| 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