17 July 2020
10.00 – 11.20
This event will allow you to find out about:
- Manure slurry biogas collection technology
- The income opportunities and other wide-ranging benefits
- Understand the regulatory implications and potential future drivers
- Hear from those involved in developing and managing projects
Dairy farms produce a lot of biogas from their manure which typically just goes to waste, but the biomethane it contains could be used to power a range of on-site activities and generate additional income for the farm business. Anaerobic digesters are one way of collecting this gas but are expensive and can involve substantial management. A simpler, potentially more profitable approach is to collect the biogas emitted from a slurry pit/lagoon that would otherwise escape to the atmosphere as fugitive emissions. This approach has the additional benefits of facilitating compliance with planned future regulations around slurry pit emissions and improving the overall environmental impact of the business. This alternative method can be particularly attractive to smaller farms, of which there are many across Devon.
Biogas is produced by organic matter as it breaks down and decays. Capturing it from manure slurry and extracting the biomethane means it can be used to generate electricity, burnt to produce heat for space heating and hot water, or even power vehicles such as lorries and tractors. This could all be on-site, or the gas could be sold commercially to a third-party for income.
For example, dairy farms with 75 cows could potentially earn around £11,500 per annum, whilst simultaneously saving over £10,000 on fertiliser bills and 2.6 tonnes of carbon emissions; 250 cows could yield over £23,000 while saving £35,000 on fertiliser and 8.9 tonnes of carbon. The farming sector is under pressure to reduce their carbon emissions and Slurry Pit BioGas Collection could play an important positive response to this challenge.
The session includes a presentation from Bennamann Ltd on their pioneering slurry pit/lagoon biogas collection projects in Cornwall. There they are trialling biomethane tractors and also the collection of slurry pit gas to be sold to Cormac for use in their road repair vehicles.
This webinar is part of the AgroRES project which is funded by Interreg Europe and aims to develop measures that encourage the production and use of renewable energy in the agricultural and rural sector. AgroRES will support the sector by solving its energy needs in a sustainable, economic viable and socially responsible way.
Speakers include:
- David Ball, Senior Manager – Environment & Buildings at AHDB and Director at Resource Consulting (SCI) Ltd
- Ben Derrington, Head of Business Risk & Regulation, Ashfords
- Tom Taylor, Operations Manager, Bennamann
- Sam Hinton, Technical Support Manager, Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA)
Agenda
- 10:00: Welcome and introduction
- 10:10: What and Why of Slurry Pit Gas Collection – David Ball
- 10:25: Regulations and Policy – Sam Hinton
- 10:40: Legal aspects and Safety – Ben Derrington
- 10:55: Chynoweth Farm Case Study – Tom Taylor
- 11:10: Q&A
- 11:20: Close
Any questions please email kate.granger@devon.gov.uk
