Anaerobic Digestion summary

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is crucially important to Low Carbon’s efforts to encourage profitable, long-term investment in renewable energy technology.

Landfill sites now account for much of our biodegradable waste. Once introduced to landfill, however, biodegradables release methane, a gas inseparably linked to the greenhouse effect and global warming.

With anaerobic digestion treatment (AD), landfills are bypassed and organic waste, or feedstock, is broken down by micro-organisms in the absence of oxygen. The resulting biogas is used to generate energy.

Through a focused national programme of project development and operation, Low Carbon’s affiliate partner Tamar Energy plays a vital role in delivering AD.

 

Tamar Energy

Established in 2012, Tamar Energy aims to become the UK’s leading AD developer and operator. The firm is targeting 100MW of renewable energy – enough to power more than 200,000 homes – via a UK-wide pipeline of AD plants.

Tamar Energy operates three facilities: at Basingstoke, Hampshire; Holbeach, Lincolnshire; and Retford, Nottinghamshire. The firm is also developing two more: in Halstead, Essex (late stage) and Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire.

Since AD is based on the safe, cost-effective disposal of domestic and commercial organic waste, its developers naturally benefit from a steady supply of fuel. Tamar Energy obtains feedstock from households, restaurants, the food-processing industry and agriculture, all of which sources can amply meet demand for biodegradable waste, with negligible impact on environment and community.

Development of scale is enabled by institutional funding of £97 million. Among Tamar’s principal co-investors are RIT Capital Partners plc, Fajr Capital, Duchy of Cornwall, J Sainsbury plc, Ludgate Investments and Sustainable Technology Investments (Guernsey) Ltd.

For more information on Tamar Energy, please visit www.tamar-energy.com