Project Manager Neil Hunter and FDC Leader Alan Melton cut the ribbon at Local Generation's anaerobic digestion plant.
GALLERY: How food waste is turned into electricity at Fenland’s first anaerobic digestion plant
Story by: ROB SETCHELL, Reporter
Thursday, September 6, 2012
4:50 PM
TRADITION dictates that a red ribbon is cut at grand openings, but it was a green one that was snipped to celebrate the launch of Fenland’s first anaerobic digestion plant.
Project Manager Neil Hunter and FDC Leader Alan Melton cut the ribbon at Local Generation's anaerobic digestion plant.Councillor Alan Melton, leader of Fenland District Council, and Neil Hunter, engineering and projects director who managed the construction of the plant, officially opened the facility in Westry, near March.
The opening marked the end of a five-year journey to design, plan and construct the plant, which has cost almost £7million to date.
Local Generation, a sister company of vegetable processors Fenmarc, has created a plant which is currently transforming 30,000 tonnes of food waste into energy. With further expansion planned, it is hoped that the plant will soon be able to handle 70,000 tonnes.
Since June, the plant has been producing 99 per cent of Fenmarc’s electricity. It also feeds power to the National Grid.
The opening of Local Generation's anaerobic digestion plant in March.Yesterday, the plant produced 19MW of electricity - enough to provide power for 1,300 homes.
Cllr Melton told today’s launch that he was proud to have such an environmentally friendly facility in March.
“I was quite surprised when I heard it had been five years since we first discussed this,” he said. “I remember the excitement then and this is the result of that excitement.
“We’re very proud of the way that you have been prepared to invest in Fenland and I hope others follow your example.
The opening of Local Generation's anaerobic digestion plant in March.“We’re also very pleased to see that you have taken on an apprentice because we’re really keen to introduce engineering skills such as this to young people in Fenland.”
COUNCILLORS, company staff and guests took a tour around the plant to gain an insight into how food waste is turned into energy.
They were shown the “reception hall” where lorries currently tip 400 tonnes of food waste a week onto the floor.
The opening of Local Generation's anaerobic digestion plant in March. The "reception hall" where food waste is dropped off.The food is scooped up by a JCB - nicknamed “Bessie” by Local Generation staff - and put into a dissolver, or as marketing manager Dawn Terry describes it “a big smoothie maker”.
Normally about 10 per cent of the waste is filtered out as packaging, with the remaining food turned into a slurry ready for the anaerobic digestion process.
The slurry is first transported into a “buffer tank” where it is stirred for six days, breaking down the proteins, carbohydrates and fats.
It passes through three pasteuriser tanks, where it is heated up and cooled down. It then enters the digestion tank - nicknamed “Darcy” by staff - where it spends 16-and-a-half days.
The opening of Local Generation's anaerobic digestion plant in March. Neil Hunter, Project Manager.The raw material is slowly transformed into a methane gas, which filters into the 17metre-tall biodome and onto the engines to create electricity.
The process also creates “liquid digestate” and compost, which are used on Fenland fields to help growth.
NEIL Hunter told visitors that building work started at the plant in the freezing temperatures of January last year.
The opening of Local Generation's anaerobic digestion plant in March.“It was a long year,” he joked.
“It was about -18C at one point. If you look closely, someone actually managed to lose a boot during the early work so there is a boot in the foundations.
“It was so cold that the ignitions were freezing on the machines. We figured out if you microwaved a potato and put it on the ignition, it kept it warm long enough for you to go to lunch.”
Mr Hunter recalled the day when staff worked until late into the night to inflate the gas bag of the towering biodome.
The opening of Local Generation's anaerobic digestion plant in March.“Now it looks like the moon has fallen from the sky,” he said. “I think it is quite a feature on the landscape.”
Phase two of the plant’s construction will see a third engine installed, with a water treatment facility, a “liquid reception area” and an additional pasteurisation tank also added.
Latest News See all
- Surprise defeat for council’s Lib Dem leader once derided by former council leader as akin to being ‘savaged by a cotton bud”
- Multi cultural international children’s festival offers “positive safe alternative” to anti immigration protest across town
- Protest organiser says UKIP withdrew from anti immigration rally for fear media would use their presence as “racist propaganda”
- Social campaigner Victoria Gillick -and wife of new UKIP councillor - tells anti immigration rally Britain becoming “alcohol soaked nation”
- GALLERY: All quiet on the Wisbech front as anti-immigration protest passes peacefully in front of 300
Multimedia
More News
- Surprise defeat for council’s Lib Dem leader once derided by former council leader as akin to being ‘savaged by a cotton bud”
- Multi cultural international children’s festival offers “positive safe alternative” to anti immigration protest across town
- Protest organiser says UKIP withdrew from anti immigration rally for fear media would use their presence as “racist propaganda”
- Social campaigner Victoria Gillick -and wife of new UKIP councillor - tells anti immigration rally Britain becoming “alcohol soaked nation”
- GALLERY: All quiet on the Wisbech front as anti-immigration protest passes peacefully in front of 300
- Cromwell Community College pupils receive coaching from three England cricket internationals
- Wisbech student comes second in national fitness instructor competition
- Russian musical tradition comes to Fenland, with a visit by the St Petersburg Blagovest Ensemble
- Rare steam vehicles to create a spectacle at Prickwillow Drainage Engine Museum
- Ely and District Model Railway Club annual exhibition
Letters
What's On
Wisbech Standard
Retailer List
ADVERTISEMENT
3 comments
I live somewhat closer to the AD plant than the other resident and have to say the stench from your so called enviromentally friendly plant has resulted in me being physically sick on occasions. I have the smell in every part of my house, even on the hottest of days i have to keep the windows and doors closed and even then everywhere stinks. I thought this was just a one off, after all the old effluent plant used to have bad days but this is revolting. I have lost all the pleasure i used to have with living out of town with the countryside on my doorstep. so much for having a garden i can enjoy, i cannot bear the smell enough to use it. Its costing me a fortune on airfreshners to keep it pleasent enough even to spend the evening there and as for getting a decent sleep - forget it. For any environmental health or people that do not believe me stand anywhere near the hand car wash and INHALE deeply, be prepared to feel extremely sick especially if having eaten. Sort it out you are making my life a misery and even if i was in a position to move, who the hell whould want to buy a house there at the moment. Thanks 'Local generation' for making my house worthless!!
Report this comment
Another Westry Resident
Friday, September 7, 2012
Dear Neighbour Over the last couple of weeks we have had feedback that there is an unpleasant odour emanating from the vicinity of our AD plant. We want to provide a pleasant environment for both our colleagues and our neighbours therefore we have been reviewing odour control on our site which as far as we are aware has not been a problem during our first 10 months of running. Acting on the advice of specialist odour control companies, we have now identified a number of potential solutions. We have already implemented many of the solutions and will continue to implement the remaining necessary remedial fixes they have suggested to help alleviate this problem as soon as possible. The Environment Agency is also working with us and advising us. In the meantime if you do notice any odours in your area please make a note of the time and location and then contact Alan Fouracres by email to alan.fouracres@localgeneration.co.uk and let him know. This will enable us to map the areas on the Wisbech Road most affected and help us tailor a better solution. We would like to thank you for your patience and understanding whilst we work towards a speedy resolution to the recent odour problems. We are in the process of organising biannual community visits to enable neighbours to come and visit the plant, understand how it works, hear about new initiatives for the plant including odour control as well as an opportunity to ask questions. We will be publicising further details to our neighbours over the next few days.
Report this comment
Alan Fouracres
Friday, September 7, 2012
All very well and good but im not sure that the people living in close vacinity of this new "creation" share the enthusiasm of the project. l live a quarter of a mile from it and the stench of rotting vegtables every day is beginning to get annoying, i feel sorry for anyone living even closer! As soon as the wind lays in our direction the smell just overpowers everything, a lot of locals have complained due the smell and something really has to be done about it!
Report this comment
westry resident
Friday, September 7, 2012