JFS and Iona open £18m AD plant in North Yorkshire

Anaerobic digestion (AD) plant developer JFS & Associates and fund manager Iona Capital have launched a food waste-based AD plant in the UK.

The Leeming Biogas facility in North Yorkshire is one of the largest AD plants in the country to feed gas directly into the national grid.

The £18 million (€21.4m) investment will see food waste from local businesses including R&R Ice Cream, the world’s third largest ice cream manufacturer, converted into green energy rather than being sent to landfill.

The plant will contribute towards the UK government’s targets for reducing landfill and generating sustainable energy by 2020. 

It will consume up to 80,000 tonnes of waste annually and generate enough gas to supply nearly 4,000 homes a year, while processing by-products into agricultural fertiliser.

Matt Flint, director at JFS, said: “The development of this AD plant is the biggest project JFS & Associates has undertaken. The project is a real example of how renewable technology, local resources, and businesses can collaborate with city investors to develop a sustainable and environmentally friendly commercial enterprise.”

 “The plant has helped local businesses cut costs and boost their environmental credentials by partnering with us, and we look forward to exploring further opportunities to increase sustainable energy production in North Yorkshire,” said Mike Dunn, managing partner at Iona Capital.