Thursday, May 10, 2007

Welsh Assembly Funding Boost for Anaerobic Digestion Plants

The Welsh Assembly Government is offering funding support for the development of new anaerobic digestion plants in Wales.

The Materials Action Programme is willing to provide 30% of capital costs for any digestion facility set up to process commercial and industrial waste in Wales before March 31, 2009.
The Materials Action Programme has allowed Bank Farm in Powys to convert its existing anaerobic digester to generate electricity from industrial organic waste Anaerobic digestion involves the treatment of organic wastes by bacteria in controlled conditions with limited access to oxygen. The process generates a bio-gas, a form of methane, which can be used to generate electricity.

The capital support programme can support either a fixed plant or a mobile facility, land and infrastructure. The project can involve a new or expanded facility, and must use proven technology in commercial operation elsewhere.

The input material for the plant must be source-separated biodegradable waste, with at least 60% from commercial or industrial sources. The project must be dependent on the programme's funding, but be commercially viable in the medium-to-long term.

Full details of how to apply for funding is available on the funding section of the WRAP website.
Bank FarmOne of the first digestion projects to benefit from the Materials Action Programme has been Bank Farm in Powys, which has now secured a £60,000 grant to convert its existing small anaerobic digestion facility to generate electricity from industrial organic waste.

More at LetsRecycle here.