Leeming Biogas, a joint venture between energy-from-waste developer JFS & Associates and equity investor Iona Capital, is developing the ‘largest food waste gas-to-grid anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in North Yorkshire’.
The plant, currently under construction at Leeming Bar in Hambleton, will anaerobically digest up to 80,000 tonnes of organic waste to generate up to eight million cubic metres of biomethane per year, which will be pumped into the Northern Gas Networks’ pipeline and is reportedly enough to power 2,500 homes. The process also produces a biofertiliser, which will be supplied to land owners in the local area.
A number of local businesses have already signed up to provide food waste to the plant, and the joint venture team is now encouraging other businesses to consider sending their waste to the plant in the future.
It is thought that when the plant opens in September 2015, it will be the largest facility of its kind in the area, and one of the largest AD plants in the UK. The UK’s first gas-to-grid plant was opened by the Prince of Wales in 2012, and handles 41,000 tonnes of organic food waste at Rainbarrow Farm in Poundbury, Dorset.
‘Providing cost and environmental benefits for all the businesses involved’
Matthew Flint, Director of JFS & Associates, said: “This project has been two years in the making and the multi-million investment from Iona Capital is vital to enable this plant to benefit the local economy in Leeming Bar as well providing cost and environmental benefits for all the businesses involved.”
The Leeming Bar AD plant forms part of JFS & Associates’ aim to build and operate around 25 plants in five years, with a combination of food waste facilities and farm-scale plants. It is the seventh AD plant developed by JFS & Associates and Iona Capital.
Mike Dunn, Managing Director at Iona Capital, added: “This project represents a significant investment in the north east and offers environmental and economic benefits to the local community. We are delighted to partner with JFS & Associates on our seventh anaerobic digestion scheme with them.”
Find out more about the Leeming Bar AD plant.
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