Construction of a 9.6 million commercial anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in Cornwall started this week, which will be one of the UKs first to produce biomethane and inject the gas straight into the national grid.
Announced today (March 12), Devon-based AD company Greener for Life will operate the plant, which will have the capacity to process more than 35,000 tonnes per year of local commercial food and agricultural waste.
Producing gas and electricity, the plant will supply enough energy to power more than 2,500 homes over its 20-year lifetime. It is expected to be operational in early 2015.
Directors of Greener for Life include experienced AD specialist Michael Chesshire, who is a director at the Renewable Energy Association (REA) and is the former technology director at BiogenGreenfinch. He is also currently a director of AD firm Evergreen Gas and a visiting professor at the University of Southampton.
Commenting on the project, Greener for Life founder and managing director, Winston Reed said: Biomethane has many uses from making electricity, heat, cooking and vehicle fuel. We are now the largest developer of biomethane to grid plants in the UK and are working with companies globally to create wholly sustainable food, fertiliser and energy solutions.
‘We are now the largest developer of biomethane to grid plants in the UK and are working with companies globally to create wholly sustainable food, fertiliser and energy solutions.’
Winston Reed, founder and managing director of Greener for Life
Investment
The project was announced today by waste management investors Eternity Capital, which is fully funding the project through equity.
Members of Eternity Capitals advisory board include former Veolia Environmental Services deputy chief executive, Paul Levett, who is also non-executive chairman at Plasrecycle and a strategic advisor at Closed Loop Recycling.
Former managing director of waste management firm Wyvern Waste Services Ltd, Andrew Olie, also sits on Eternity Capitals advisory board.
Kempton-based AD technology firm F.L.I. Energy Ltd, meanwhile, will be responsible for the turnkey design and construction of the plant under an engineer, procure, construct (EPC) contract.
Alon Laniado, investment director at Eternity Capital said: Eternity Capital is excited to fund this anaerobic digestion facility, which contributes to meeting the twin needs of waste treatment and renewable energy production, using an efficient AD process.
“This is Eternitys second energy from waste investment and reflects Eternity Capitals strategy to invest in a portfolio of such projects, as part of its wider investment focus on waste and environmental services.
According to Eternity Capital, advisors to this deal included Francis Clark LLP which led the fundraising as well as Ashfords LLP, Osborne Clarke LLP, Costain Group PLC and BDO LLP.
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