Dark Green Group to build UK fleet of AD plants in urban locations

Dark Green Group, an independent renewables developer, has unveiled plans to be the first company in the UK to build a fleet of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants in urban locations.
It is developing up to 12 AD plants over the next five years, on urban industrial sites, which together could process over 700,000 tonnes of organic waste per year and power up to 80,000 homes with green gas.
Dark Green has identified six sites where it aims to put in planning applications this year, and a potential for a further six beyond 2025.
Its first phase of projects include developments at a former industrial site in Birmingham – at Tyseley Energy Park, a major public-private urban regeneration scheme - and at a number of manufacturing campuses in Yorkshire. All the developments will include heat, power and hydrogen production.
The proposed AD plants will convert food waste into green gas for homes and business use, helping local councils meet their Net Zero ambitions, and creating jobs in their construction and operation.
The government has identified concerns about the emissions from existing waste incinerators and announced on 30 December that it is tightening restrictions on planning applications for them.
Dark Green’s plans are also a response to the changes in food waste regulations that come into effect this year, with all non-household premises in England required to separate food waste and arrange for its separate collection. This will mean 4.75 million tonnes of food waste will be diverted from general waste streams and will need to be processed separately.
Charlie Clay, chief executive of Dark Green Group said: “Modern, urban anaerobic digestion can be a lynchpin in the energy transition as it offers a multitude of benefits for homes and businesses. From the processing of organic waste, we will produce clean, green and secure energy supplied directly to industry and business locally, and for household use. Our solution is a leading example of the ‘circular economy’.”