Farming Monthly National April 2017 | Page 35

| Energy Alltech launches first biogas solution DIGEST P3 Allowing farmers to capture savings and efficiency while protecting the environment, Alltech’s step into biogas is a natural fit given company’s expertise in fermentation. s fossil fuels deplete at astounding rates, biogas production is fast becoming an alternative source of economic and renewable energy. Alltech’s new product, DIGEST P3, improves the profitability of anaerobic digestion by optimising biogas productivity. The product is an enzyme complex produced by the breakdown of organic matter through a process called solid state fermentation, with production similar to that of yeast fermentation. Since Alltech has nearly 40 years’ experience in the fermentation of yeast for both the animal health and brewing industries, biogas fermentation is a logical next chapter for the company. Through mastery of solid state fermentation techniques, Alltech can produce A enzymes economically and pass this cost savings along to customers. “This is exciting. This is why I love what I do,” said Dr. Pearse Lyons, founder and president of Alltech. “We have taken our expertise and decades of knowledge in fermentation and applied them to the development of DIGEST P3. Remember, efficiency on the farm is what we are experts in. Alltech is all about adding value and efficiency and bringing sustainable solutions to market. Dealing with waste, while at the same time producing renewable energy, is simply another way we are using innovative and ground-breaking technologies to solve our customers’ issues.” The product works with methane-generating microflora to help break down feedstock components previously inaccessible through digestion. This enhanced feed breakdown allows for more readily available energy and protein for the microflora, resulting in additional biogas volumes from the same amount of feed input. DIGEST P3 allows for flexibility in feedstock formulation through the inclusion of byproducts and alternative raw materials. “We are working with customers to optimise the flexibility offered by this technology,” said Niall Brennan, biogas project manager at Alltech. “We are seeing some customers reduce their feedstock inputs and maintain their gas outputs. It is very encouraging to see the range of benefits the product offers Alltech customers.” Alltech has just completed a re search trial with Harper Adams University in England to identify optimum performance-enhancing additives. The trial was run utilising the product in commercial plants across Europe. In the trial, DIGEST P3’s additional feed breakdown led to increased biogas production, reduced feed costs, reduced power consumption and uplifts in operating profit. “We are working with customers to optimise the flexibility offered by this technology” “Since implementation, many of our customers have witnessed significant improvement in substrate efficiency,” said Brennan. “This allows our customers to decrease the amount of substrates they input each day, yet maintain a consistent energy output.” Novalux produce heat and power - without the faff Combined heat and power (CHP) has seemed like the holy grail of renewable energy, yet despite the hype, the industry has had problems integrating it into standard practise. Touting gasification CHP as a ‘Labour of love’ is simply not good enough, but where does that leave those wanting to generate heat and electricity at the same time? he best ideas are often the simplest, which we’ve seen time and again with biomass. Yet to keep up with the demands of the energy industry and fluctuating future wood prices the technology needs an upgrade. To ensure your renewable system is up to the mark Novalux Energy have co- designed a WID compliant biomass boiler which can burn B and C grade wood without creating excess emissions. Currently only 60% of waste wood can be recycled or used, meaning you could even be paid to dispose of C grade. Through government incentives A 1MW biomass boiler can earn you £200,000 per annum for the next 20 years. But what about power? We have been able to harness heat and turn it into electricity for years with organic rankine cycle (ORC), so the technology has done its due diligence, it just hasn’t been on a scale accessible for smaller energy requirements. Now ORC can be added on to a 150KWth biomass boiler to generate power at a scale of 10:1. T www.farmingmonthly.co.uk Though gasification does still have its place for those with equally large heat and power requirements, ORC allows you to tap into both the biomass and CHP tariff without the stress of maintaining problematic gasification units. A huge benefit to the technology comes from the simple design. As ORC creates power from excess heat, it has no additional running costs when attached onto a biomass boiler. It can be installed through a bespoke system or the unit can be retrofitted to your existing boiler (creating a new 20 year income stream). It’s rare to have such an all- encompassing technology and hard to believe the extent of the benefits, but Novalux Energy has put their money where their mouth is and set up their own waste wood biomass ORC power station in Caerphilly, South Wales. If you would like to find out more about the technology – or just see it in action – give us a call on 01600 463 008 or email kgadsby@novaluxenergy.com. Tariff rates continue to change so choose ORC now and secure your income for the next 20 years. April 2017 | Farming Monthly | 35