The Prince's Mayday Network

Harper Adams - Energy & Carbon savings through Anaerobic Digestion

Introduction

BITC members Harper Adams is firmly committed to developing and sharing knowledge of renewable technologies and how they can be used to the wider benefit of the agri-food sector. Having won numerous awards, in recognition of their work to develop and run the new anaerobic digestion system on campus.

 

Process

What and How:

In November, Harper Adams University College won the Times Higher Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Development.

 

The £3 million-plus Harper Adams anaerobic digestion unit was constructed thanks to funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England’s Revolving Green Fund, project partner E.ON Energy, and BiogenGreenfinch, which supplied the plant. Renewable electricity is produced from food and farm waste and provides a highly effective waste management system, which is anticipated to offset campus carbon emissions more than three times over. Other by-products of the AD process include liquid fertiliser and compost, which can be used in the University College’s farms and grounds operations, reducing reliance on manufactured fertilisers.

 

Patrick Finch, bursar and director of estates at the University of Bristol one of the judges, said: "Harper Adams has produced a groundbreaking project. While this has been trialled before, the judges felt that the work on developing a system that would produce a step change in carbon management at the college had the potential for wider application in the higher education community and in the farming sector. Energy and carbon savings, reduction in waste to landfill and release of farmland for growing food crops together present a compelling case."

 

Last March Harper Adams hosted a Mayday Workshop with BITC’s West Midlands Team showcasing their anaerobic digestion system to other businesses. Paul Moran, Estates and Facilities Manager at Harper Adams is also a member of the Mayday Climate Change Leaders Group in the West Midlands. To find out more please follow the link.