An anaerobic digestion certification scheme has been launched which hopes to support operators of AD plants such as farmers.
UK trade body the Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA) has launched its scheme at its national conference in London on Wednesday (6 December).
The voluntary, industry-led scheme is designed to support operators of AD plants, including those based on farms, to improve their operational, environmental, and health and safety performance, in particular in terms of energy generation and digestate quality.
ADBA has developed the scheme, working closely with industry stakeholder. The National Farmers’ Union (NFU) and CLA have contributed to ensuring the scheme is suitable for farmers who operate AD plants.
The scheme includes detailed assessment criteria that will allow third-party certification bodies to verify the achievement of good practice at AD plants, and is the most comprehensive of its type.
The scheme pilot was completed in September this year, with one on-farm plant, one food waste plant, and one on-site plant for a food manufacturer taking part.
Diversifying income
ADBA Chief Executive Charlotte Morton said investing in an AD plant is a "great way" for farmers to diversify their income in the context of uncertainty over future support from government post Brexit.
“AD offers a treatment option for organic wastes such as manures, slurries, and vegetable off-cuts, producing on-site renewable heat and power, transport fuel for farm vehicles, and nutrient-rich biofertiliser,” Ms Morton explained.
“AD crops also give farmers a great option for crop rotation, helping to keep soils healthy and avoid the spread of blackgrass and nematodes.
“ADBA’s new AD Certification Scheme defines good practice and enables on-farm AD plants to be recognised as meeting it. A certification process is essential to ensuring that regulators, insurers and investors have confidence in the scheme, which offers AD operators a range of financial and regulatory benefits.”
'Positive intervention'
Marie Fallon, Director of Regulated Industry at the Environment Agency, called the scheme a "positive intervention", and said reducing pollution incidents is one which the EA shares with determination.
Stefan Jimenez Wisler, Land Use Policy Adviser at the CLA, said: “AD is an important tool for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, driving more efficient resource use and enabling a range of other on-farm environmental benefits.
“This new certification scheme sets out good practice and allows on-farm AD plants to be recognised for meeting it. This will crucially provide operators, regulators and the public with the confidence to support AD for the financial and environmental benefits it can provide.”
