East London AD facility will generate 14 million m3 of biogas a year
A ‘state-of-the-art’ anaerobic digestion (AD) facility has been opened in East London, which will convert inedible food waste into renewable energy and biofertiliser.
ReFood’s new AD facility in Dagenham was opened in July by Shirley Rodrigues, London’s deputy mayor for environment and energy, and Norbert Rethmann, honorary chairman of the RETHMANN Group Supervisory Board. ReFood aims to use its new site to build on the success of its AD plants in Doncaster and Widnes.
The new facility is capable of processing more than 160,000 tonnes of food waste every year, generating 14 million m3 of biogas, enough to power 12,600 homes per annum.
73,600 tonnes of CO2 will be displaced by the new facility, equivalent to taking 14,431 cars off the road, according to a statement from ReFood. The Dagenham facility will support Transport for London’s Clean Air Action Plan, created by London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan to clamp down on polluting vehicle emissions in the city, by generating biomethane for gas powered vehicles.
“We’re committed to helping drive up London’s recycling rates, as well as making London zero carbon by 2050,” Rodrigues said.
“This new facility, the first of its kind in London, is exactly the type of solution we need to help achieve this. Not only will it deal with London’s food waste, but it will also produce clean biogas to help cut the carbon emissions of the gas grid.”
Philip Simpson, commercial director at ReFood, commented: “Opening ReFood Dagenham comes as part of a strategic ambition to recycle more than one million tonnes of food waste by the end of 2017 – a milestone that we are on track to achieve.”
“Since our first year of production in Doncaster in 2012, national operations have grown by more than 250%. ReFood Dagenham will play an important role in furthering this success, providing an environmentally-friendly waste management solution for customers in London and the surrounding areas.”
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