The facility, which received £1.7m from the AD Demonstration Programme, was opened by Bob Walter, MP for North Dorset.
The plant is capable of processing 80,000 tonnes of waste each year, which in turn will provide the majority of the electricity used in the manufacturing process at the dairy, which churns out 15,000 tonnes of dairy products each year for the foodservice and food manufacturing sectors. This is achieved by sending the biogas to a combined heat and power engine installed on-site.
At times, surplus electricity created will be exported to the national grid. Heat generated by the facility is used in the anaerobic digestion process, and excess will be used in heating and cleaning processes in the factory, and in the cheesemaking process. The solid digestate will be used on local grassland. This biofertiliser is high in valuable nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus and other elements required for healthy plant growth and fertile soil.
Previously, the unavoidable waste material – wash water from the factory, permeate/whey from cheesemaking and other dairy rich liquids – were treated at the local sewage works, but treating the waste on-site reduces the company’s sewer disposal costs and generates renewable energy for use in the dairy.
BV Dairy MD Jim Highnam said: “We’re proud to be pioneers in AD for the UK food industry. The BV Dairy AD plant demonstrates that the technology works and, judging by the interest in our plant from food manufacturers, we expect to see many more companies using AD to generate renewable energy from unavoidable food waste.”
Bob Walter, MP for North Dorset, said: “I have always maintained that micro-generation of our energy needs is one of the best and simplest ways in which we can reduce our carbon footprint at the local level, while minimising any negative impact on our beautiful environment. It’s vital that companies take responsibility for reducing their carbon footprint and I applaud BV Dairy for taking the initiative. This local company is, quite rightly, committed to driving down the amount of waste they produce and have my full backing.”
Source: Wrap
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