On
12th March 2014 students studying environmental science and
environmental management courses at the University of Northampton visited the
Fernbrook Bio anaerobic digestion (AD) plant at Rothwell in Northamptonshire. The
tour of the 30,000 tonne per annum facility was led by Shaun Cherry (Managing
Director) and Naz Ladumor (Technical Manager). The visit gave students the
opportunity to view a commercial facility in full operation.
The
AD plant treats biodegradable waste, which includes food waste collected from
households in Northampton and Daventry. The by-products of the AD process are a
methane rich biogas and nutrient rich digestate. The biogas is sent to a gas
turbine to generate green renewable electricity sufficient to power 2000 homes.
AD is currently the best system for recovering energy from food waste. The
pasteurised digestate (organic fertiliser), which contains nitrogen, phosphate
and potassium can be applied to farmland. Highlights of the tour were the on-site
laboratory where samples from the process are analysed to show compliance with
relevant permits. Students also viewed the inside of one of the large sealed digester
reaction vessels through a viewing window. The biogas could clearly be seen
bubbling off the top of the pulverised feedstock (food waste mixed with slurry).
This
is one of a number of site visits that allow students to see processes
discussed in lectures in the real world. It is also an opportunity for interaction
and questioning of facility operators enhancing knowledge and understanding for
all those that attended.
