MT-ENERGIE COMMISSIONS 1.2 MW FOOD WASTE TO BIOGAS AD PLANT FOR UK VEG FARMER

MT-Energie UK, the UK subsidiary of German biogas technology supplier MT-Energie, has completed biological and mechanical commissioning of its second anaerobic digestion facility to recycle food waste in the UK

The company explained that the project located in the village of Herriard, Hampshire, has been delivered on behalf of Barfoot Energy Projects, a part of UK fresh vegetable farming and processing operation, Barfoots Group.

MT-Energie said that the new biogas facility follows the success of its first food waste facility developed with Barfoot on the south coast of England, which won the Best AD project award from the British Anaerobic Digestion & Biogas Association’s (ADBA) national competition.

Following commissioning the facility is now said to producing 1.2 MW of electrical energy which is supplied to the grid.

The new plant processes separated organic wastes based on shop returns, and expired or wrongly labelled food, which is de-packaged, processed and pasteurized on site.

For additional efficiency, MT-Energie explained that the packaging is also washed to ensure minimal loss of organics, while making the packaging materials easier to recycle. The wash water is completely reused in the AD process.

“This has been a challenging project with many lessons learnt, but continues the development of our experience in this sector,” commented Julian Marks, Barfoot’s managing director.

The new facility will also help Barfoot as it moves towards its target of sending zero waste to landfill and reducing the carbon footprint of the group as a whole.