Two on-farm anaerobic digestion plants in Northern Ireland have announced the receipt of funding. Anaerobic digestion is regarded as one of the most promising renewable energy technologies, predicted to grow by up to 500% over the coming years. UK Green Investment Bank plc (GIB) is investing to help these farmers in Northern Ireland become more sustainable, create jobs and generate income from their waste.

The projects, in Cookstown, County Tyrone and Banbridge, County Down, will be used by local livestock farmers and have been developed alongside their advisors, KPMG.

Anaerobic digestion is a natural process which takes organic waste and breaks it down. This produces a gas, which is turned into electricity. This can be used on-site or sold into the national grid. The process also creates digestate, a natural by-product which can be spread on the land as a fertiliser, saving famers money and returning nutrients to the land.

There are environmental benefits to using anaerobic digestion. Firstly, it reduces the carbon footprint of farm operations because the digestate from anaerobic digestion can be used as a substitute fertiliser and because waste left to decompose on the land emits greenhouse gases. Secondly, the more renewable energy is produced, the less reliance there will be on fossil fuels.

The two projects announced today will generate enough renewable energy to power 1700 households for a year. The reduction in greenhouse gas production from the projects will be equivalent to taking 2000 cars off the road for a year.

While the UK-wide anaerobic digestion market in general is showing strong growth, the Northern Ireland market in particular is now one of the most attractive locations in Europe for this technology. This is thanks to enhanced government support and a high volume of appropriate waste.

Shaun Kingsbury, Chief Executive, UK Green Investment Bank, said: “Today’s announcement is a textbook example of the types of project we should be seeing all across the UK. It’s economically important, injecting £6.5m into the rural economy in Northern Ireland and generating 22 new jobs. It’s green, turning farm waste into renewable energy and fertiliser. And it’s good for the local farming community, earning and saving them money. Northern Ireland has taken a real lead in this fast-emerging technology, so we were delighted to help get these new projects moving and stand ready to back other community-based, green projects like them across the UK.”

Cookstown project
Farmers: PAR Renewables, a group of three livestock farmers in Cookstown, will provide waste to fuel the plant from their farms. They already share infrastructure and machinery and have a long history of cooperation. The plant will sit on their land.

Environmental impact: Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 2,250 t CO2e per year. This is equivalent to taking 1000 cars off the road for a year. Jobs: 11 new jobs will be created in construction and operations. Energy generation: 3,600 MWh which will be sold into the national grid. This is the same amount of electricity as 850 households would use in a year. Fertiliser: The plant will produce digestate, which the farmers will use as fertiliser. Fuel supply: 18,500 tonnes of waste from the local farmers.

Banbridge project

Farmer: James Cromie, dairy farmer in Banbridge, will provide waste to fuel the plant (alongside two neighbouring farmers). The plant will sit on his land. Environmental impact: Reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of more than 2,250 t CO2e per year. This is equivalent to taking 1000 cars off the road for a year. Jobs: 11 new jobs will be created in construction and operations. Energy generation: 3,600 MWh which will be sold into the national grid. This is the same amount of electricity as 850 households would use in a year. Fertiliser: The plant will produce digestate, which the farmers will use as fertiliser. Fuel supply: 18,500 tonnes of waste from the local farmers.