A County Durham anaerobic digestion (AD) plant is set to expand to increase the amount of food waste it handles to transform into energy.
Warrens Emerald Biogas currently has the capacity to power more than 21,000 local homes a year by processing up to 115,000 tonnes of food waste. Over the festive period, however, as millions of mince pies, brussels sprouts, uneaten turkeys and Christmas puddings ended up on the scrap heap around the UK, the Newton Aycliffe firm collected a substantial portion of food waste and turned it into sustainable biomethane gas and electricity.
The site, part of Bio Capital Group, generates around 20 GWh of green electricity and 79 GWh of biomethane gas annually, which it feeds directly into the local grids to provide heat and power to regional homes and businesses. It also fuels its collection vehicle fleet with its biomethane.
