A smooth commissioning phase followed by a stable operational period, delivering the return predicted in the business model, is in reality a fairly unlikely series of events. In fact, the UK AD industry is currently operating at an average load factor of 73%1. To put this into context, a 1 MWe plant running at 70% efficiency is losing a potential income of £1,000 per day, even before factoring in feedstock costs.
Fortunately, there are some simple steps that AD operators can take to increase their output – and their profits. Adrian Rochefort of specialist AD consultancy FM BioEnergy gives his top five tips for boosting your biogas yield…
Take professional biological advice
There are several reasons why your gas output could be lower than expected: from poor feedstock management, to trace element deficiency or inhibition of the biological metabolic process. Every digester is different and you won’t be able to remedy the situation until you know what’s causing it.
A specialist biological assessment of your plant will allow you to determine the cause of reduced gas production, and the best remedial action to take to bring the biology back to full health and quickly restore gas output. We offer a free initial biological assessment, enabling you to make an informed decision and avoid the ‘trial and error’ approach to increasing your biogas yield.
Select the right diet
The best performing plants are those which are designed around their feedstock – not the other way around. After all, there’s little point investing in a digester designed to operate on 100% maize if you are in the north of England, where maize is difficult to grow.
This story is from the April 2020 edition of Farming Monthly National.
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This story is from the April 2020 edition of Farming Monthly National.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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