Anaerobic digesters

[thesilentone]

Doubt the global data figures take into account the huge distances some of these guys are hauling the stuff. Probably a statisticians best guesstimate.

What does it matter how far they haul it ? It is nothing compared to how far food is hauled, sometimes from the other side of the world .

Worth a browse: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/fil...ity_criteria_and_feedstock_restrictions_0.pdf

 

[sjt01]

I wonder how much electricity would be produced by using all the diesel burned in growing/feeding/spreading process to just run big diesel generators instead.

It would take twice the amount of diesel that the whole farm - dairy, arable and AD etc to produce the electricity that our digester produces. Mind you, as well as maize (the lower quality that we do not feed the cows) we also use dairy slurry and whey from our cheesemaking.

 

[RAF]

They do create at lot off work which is surely good for the economy ?

 

[Bemo]

What does it matter how far they haul it ? It is nothing compared to how far food is hauled, sometimes from the other side of the world .

Worth a browse: https://www.ofgem.gov.uk/system/fil...ity_criteria_and_feedstock_restrictions_0.pdf

Fair enough, I was just wondering.

 

[thesilentone]

Fair enough, I was just wondering.

You raised a valid point, however we need to look at the whole matter in perspective of how energy production is compared to food production and the carbon footprint of both (we need both).

The criteria above deals with this, when talking about energy crops.

Currently producing maize for energy production is much more profitable than for cattle feed, but, nothing is forever.

We need the UK Government to ban all organic waste going into landfill, however the waste Industry might have a few things to say about that.

Collecting organic waste from food production and restaurants etc is not to difficult, the problem is the cost of rolling out a collection policy for every household.

 

[Goggles]

We have an AD plant near us, which utilises food waste only. We have the digestate spread on OSR ground in the Autumn. It’s like rocket fuel. And there is a theory that it discourages flea beetle.

 

[Blaithin]

Are you near Innisfail?

About half an hour away.

 

[D14]

Energy production is far more important than a cows feed I am afraid. We live in a world where the people running countries need to tick boxes for climate change and renewable energy is just one of those things. Whether its right or not won't be known for 100 years and it will be in the history books as either part of the saviour or a complete waste of time. My grandfather always said to me as a farmer do what the government want you to do and you'll be ok. Today that is producing green energy and entering into stewardship schemes and producing less food so that is what we are doing. Business is good presently.

 

[deere 6600]

I wonder how much electricity would be produced by using all the diesel burned in growing/feeding/spreading process to just run big diesel generators instead.

And build all the wind turbines that only last for 20 years

 

[thesilentone]

And build all the wind turbines that only last for 20 years

How long does a John Deere tractor last ?

 

[76masseyman]

I think this AD plant has had a little issue !!

 

[Hampton]

I don’t understand the process either, but when cattle are fed soya shipped around the world and grass and maize grown in the uk is being ‘digested’ to make subsidised energy you do have to wonder...

That is true, but the soya they are fed is a by-product after the oil etc has been removed. Soya is not grown primarily for the cattle market

 

[Hampton]

If it produces gas, then the gas is used to power the turbines, what are the CO2 emissions from the process?

 

[mixed breed]

Go to the pub and you hear it all, usually its about lugging feedstuff in and the waste out, all to feed, what is basically a power station. Therefore it is not agricultural more industrial, so should be on white fuel and pay commercial rates.
Usually hear how its a twin subsidy game. Bps for the ground used to grow the feed, then a fit payment for the electric produced.

How much of that is true I'm not sure I try not to get too green eyed about it, and those who made the investment certainly seem to be doing well. Even the land agents love them, "your rent is due a rise, and it ought to be this much, because so and so are paying xxx/acre to grow rye for their ad plant....

 

[DRC]

A lot of the economy doesn't work without the tax breaks or the subs tbh.

Like farming mostly

 

[DRC]

As a mainly arable farmer, it’s got to be good to have another market for crops and less land growing wheat and barley for human or animal feed .

 

[thesilentone]

If it produces gas, then the gas is used to power the turbines, what are the CO2 emissions from the process?

The CO2 emissions fall under the clean air act, which is regulated by the Environment Agency in the permit to operate they provide.

 

[thesilentone]

As a mainly arable farmer, it’s got to be good to have another market for crops and less land growing wheat and barley for human or animal feed .

Remember, grain was (and still is) fed to animals due to surplus. The conversion ration is poor, but it is a useful way to control the market. Grain should be eaten by humans.

The debate regarding energy v animal feed is a loser, unless grass is the feed-stock, grass should be fed to cattle.

The need for reducing CO2 and other emissions is focused on energy production as fossil fuels are the worst offenders.

At worst, AD is Carbon Neutral as all the Nutrient is re-cycled.

 

[snipe]

Some ad plants remove the co2 and sell it to fizzy drinks company’s. I was talking to a guy last week that helps with a big (£22million) ad plant in Scotland that removes its co2 and sells it to Schweppes, they have been approached by scania and Volvo that have been trialing some trucks/engines that are meant to be able to run on co2. Think they some how remove the carbon and then use the o2.

 

[DRC]

Some ad plants remove the co2 and sell it to fizzy drinks company’s. I was talking to a guy last week that helps with a big (£22million) ad plant in Scotland that removes its co2 and sells it to Schweppes, they have been approached by scania and Volvo that have been trialing some trucks/engines that are meant to be able to run on co2. Think they some how remove the carbon and then use the o2.

That was mentioned in the piece on countryfile last Sunday .