Anaerobic digester plant

MFA was appointed by TD Forster & Son to obtain planning permission for a biogas plant on a parcel of land at Peacehill Farm.  Having already invested in four biomass boilers to heat their poultry sheds and three rooftop solar systems, TD Forster & Son were keen to further diversify their arable and poultry farming businesses.  

The AD plant was conceived to achieve the following objectives:

• To generate bio-methane and digestate (a sustainable fertiliser) from vegetable/cereal matter as well as chicken manure with a resulting net reduction in the production of greenhouse gases;
• To generate a sustainable long term income for the farm whilst contributing towards renewable energy generation targets; 
• To  dispose of chicken manure in an environmentally sustainable way (reduction in odours of 80%); and
• To ensure an integrated approach to the production of feedstock and the movements of digestate to minimise transport needs.
   

The proposed development represented a multi million pound investment by TD Forster & Son which provides the farming enterprise with a sustainable and continual source of income whilst producing a low cost and scalable form of renewable energy.  The present output of the AD plant is approximately 368m3 of bio-methane per hour.  Running at 100% output, the capacity of the plant is broadly equivalent to a 2MWe (electrical) plant.

Following pro-active discussions with the local planning authority, MFA provided planning guidance and managed the planning application process with only minor issues quickly resolved to ensure a delegated approval.