Hampshire Farming Conference

The Challenge of Smaller Scale On-farm Anaerobic Digestion

RASE Background
Charity - established 1838 to promote innovation Science - for the advancement of UK agriculture Technology - promoting development/adoption Stoneleigh - serving industry at NAC since 1963

Presentation to ShowcaseA - technical events post Royal Show

01/01/09 Increasing focus on rural sustainability

Company Name exchange Partnerships - promoting knowledge

Sustainability - agriculture in the low-carbon era

09/02/11

Practice With Science

Protecting the Science Base
Recent reports: Soils, Water, GHG Emissions, Applied Research & Farm-scale AD Seminars on novel technology applications (emissions & soil)

Raising applied science profile across industry & rural sector Working with DEFRA, EA, NE, AHBD, BBSRC & REA

A Presentation to Company Name

01/01/09

Anaerobic Digestion
Biogas generation in oxygen free conditions:
Diverse feedstocks - but variable biogas potential

Misrepresented as a waste management system

Danger of over-regulation or policy straight-jacket Scale matters - technology must be appropriate

A Presentation to Evolving technology: Company Name Municipal: landfill diversion

On-farm: slurry/crops Industrial: waste/co-products

Incentives - energy generation & surplus heat use

01/01/09

Anaerobic Digestion & the Foodchain

Entire industry under pressure to:
Manage waste more effectively Cut carbon and water footprint Cut fossil fuel energy costs

What about smaller farms?

Economies of scale Unsuitable technologies Insufficient information Capital Requirements

Farm-scale AD solutions:
New Feed in Tariffs Modular solutions Finance packages

Case Study - Farmhouse Cheese makers

The challenge of whey disposal Decline in demand from pig sector Energy Costs on the increase Diffuse pollution concerns Costs of off site disposal Customer perception Energy from Waste On-site energy Carbon reduction Revenue source Pollution control

RASE REPORT

Lost Opportunities
Misguided Govt Policy Focus on Merchant AD Grow for Gas Model

RASE AD Report

A Presentation to Company Name Policy Changes

01/01/09

Farm-scale systems Appropriate design Pollution prevention Technology development Access to information

Endorsement of mini AD systems Controls on land application De-regulate low risk plants Better incentives for mini-plants
18/05/11

AD - Farming Benefits:
More effective slurry handling Management of diffuse pollution Enhanced nutrient availability Reduced fertilizer purchase Energy for other operations Revenue generation

A Presentation to wastes Crop/silage Maize & grass (ethics) Company Name Local food waste
01/01/09

Other Feedstocks:

Processing co-products Bio-fuel wastes

18/05/11

On Farm AD - issues:
AD does not have to be large-scale Feedstock to supplement biogas Energy need to optimise its use Technology easy to install/operate Drivers manure/slurry management Bureaucracy excessive controls Finance payback/risk averse banks

Report Follow A Presentation to up: Input to DEFRA Strategy Document Company Name Industry interest 14,000 website hits

01/01/09

More events to inform and advise Competition to promote design of cheaper modular on-farm AD plants Develop technology for UK market
18/05/11

Stimulating Farm Scale Digestion:

Overcome resistance to small scale AD Development of modular technology Use of food waste (hub & pod system) Access to funding (lease finance/ Green Bank) Planning greater tolerance for local plants Regulation light touch for low risk small units New small scale FIT band for under 100 kW Greater flexibility for FIT rules (bands) Access to better information/advice Political Will (planning & other barriers)

Wider opportunities for mini AD

Local community projects Organic food producers Micro brewers and dairies

A Presentation to Company Name

01/01/09
18/05/11

Energy or Slurry Handling?

CO2 Emissions from 100m tonnes of slurry
Methane (CH4) 25x worse than CO2 Risks of diffuse pollution of water courses Experience of the on-farm AD pioneers Other issues like collection of biogas from farms

A Presentation to Company Name

01/01/09
09/02/11

The Food & Energy Challenge

Over the next 50 years, the worlds farmers and ranchers will be called upon to produce more food than has been produced in the past 10,000 years combined, and to do so in environmentally sustainable ways. Jacques Diouf, FAO Director General, 2007
I can feed my cows things I cannot feed to my digester & if there is any doubt [on interpretation], the answer [from the authorities] is NO. Comments from on-farm AD practitioners, RASE 2010

A Presentation to Company Name

01/01/09

AD: The Key Issues:

Slurry & available feedstocks
Biogas potential of cow slurry Year round feedstock supply

Regulation, policy & planning

Design of on-farm technology

A Presentation to Small-scale Company Namefarm AD now on

Cost & return on investment

Government Agenda

Conference at Stoneleigh on 01/01/09 22nd and 23rd June

09/02/11

AD improves slurry management & supplies on-farm renewable energy Need to make it happen?
Vision to develop Stoneleigh as a platform for rural sustainability.