First AD plant certified under new performance scheme

A food waste-to-energy plant in Wiltshire has become the first in England to be certified under the Anaerobic Digestion Certification Scheme (ADCS).

The Bore Hill Farm Biodigester in Warminster, Wiltshire is run by Malaby Biogas and processes inedible food waste to create biofertiliser and renewable heat and power. According to a statement it generates enough electricity to power 2,500 houses.

Designed to recognise good operational, environmental and health and safety performance at UK AD plants, the ACDS is managed by the UK’s Anaerobic Digestion & Bioresources Association (ADBA). It strives to provide an independent process and report that help stakeholders including regulators, insurers, investors and operators.

Bore Hill Farm is the second AD facility certified under the scheme, following Granville EcoPark in Northern Ireland earlier this year.

“I am very proud of the work our staff have put in to enable us to achieve certification so smoothly,” said Thomas Minter, director of Malaby Biogas.

“Seeing regulators and insurers so actively involved in the development of the ADCS has been encouraging and now we have the basis for them to help in supporting and promoting the scheme across the industry. This is a milestone we are proud of.” 

Aardvark Certification is the official certification body for the ADCS. The company’s director, Nick Johnn, lauded the example set by Malaby Biogas, highlighting the plant’s ‘high standards’ in design and construction, and operational practices to minimise health and safety and environmental risks.

“We are delighted to be able to issue certification to the ADCS to Malaby Biogas in recognition of the efforts they have put into ensuring their operations meet the high standards set by the scheme criteria. We are pleased that they have been able to realise the benefits available to AD operators in the UK through achieving certification to the ADCS,” Minter said.