New bioenergy gas plant for UK

Construction has begun on a new bioenergy plant in Stockport, UK, which will convert food waste into gas, providing about 1,400 homes with renewable gas in the north west of England.

The plant will run on organic material taken from hotels, restaurants and offices in the surrounding area and is scheduled to open in April 2012.

The facility is expected to cost about £5 million (€5.8 million) to build and British Gas and Bio Group have signed a partnership for the development.

Steve Sharratt, CEO of Bio Group, says: ‘Fairfield Bio Energy has been designed using our groundbreaking technology as the next stage of a national roll out of anaerobic digestion plants. This will make a real difference to the future use of renewable gas usage across Greater Manchester.’

Gearóid Lane, MD of Communities and New Energy, British Gas, adds: ‘This project will be the third renewable gas facility we’ve opened, coming hot on the heels of our partnerships with Thames Water and Scotia Gas Networks and Adnams Bio Energy.’

SKK Waste Solutions will collect the waste, some of which will be turned into biomethane which will contribute to the gas grid, delivering renewable heat to households and through existing gas network and central heating boilers.

By 2020, about 15% of the domestic gas market could be derived from developments such as these, National Grid estimates.

The partnership also launched a green scheme earlier this year to guarantee customers that the gas they are purchasing is ‘green’. The Green Gas Certification Scheme (GGCS) works by tracking biomethane through the supply chain for customers and has been development alongside the Renewable Energy Association.