ADBA launches AD industry’s first practical guide

The first edition of the Anaerobic Digestion & Biogas Association's practical guide to anaerobic digestion (AD) was launched by its chief executive Charlotte Morton at the industry's annual exhibition yesterday (3 July).


Lauded as the first complete reference tool for those developing and operating AD facilities in the UK, the long-awaited guidance covers every stage of the anaerobic digestion process and is designed to stimulate further growth in what is an expanding sector.

Showcasing best practice, the hands-on guide also provides a wealth of information on planning and permitting, health and safety, digestate standards, feedstock characteristics, design build and commissioning as well as new topic areas such as biomethane injection and use as a transport fuel.

Launching the guide, Morton said: “Supporting a professional and established industry is one of ADBA’s key aims and the guide should help improve access to finance, support good plant operation and raise efficiency at every stage of an AD project, ultimately maximising profitability.”

Developed by industry experts, and supported by the Environment Agency and other industry regulators, the live document will be updated to reflect legislative changes.

Morton told delegates that the guide will also form the basis for more detailed, technical guidance, which is currently being developed. She added that ADBA was also developing a best practice scheme that it hoped AD operators would sign up to.

Speaking to edie, ADBA director Terry Brownhill said that the practical guidance would also be a “saleable document” that UK industry could use to sell the domestic supply chain to overseas markets.

Special adviser at WRAP and a member of the guide’s review team, Claire Kneller, pointed out that food and drinks companies especially would find it a useful guide because many were now looking to send their waste to AD sites or look at on-site operations.

Nick Warburton

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