hampshire farming conference the challenge of smaller scale on-farm anaerobic digestion
TRANSCRIPT
Hampshire Farming Conference
The Challenge of Smaller Scale On-farm
Anaerobic Digestion
A Presentation to‘Company Name’
01/01/09
09/02/11
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
Showcase - technical events post Royal Show
Partnerships - promoting knowledge exchange
Sustainability - agriculture in the low-carbon era
Increasing focus on rural sustainability
A Presentation to‘Company Name’
01/01/09
Practice With ScienceProtecting 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
Incentives - energy generation & surplus heat use
Evolving technology: Municipal: landfill diversion On-farm: slurry/crops Industrial: waste/co-products
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 makersThe 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
A Presentation to‘Company Name’
01/01/09
18/05/11
RASE REPORT • Lost Opportunities Misguided Gov’t Policy Focus on Merchant AD Grow for Gas Model
• RASE AD Report Farm-scale systems Appropriate design Pollution prevention Technology development Access to information
• Policy Changes Endorsement of mini AD systems Controls on land application De-regulate low risk plants Better incentives for mini-plants
A Presentation to‘Company Name’
01/01/09
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
Other Feedstocks: Crop/silage wastes Maize & grass (ethics) Local food waste Processing co-products Bio-fuel wastes
A Presentation to‘Company Name’
01/01/09
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 up: Input to DEFRA Strategy Document Industry interest 14,000 website hits More events to inform and advise Competition to promote design of
cheaper modular on-farm AD plants Develop technology for UK market
A Presentation to‘Company Name’
01/01/09
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
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
09/02/11
A Presentation to‘Company Name’
01/01/09
The Food & Energy Challenge “Over the next 50 years, the world’s 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
09/02/11
AD: The Key Issues: Slurry & available feedstocks
Biogas potential of cow slurry
Year round feedstock supply
Regulation, policy & planning
Design of on-farm technology
Cost & return on investment Small-scale farm AD now on
Government Agenda
Conference at Stoneleigh on 22nd and 23rd June
AD improves slurry management & supplies on-
farm renewable energy Need to make it happen?
Vision” to develop Stoneleigh as a platform for rural sustainability.