Anaerobic digestion (AD) is a biological process similar in many ways to composting, but without air. It is a natural treatment process and, as in composting, bacteria break down organic matter and reduce its bulk or “mass”. Its huge advantage is that it produces a gas called biogas which is just over 15% methane, and a clean-burning gas with huge potential for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.
JPP Consulting were involved from the outset with Fernbrook Bio assisting with overall plant layout, waste entry, treatment and storage of by-products. We contoured the site to provide the necessary containment bunds in the event of spillage. Any spillage will also trigger the designed/ detailed fail safe site drainage layouts.
We designed the steel frame structure, which includes pits and jib arms for sorting the waste and push walls for removal/ loading of the fertiliser by-product. The structure was designed to incorporate all the mechanical and electrical plant used to generate electricity from the biogas to feed back into the national grid.