UK dairy processor to cut emissions by 65%

BV Dairy, a UK dairy processor will use pioneering renewable energy technology to convert its liquid waste products into biogas and cut carbon emissions by 65%.

The dairy processor, which is supplied by 35 local farms and processes 35 million litres of milk annually, will pour its waste into a liquid anaerobic digester to generate around three quarters of its energy needs and sell power onto the National Grid.

The by-product, or digestate, will be used as a soil conditioner and fertiliser and surplus heat from the process will be recycled into the production process.

The project, which will be fully operational by August, will save the processor an estimated GBP150,000 (US$229,917) a year and the carbon saving will be equivalent to planting 120,000 trees. 

Jim Highnam, managing director of BV Dairy, said, ''This is a fantastic opportunity, not just for BV Dairy, but for the whole UK dairy industry, to be at the leading edge of renewable energy technology. We need to release the energy value of these unavoidable liquid wastes.''

''We will fully grasp the opportunity that this project presents, and we hope that this will be the start of a major shift towards renewable energy production from anaerobic digestion of food wastes,'' he said.

Renewable experts ENER-G are designing, supplying and operating the combined heat and power (CHP) technology that will convert the biogas into renewable energy.

ENER-G urged more farmers to take advantage of government incentives for creating renewable energy from anaerobic digestion (AD), including Renewable Obligations Certificates and the newly introduced Feed-in-tariff.