BIOGEN -a green solution
We’re all concerned about the environment. But unless you’re a graduate of ecology, politics, economy and environmental studies, it’s probable that, like me, you’ll be a bit confused about what can actually be done to reduce the many problems our planet is facing. Here, we look at just one development that’s been hailed as part of the solution.
“BIOGEN’s Integrated AD technology helps reduce production of greenhouse gases and reliance upon fossil fuels. It can also help reduce the environmental impact of waste in the local community.”
Sounds good so far… this is how it works. (Warning: very basic simplified explanation!)
In my basic understanding, this Anaerobic Digestion (AD) process means… tiny bugs digesting waste and producing heat and gas. So in BIOGEN’s processing plants, it might go something like this:
Household food waste + Slurry (Pig poo)
→Big sealed tank where bugs decompose the waste and produce gas (Methane and CO2)
→Big engine converts Biogas into heat and electricity
→National Grid. The resulting material is used for fertiliser on local farm land.
BIOGEN explains: “We generate renewable energy and divert waste away from the problems of landfill by means of a contained process that avoids uncontrolled emissions and pollution. By integrating our AD plant with our own livestock facility we also reduce emissions from animal slurry. As a result, BIOGEN is making a significant contribution to reducing the amount of methane entering the environment – and methane is 22 times more damaging to the environment than CO2.”
The Ibbett family have owned and run 'Bedfordia' group (BIOGEN’s parent) for 75 years. Yolanda Ibbett has kindly agreed to talk to Looking at life about this highly acclaimed recycling solution.
1. How did the Bedfordia group come to be involved in Biotechnology, and why was it considered to be important?
A few years back, we recruited a Managing Director for Bedfordia’s Agricultural arm, and asked him to come up with 5 year plan. One of our biggest problems was what to do with the slurry on our pig farms. This is a massive issue for farmers across the whole of Europe, particularly as slurry creates large amounts of methane, which is bad for the environment – 22 times more damaging, in fact, than CO2. John Ibbett had heard about Anaerobic Digestion (AD) back when he was at Agricultural college, but it the time it wasn’t a viable option for many reasons. He raised the slurry issue with the Managing Director and suggested it might be wise to take a look at AD. At that point there was loads going on with foot and mouth, and the government was looking to raise taxes on using landfills.
Social and environmental responsibility has always been a key part of Bedfordia’s vision, and suddenly this recycling solution had a real economic viability, due to the search for alternatives to landfill. We were therefore able to invest in harnessing AD in a practical and useable way. Hence BIOGEN became part of what we do.
2. How does the process benefit the different groups/elements involved – eg. farmers, the council, the energy problem?
The benefits are endless. AD benefits food factories (who supply to shops and supermarkets), because we collect their food waste, which is cheaper for them than if they took it to a landfill. It’s actually a very cost effective, green alternative to landfill. The environment benefits not just because it reduces landfill waste, but it also reduces the amount of methane released into the environment, as the slurry is pumped to biogas plants directly and the methane is converted into heat and electricity, which goes into the national grid. It benefits residents in the local area, who get a completely green supply of electricity. All the food waste and slurry that goes into the process is pasteurised to kill harmful bugs. The residue material is an organic, green fertiliser, rich in nitrogen and other nutrients, which is sold to local farmers, which means they don’t have to use oil based fertilisers, which in turn reduces our reliance on fossil fuels.
We call it a win, win, win solution. It’s a closed process, we can quantify everything that goes in and comes out, so nothing is wasted or escapes to pollute the atmosphere.
Food Waste being prepared in the Twinwoods reception area.
3. Is this a first for the UK?
Bedfordia group is the first to do this on this scale in this model in the UK. The idea is implemented in different forms widely across Europe, particularly in Germany and Holland.
4. I’ve heard criticism about similar systems, for example in Germany, that suggests that it is unethical to produce crops specifically for biofuels at a time when we are facing a global food crisis. Does Biogen use crops in this way, and have you received any criticism in this regard?
You’re referring to Biofuel – which is when people grow crops to make fuel, but we don’t use this model. BIOGEN uses a waste model, using animal and food waste that would otherwise add to environmental problems, and harness the waste to produce green energy. We take waste and make energy.
5. What positive feedback has Biogen received?
Publicity is endless and we have received positive feedback from all areas. The UK government have recognised AD as the most preferred technology for alternative renewable energy sources. We also work closely with the government initiative ‘WRAP’ (Waste Resource Action Programme).
Princess Anne came out to the farm to officially open our first AD plant at Twinwoods, which was a really priviledge and a boost of encouragement! We’ve also had interest from Radio 4’s ‘The Archers’. They came to visit our site and spent 2 hours with Andrew, our Managing Director, talking about AD and the processes surrounding it. The Archer’s storyline has changed as a result of the visit- Brian Aldridge’s character has decided to build a bigger AD plant than originally intended, and to use a waste-sourced designed rather than growing crops!
6. Have you received any criticism in the UK?
You might have heard of the acronym ‘Nimby’, it stands for ‘not in my back yard’. If you want to put a plant anywhere, you can expect that at the local level they will complain about it and have numerous misconceptions about Biofuels, issues with odour etc. Our policy is to face the negative criticism up front. For Twinwoods, we invited the community to come to an evening we held in the village hall and explained exactly what we were doing, and responded to their concerns.
BIOGEN Twinwoods Digesters
7. Where is this process currently being used, and are there plans to take it to new locations? What are your hopes for Biogen over the next few years?
Our first AD plant, Twinwoods, was completed in 2005, and we’ve just received planning permission for 2nd generation plant on Northants border. The new plant will recycle 45,000 tonnes of waste every year, generating enough electricity to power 1,500 homes continually.
We have won a contract to take all household waste from 54,000 homes in mid-Bedfordshire. We are also running trials with Ealing and Luton councils, and we’re looking to roll this process out across the country. We would like it to go national. We’re aiming to grow it to 50 plants by 2012. We work on the proximity principle, establishing the plants close to the waste, so we’re not driving tanker loads of waste across the country. We aim to keep our carbon footprint as low as possible.
It’s so positive to be able to do something that is both economically viable and good for the planet. We’ve all been given this planet and we need to do what we can. It’s exciting to have the opportunity to help; we want to do it well and responsibly.
Looking at life would like to thank Yolanda Ibbett and all at BIOGEN for their co-operation. To find out more about BIOGEN, you can visit their website: www.biogen.co.uk
Photos provided by BIOGEN UK Ltd. Copyright ©2008 BIOGEN. All rights reserved.
Written by Becky Williams. Posted on 24th June.
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