978 721864

e [email protected]

water & food

Chair patrick pierrepont, Hyder Consultingt +44 (0)1453 731231 / +44 (0)7809 594523

e [email protected]

dIgestate

Chair Dawn terry, Local generationt +44 (0)7763 059917

e [email protected]

dry ad

Chair robin szmidt, Kuettnert +44 (0)1292 283543

e [email protected]

best practIce

Chair Amaya Arias garcia, tamar energyt +44 (0)20 7255 7500

e [email protected]

bIogas to electrIcIty

Chair pat Howe, sset +44 (0)7767 852 457e [email protected]

bIomethaNe to grId

Chair stephen mcCulloch, Chesterfield Biogas t +44 (0)114 261 2361

e [email protected]

traNsport

Chair Andrew whittles, Low emission strategies Ltdt +44 (0)7584 058868

e [email protected]

feedstock

Chair stephen wise, shanks waste managementt +44 (0)1908 650650 m +44 (0)7773 813701

e [email protected]

lawyers

Chair Adam Bradley, taylor Vinterst +44 (0)20 7382 8075

e [email protected]

group coNtact detaIls aNd meetINgs

ad guIde – publIcatIoN ImmINeNtDevelopment of ADBA’s AD guide has continued apace, with the steering group intending to publish the final guide this autumn. members from all of ADBA’s thirteen working groups have contributed to the document, which is currently being edited for technical accuracy and consistency. when complete, the guide will be available to download as a whole or by chapter from the ADBA website.

developINg a bIomethaNe strategyADBA’s Transport working group chair Andrew whittles presented the group’s strategy for Biomethane at a seminar session at uK AD & Biogas 2012. expected to be finalised shortly, the strategy covers the infrastructure and legislation needed to facilitate an expansion in the use of biomethane as a vehicle fuel. It also emphasises the benefits of biomethane, both to transport operators and to public health, notably through huge reductions in particulate emissions.


Members’ News & Views

plaNt INsIderJulian Okoye, Business Development Manager at GENeco, part of Wessex Water, shares his diary of events during the contractor selection process for the 40,000 tonne capacity Bristol food waste recycling plant in Avonmouth.

wINter 2009After scouring reference sites across europe, invite interested parties to submit proposals for our tender shortlist.

sprINg 2010two-stage tender process begins. provide feedback to help bidders develop a workable solution for final submission.

summer 2010 select a solution based on monsal technology as our preferred option.

sprINg 2011project progressing well - planning permission and environmental permit secured, food waste customer tender negotiations looking positive and site construction about to start.

late sprINg 2011Disappointment. plant construction temporarily put on hold. tough economic conditions, negotiations with contractor to avert potential price increases.

summer 2011 Breakthrough on several fronts. take decision to build plant. In-house contractor wessex engineering and Construction services (weCs) takes overall responsibility for project including complex services diversion work. Courageous decision, as if weCs fails to complete diversion work by January 2012, contractor will be relieved

from meeting target delivery date of autumn 2012. ensure all parties understand that project cannot fall behind schedule.

autumN 2011Finning uK Ltd contracted to take full process and delivery risk, with monsal subcontracted for process design and technology and Damar providing civil engineering. Detailed design starts, with changes made to improve site operability. weCs begin on-site, diverting services – pressure on as clock is ticking!

december 2011piling sub-contractor due on site next month and still lots to be done! thankfully weather is on our side but extent of services worse than thought and new gas main has to be directionally drilled 6m deep.

jaNuary 2012All services successfully diverted! Huge relief as piling contractor starts on time.

summer 2012project on target! Building erected and internal equipment being installed, plant commissioning starting shortly. All really looking forward to accepting first food waste in october.

www.geneco.uk.com

Pasteurisation heat exchangers are installed

GENeco’s ‘Biobug’ outside the food waste reception area

xergI to supply New berNard matthews plaNtturkey farmer and supplier Bernard matthews is installing a biogas facility at its Holton processing plant, improving waste handling and energy costs. Xergi will supply Holton renewable power Ltd, Bernard matthews’ joint venture with AD development company glendale power, with a 499 kw plant fed solely with on-site waste, saving 1,000 lorry journeys per annum, supplying 16% of the company’s energy and reducing Co

2 by 2,800 tpa.

www.xergi.com www.glendalepower.co.uk

Xergi’s vision of the new Bernard Matthews plant



oN-farm plaNt a realIty after fIve-year battlewhen the Jones family submitted an application in september 2007 for a 500 kw anaerobic digester on their beef and arable farm in talgarth, near Brecon, powys, they could not have envisaged the fight that would follow. expensive High Court wranglings with the Brecon Beacons National park Authorities, who challenged the decision to grant the project planning permission, were followed by a struggle to raise the £3m needed to build the plant. Five years on, the family, operating as GP Biotec, can finally celebrate as their long-awaited AD project becomes a reality - thanks in no small part to the support of fellow ADBA members.

with a low return from farming, brothers paul and gary Jones, whose family have farmed at great porthamel Farm for three generations, made the decision

to diversify into AD, taking local abattoir and farm waste and turning it into green energy and valuable digestate. However, as the farm fell within the boundaries of the Brecon Beacons National park, park authorities took the unusual step of challenging the welsh Assembly government’s decision to grant planning permission at the High Court in Cardiff. reluctant to give up on their dream, the Jones family enlisted the support of leading uK law firm Burges Salmon, who helped the facility secure the green light by demonstrating how it will meet the highest possible environmental standards and protect the local community from adverse impact.

Despite winning the High Court battle and receiving planning permission in 2011, the family’s problems were not over. the financial climate had altered considerably since the project was first conceived and it soon became clear that raising the £3m build costs would be a difficult target. with their bank dragging its heels and

approaches to other funders failing to produce any positive response, paul and gary realised that after four years in the pipeline, the project was running out of time.

Following recommendations from people within the AD industry, the Jones family decided to approach AD finance specialists and ADBA’s financial partner Compass Business Finance. “we evaluated the business plan in detail and held meetings with two banks,” states managing Director Bruce Nelson. “upon identifying one that we thought would best suit the requirement, we secured a formal offer to our customer within ten days. working with technology supplier FLI Energy, our customer and the bank, we were able to ensure funds moved swiftly, enabling deposits to be paid on essential equipment.”

with both planning and finance finally arranged, gp Biotec is now ready to reap the rewards of its on-farm AD plant, as paul Jones explains: “we are delighted to have reached this milestone after a lengthy planning phase and are looking forward to commissioning the plant in December/January.”www.compassrenewables.co.uk www.burges-salmon.comwww.fligroupco.com

GP Biotec’s plant is finally nearing completion

Paul Jones (r) and brother Gary on site

severN treNt makes electrIfyINg use of festIve spIrIt

severn trent water is solving the problem of the disposal of illegal alcohol by turning it into electricity at its Alfreton sewage treatment works. over 700 litres of counterfeit alcohol, seized by Derby City trading standards before

Christmas 2011 and unfit for consumption due to contamination by industrial chemicals, will be processed in the site’s anaerobic digester and fed into the National grid. Disposing of contaminated alcohol has been a problem for trading standards as it cannot be legally poured into the sewage system so severn trent’s solution has been welcomed by Derby City Council, as trading standards team leader Doug walkman explains: “we can now see these products used to benefit the environment and people, rather than harm them. It’s reassuring to know that when we do seize alcohol we can dispose of it in partnership with severn trent water.”www.stwater.co.uk

Alcopops fuel Severn Trent’s Alfreton plant



wrap loaN supports North east’s fIrst food waste plaNtthe North east can now look forward to its first commercial food waste AD facility thanks to an £850,000 loan from wrAp. the first phase of emerald Biogas’s Newton Aycliffe project, which began in August, will deliver 53,000 tonnes of food waste processing capacity, generating 1.4 mw of heat and electricity, with the second phase seeing output rise to 2.5 mw. As well as providing heat and electricity, the plant will also produce almost 47,000 tonnes of digestate. “the North east has a strong food manufacturing sector but the food waste it currently produces is sent to landfill or for rendering, an energy intensive measure,” comments wrAp Director marcus gover. “we’re delighted that the AD Loan Fund will be able to help emerald Biogas build and commission a new, much needed facility to serve this region.” Launched in July 2011 to support the development of a strong and vibrant AD industry, wrAp’s £10m AD Loan Fund is still open for applications and has already provided malaby Biogas with an £800,000 loan towards its AD project in wiltshire.www.wrap.org.uk/content/ad-loan-fund www.malabybiogas.com

The Newton Aycliffe plant will process some of the region’s 800,000 tpa of food waste

major fuNdINg boost for greeN trucks

A consortium led by Howard tenens has received £1.26 million from the Low Carbon truck Demonstration trial, funded by the Department for transport and the technology strategy Board. Applications were made on a match-funded basis, meaning a total investment level of £2.5 million into low carbon transport. Howard tenens partnered with vehicle operators John Lewis partnership and Lenham storage in the successful bid and will be supported by Cms supa trak and emissions Analytics for data and emissions verification. the funding will enable gas refuelling infrastructure to be installed at swindon and a total of 34 commercial HgVs to be converted to dual fuel. “Howard tenens is committed to reducing the carbon footprint of our operations and this project will facilitate a substantial step forward in realising this ambition,” comments group Crs Director Catherine Crouch.www.tenens.com

Howard Tenens led consortium secures £1.26m funding



ferNbrook bIo achIeves pas 110Fernbrook Bio has been awarded pAs 110 accreditation for digestate produced at its rothwell Lodge AD plant in Kettering. the aim of pAs 110 is to assure digestate users that the product is of a consistent quality and fit for purpose, and Fernbrook Bio is one of only six uK-based AD sites to achieve certification. “It is immensely satisfying to have our digestate officially recognised as a quality product which can be sold instead of a waste product,” enthuses mD shaun Cherry.www.fernbrookbio.co.uk

Quality digestate produced by Fernbrook Bio

hybrId rye eNergy crop lauNchedenergy crop specialist Kws has introduced the first wholecrop hybrid rye variety specifically targeted at uK biogas producers. Capable of providing 30-35t/ha yields of high, 30-35% dry matter forage and just under 4,000m3 of methane/ha, Kws magnifico is harvested as a wholecrop cereal and produces a similar methane yield to energy maize, around 108m3 per tonne of digested material. “Hybrid rye is highly robust, ideal for the harshest of uK conditions, with highest yields coming from regions with higher rainfall and heavier soils,” explains Commercial manager Julie goult. Kws recommends using 20-30% rye to 70-80% maize, although magnifico can also be used at higher inclusion rates alongside energy beets.www.kws-uk.com

KWS Magnifico is a robust wholecrop hybrid rye variety

multI-mIllIoN pouNd INvestmeNt creates New joINt veNture for bIogeNgreeNfINch uK AD food waste plant operator Biogengreenfinch has announced a £24.4m investment from construction and property group, Kier. Kier is now a 50/50 joint venture partner in the company alongside Biogengreenfinch’s parent company, Bedfordia group, which has also invested substantially.

renamed Biogen, the JV plans to pursue an ambitious growth strategy in the uK. Currently designing, building and operating all its own plants, Biogen has a design and process engineering base at its r&D laboratory in Ludlow, shropshire with two fully operational AD sites in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire, a contract to build in Caernarfon and preferred bidder status for a plant in Denbighshire.

the new company’s board will comprise three members from Bedfordia, three from Kier and two Biogen executive directors. As part of the business growth strategy the company will be investing in new AD plants nationally with the target of having nine fully operational plants by 2017.www.biogen.co.uk

BiogenGreenfinch has been renamed Biogen



movers aNd shakers tamar to buIld Qv foods’ fIrst ad plaNtFollowing the £65m equity financing completed in February, Tamar Energy is to build QV Foods’ first AD plant, set to become operational in autumn 2013. Located in Lincolnshire at one of the top four potato processing sites in the uK, the 1.5 mw plant will treat 36,000tpa of feedstock, producing 11m kwh of electricity. equivalent to 3,000 households’ energy consumption, QV Foods will harness the majority, with surplus delivered to the grid.www.tamarenergy.net

board chaNges at balfour beatty aNd ksbAndrew mcNaughton will become Deputy Chief executive at Balfour Beatty following Anthony rabin’s retirement. maureen Kempston Darkes is appointed Non-executive Director and robert walvis retires at year-end with Iain Ferguson, currently Chairman of the renumeration Committee, additionally taking on his role of senior Independent Director. At KSB, Dr thomas seeberg, former mD of osrAm gmbH, has been elected to the supervisory Board, succeeding richard Lederer. www.balfourbeatty.comwww.ksb.com

adba members hoNouredHRS Heat Exchangers has scooped the prize for ‘Best energy from waste Initiative’ at the National recycling Awards, held at the Lancaster Hotel in London. Hrs was recognised for its scraped surface vacuum evaporator which will enable sse’s Barkip AD plant to produce 2.5 mw of electricity, as senior Design engineer stephen wooler explains: “overcoming previous fouling issues and requiring little maintenance, the Hrs evaporator system provides a sustainable solution that decreases downtime, improves energy performance and has a better waste recovery.”

muCKBuster®, an AD solution from SEaB Energy, has been selected as one of nine ‘game changing’ innovations that have the potential to transform current waste management systems and practices, according to the LAuNCH: Beyond waste global initiative, founded by the u.s. Agency for International Development, NAsA, the u.s. Department of state, and NIKe Inc. “muCKBuster® has a wide appeal in both the developed and developing world’s agricultural and food production communities trying to make the best of scarce resources,” applauds sandra sassow, Ceo of seaB energy.

In Cardiff, mike Caulfield, managing Director of environmental consultants Caulmert has been named North wales Director of the Year 2012. presented annually by the Institute of Directors, the award celebrates business achievements across the region and recognises excellence.

Finally, at London’s star-studded observer ethical Awards, Ecotricity scooped the prize for Business Initiative, with a panel of celebrity judges including Colin Firth declaring that ecotricity’s actions ‘will change the energy world’. Delighted founder Dale Vince enthuses: “this is amazing news for ecotricity’s radical business model, which is challenging the status quo in Britain’s energy industry.”www.hrs-heatexchangers.comwww.seabenergy.comwww.caulmert.comwww.ecotricity.co.uk

HRS receive a National Recycling Award

Ecotricity triumph at

the Observer Ethical Awards


Exhibitor Profiles


Equipment Focus

w hen constructing an AD plant, the single most expensive item will often be the tank, but its importance can be overlooked, warns Dorian Harrison, monsal’s technical Director. “the

tank not only acts as a buffer for the process and reactor vessel, but also provides environmental containment of potentially harmful media. selection of the correct tank in terms of construction material, size, shape and pressure rating, depends entirely on the process being used and the media contained.

eQuIpmeNt focus: taNks“Different construction materials are available including concrete, steel, plastic and membrane, but the chosen option should offer optimum resistance to the contained media,” advises Dorian. “while digested slurry itself is not overly aggressive, the biogas released within a digester will be corrosive to steel and concrete, making a protective coating essential. tanks requiring a roof to suppress odour or to maintain a biogas containment system have additional considerations, including increased cost, provision of support for roof based equipment, (together with the total load) and the amount of force exerted on the roof of a pressurised system such as a digester; for example, a tank with a 20m diameter roof, operating at 10mbarg, will have an upwards force of 32 tonnes over the whole area,” continues Dorian.

“It is therefore imperative to design carefully, accommodating equipment operation and maintenance requirements within the tank. Consider factors such as drain access (for cleaning out the vessel), accessing internal mixers without draining down the entire contents, instrument selection and how to mount them. In short, the safest option is to transfer the onus on design ownership to the tank supplier. specify the chemical and physical properties of the media, maximum operating pressure, maximum and minimum temperatures and any associated equipment in detail. A reputable tank supplier will guarantee 20 years asset life, so don’t be afraid to ask for it.”www.monsal.co.uk

“In short, the safest option is to transfer the onus on design ownership to the tank supplier. specify the chemical and physical properties of the media, maximum operating pressure, maximum and minimum temperatures and any associated equipment in detail.

A reputable tank supplier will guarantee 20 years asset life, so don’t be afraid to ask for it.” Dorian Harrison, Monsal

wolf system Jointless tanks for every applicationeuropean manufacturer of reinforced concrete tanks, wolf system is a family run company investing over 45 years of construction experience to produce tanks for a number of purposes ranging from silos for wood chips, animal feed and bulk goods to digesters for biogas plants and tanks for wastewater treatment plants and slurry. producing eN 1992 (euro Code 2) and DIN eN 206 compliant tanks for well-known plant engineering companies as well as independent consultants, construction can include bespoke requirements such as inner pp-lining as well as sumps, centre columns, mixer connections, heat pipes and insulation. manufacturing over 6,000 reinforced round concrete tanks with diameters and heights of up to 50m and capacities from 10m³ up to 10,000m³ per annum, wolf system uses a solid steel formwork to produce a concrete tank without joints, eliminating the need for any subsequent sealing measures. www.wolfsystem.de/en_de/Concrete-Tanks/Overview

a-coNsult Pre-cast concrete tanks ensure fast project turnaround

operating across europe, A-Consult has 25 years of experience installing over 8,000 precast concrete tanks, of which more than 1,500 have been used for primary/secondary digesters, digestate storage and mixer/reception tanks. A-Consult’s tanks are constructed from high strength concrete panels under factory-controlled conditions, resulting in efficient installation and fast delivery times. Digester tank diameters range from 5m to 50m, with wall heights ranging from 3m to 12m, and cast-in items such as sockets, flanges and manways can be facilitated during panel construction, greatly assisting with the retro-fitting of pipework, mixers, feeders and gas tight roofs, reducing both project time and costs. Digestate storage tank diameters range from 8m to 50m, with non-gas tight roofs also available. to increase plant capacity, it is possible to convert A-Consult’s digestate storage tanks into digester tanks at a later date.www.aconsult.co.uk/biogas

7 MW German plant using a variety of Wolf tanks

A-Consult’s pre-cast tanks can be installed all year round


Equipment Focus

kIrk eNvIroNmeNtal Supplying key equipment to state-of-the-art Westry plant

Kirk environmental and BIoDome® are pleased to have completed their part of Local generation’s state-of-the-art westry AD plant in march, Cambridgeshire. the 30,000 tonne food waste facility is now

in full operation with Kirk and BIoDome® equipment forming the backbone of critical infrastructure, enabling the plant to process food waste that would normally have gone to landfill. organic waste is converted into biogas within the 4,000m3 Anaerobic Digestion tank and then stored in the 4,000m3 BIoDome® gas Holder before being used to feed the CHp unit and produce electricity. Kirk also supplied the project, a first for Local generation, with a 1,500m3 Buffer tank and a 4,000m3 post Digestion storage tank. working in close partnership with Local generation and technology provider monsal, overall plant construction was completed against a fast-track programme and the facility is now generating 1.2 mw of green electricity.www.kirk-environmental.co.uk

moNostore Specialist concrete tank and silo installers After more than 25 years experience on the continent, monostore brought its unique, cost-effective method of installing concrete tanks to the uK and Ireland in 1995. with a strong background in agricultural, industrial and municipal tanks and covers, constructing AD and biogas tanks was the natural next step for monostore, which designs its products according to the eurocodes set of technical rules. gas tight, water tight and durable, all monostore tanks are monolithic (without joints) and the company prides itself on its ability to complete all civil works in one uninterrupted period. For any AD project, monostore is able to support the foundation works, provide the civil design and install the tanks, including insulation, cladding, protection liners, roofs and gas storage, in a short time frame.www.monostore.com

Kirk tanks and a BIODOME® gas holder form the backbone of Local Generation’s Westry plant

Monostore’s unique method of installing tanks results in a quick turnaround


Exhibitor Profiles


Membership Matters

dIary dates 11-13 septNEC, Birminghamwith 700 exhibitors from the resource efficiency and waste management sectors, 14,500 visitors and 100+ seminars, this event will explore the latest industry developments that affect everyone from local authorities and landfills to retailers and recycling consultants.

rwm’s inspirational speaker line up includes ADBA’s Chief executive Charlotte morton, Alistair Campbell and tV’s professor Brian Cox.www.rwmexhibition.com

11-12 septNEC, BirminghamA free to attend exhibition and conference offering practical solutions to onsite energy generation for industrial, commercial and public sector users. Visit ADBA at stand 06e39.www.therenewablesevent.com

regIster Now!

25 october adba members’ meetINgOsborne Clarke, One London Wall, London EC2Y

this free meeting for ADBA members, the first of the 2012/13 membership year, is the perfect forum to

discuss the latest policy developments and lobbying activities, talk directly to officials, review recent case studies and network with fellow members. Attend this event if you want to debate the key issues affecting your business, learn about industry developments and find out how to make your membership fee work harder. register now at www.adbiogas.co.uk

ADBA’s third r&D Forum will focus on finalising a ten-year r&D strategy for the AD industry to ensure it realises its full potential. Featuring an update on the progress of wrAp’s ‘Driving Innovation in AD’ programme and workshops designed to finalise a short, medium and long term AD r&D strategic wish list, this event will form a key part of the process for formulating the industry’s research needs. to view the programme and book tickets go to www.adbiogas.co.uk

Focusing on the most topical developments, opportunities and issues affecting the AD and biogas sectors, ADBA’s Annual National Conference 2012 is a must for anyone involved in this growing industry. with policy and regulatory updates, industry case studies, high level debate and a table top exhibition, this is a key platform from which to influence, learn and network with the who’s who of the AD world.

For more info go to www.adbiogas.co.uk For sponsorship and advertising opportunities contact: [email protected] t +44 (0)203 176 4414

Following on from this year’s successful event, ADBA’s fourth annual trade show and conference, uK AD & Biogas 2013, will continue to deliver on its promise to bring potential clients to your door. offering the biggest range of AD industry suppliers, more high quality content and more AD-specific buyers than ever before, uK AD & Biogas 2013 is the best platform from which to increase your business and raise your profile. • two-day exhibition showcasing over 200 exhibitors• 3,000 visitors• two dedicated conference days• 22 free seminars and workshops• Free professional clinics (legal, finance and farming)• Live equipment demonstrations• uK AD & Biogas Industry Awards

to exhibit or sponsor contact [email protected] t+44 (0)203 176 4414

NatIoNal coNfereNce

12 DeC 2012 LOnDOnOne Great GeOrGe StreetWeStminSter


Membership Matters

w hether representing your views in front of government and regulatory bodies, providing project support and guidance, delivering networking opportunities, offering access to working

groups and expert knowledge, providing targeted sales and marketing, compiling comprehensive AD resources or updates on the latest industry news, ADBA membership enhances your business. Visit www.adbiogas.co.uk or contact [email protected] for more information.

4 bIg reasoNs to joIN adba today!

free lIstINg IN adba members’ dIrectory 2012/2013A buyer’s guide to all AD suppliers, the ADBA members’ Directory is a superior business development tool for anyone looking to sell their products or services to an AD-specific

audience. published annually and distributed to over 3,000 contacts, it lists the who’s who of the AD industry. Join before 1

october to receive your Free company profile and listing.

prefereNtIal rates for adba eveNts aNd all prINt advertIsINgmembers receive discounted rates on all ADBA events and print advertising! why not secure a prime position and discounted

exhibition space at ADBA’s National Conference 2012 on 12 December, or at next summer’s uK AD & Biogas 2013? with

over 40% of space already taken, now’s the time to secure one of the remaining prime positions.

New adba websIteADBA is developing an exciting new website with an improved online members’ directory and members’ area. Join now to ensure that your company is listed when the site is launched

and also receive instant access to a wide range of AD-specific resources, industry news, ADBA updates,

member case studies and the very latest business opportunities.

exclusIve members’ meetINg, 25 octthis members-only, free event provides a valuable insight into industry

developments and issues affecting your business, delivering a fantastic opportunity

to both debate and network.

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Membership Matters

“ADBA’s connections with regulatory decision makers helped resolve a major risk to our business – it’s the best value for money I’ve ever had from a trade association membership fee.”John Scott, InSource Energy

share your storIesDo you have an interesting AD project, unique case study or innovative product to share with the industry? ADBA is looking for new member stories to add to its soon-to-be-relaunched website - submit your case studies in a web-friendly pdf format to [email protected]

welcome New adba members! Anaerobic Analytic Atritor Bond Pearce LLP CJM

Coldwell Ltd CRES Biogas Ltd David Border Composting Consultancy (DBCC) Dale Bio Plant Ltd Farm Renewables

G P Biotec Hayes GFS L F King Son Ltd Little Oak Energy Pinsent Masons LLP Premtech Pulpmaster Australia Somatinda Environment Trant Holdings

Water and Waste Services

joIN the tweet elIteFollow ADBA (@adbiogas) on twitter for all things AD including:

✔ latest policy developments✔ member news✔ project updates✔ ADBA press releases✔ live event updates


Membership Matters

safety fIrst This issue: Legal responsibilities

employers have a legal responsibility to protect the health and safety of not only their staff but anyone else who may be affected by their operations, including site visitors and the public. As such, employers must ensure that:• the workplace is safe and risks to health have been eliminated or controlled• the plant and its machinery are safe to operate and that safe working

procedures are set and adhered to• Articles and substances are moved, stored and used safely• Adequate welfare facilities are provided• employees are provided with the information, instruction, training and

supervision necessary for their health and safety• systems are in place to consult employees on health and safety matters

terry Brownhill has 25 years experience in the waste sector with companies such as Veolia and AmeC and is currently Director of eaton management Limited, providing project development advice across areas including AD, biomass and waste recycling. An ADBA Director, terry is also Chair of ADBA’s training and safety working group.

further INformatIoNContact your local Health and safety Inspectorate for advice - www.hse.gov.uk/contactto download a free copy of the Hse guide ‘Health and safety made simple (the basics for your business)’ go to http://bit.ly/vrDtMpread our feature on p8, ‘Best practice: the key to safety and industry success’.

when commencing site operations, including at an AD plant, it is imperative that all legal responsibilities are met, the site is safe and systems to monitor health and safety are in place and fit for purpose. under ‘the management of Health and safety at work regulations 1999’ it may be necessary to appoint a competent person to help carry out the employer’s responsibilities, which for smaller sites may mean employing an external qualified health and safety consultant.

teamChairman, Lord Rupert Redesdalet + 44 (0)203 176 0503 e [email protected]

Chief executive, Charlotte Mortont + 44 (0)203 176 0503 e [email protected]

policy manager, Matt Hindlet +44 (0)203 176 0591 e [email protected]

Commercial Director, Louise Wallacet +44 (0)203 176 0592 e [email protected]

policy officer, Jordan Marshallt +44 (0)203 176 5440 e [email protected]

sales executive, Jamil Ahadt +44 (0)203 176 4414 e [email protected]

marketing manager, Annika Hertert +44 (0)203 176 0590 e [email protected]

marketing executive, Matthew Irelandt +44 (0)203 176 4415 e [email protected]

marketing executive, Kelly Oxenhamt +44 (0)795 194 1076 e [email protected]

Communications & systems executive and pA to Chief executive, Rosaline Hulset +44 (0)203 176 0503 e [email protected]

office executive, Peter Mackintosht +44 (0)203 176 5441 e [email protected]

Finance, Bruce Nelson Director of Compass Renewablest +44 (0)1732 464495 e [email protected]

AD & Biogas News editor, Kirsty Sharpet +44 (0)1920 821873 e [email protected]

AD & Biogas News Features editor, Kate O’Reillyt +44 (0)7894 039609 e [email protected]

get involved in the magazine’s forthcoming features, see p3 for details. But with up to 40 releases a day landing in editors’ inboxes, making your copy stand out from the crowd is crucial. Follow these tips to writing a successful press release:

headlINe – sum up what the story is about, avoiding generic titles such as ‘latest news’. Include attention grabbing phrases such as cost-cutting, fast payback, waste reduction or New!

fIrst paragraph – remember ‘How and the 5 w’s’; what, why, where, when and who. It takes an editor 20 seconds to assess if a release is newsworthy, so get straight to the point and don’t waffle!

body copy – make the main body of your release educational. Include product or plant specifics (inputs, outputs, size, etc) and avoid making unsubstantiated claims such as ‘we are the world-leader’. Include customer endorsements but make sure they have substance, detailing the specific benefits received in a real situation.

photography – without an interesting, print quality photo to accompany it, even the best press release will struggle to get published. send a small selection, including a close-up and a wide shot of the product/plant in question, at a quality of 300dpi – and don’t forget the captions!

follow-up – email your release with an accurate and understandable file name and if sending it as an attachment, include the title and opening paragraph in the body of the message. It’s not necessary to make a courtesy call after every release, but if your piece has been written for a specific feature then follow up with a quick call to the editor.

free edItorIal!


Exhibitor Profiles

www.adbiogas.co.uk40 AD & BIogAs News | septemBer 2012

Exhibitor Profiles

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