Farmers pointed to energy benefits under tougher nitrate rules
Thursday 04 September 2008
Farmers facing new rules on storing manure could turn a potential burden into an opportunity by using anaerobic digestion systems to turn the organic matter into renewable energy.
That was the suggestion of ministers today, as they published revised regulations that aim to cut the amount of nitrates from fertilisers escaping into British rivers.
Nitrate Vulnerable Zones designated in 1996 and 2002, pictured here respectively as blue and pink areas, are being extended again. Anaerobic digestion could be an answer for farmers facing new storage requirements
Outside these limited periods, Defra said today that if farmers store their manure within anaerobic digestion facilities, they could get an added bonus of income from the sale of renewable energy generated.
The anaerobic digestion process, which involves microbes feeding on the organic material to emit a biogas that can be burned to generate power or tapped off to use as a transport fuel, would still leave farmers with an organic residue that can be used as a fertiliser.
Energy directly generated from the anaerobic digestion process can be sold at the wholesale electricity price as well as qualifying for extra subsidies under the Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) system.
"Important"
Phil Woolas, Defra's Minister of State for climate change, energy and sustainable development, said: "There's a really important debate to be had on an expanding role for anaerobic digestion, and its potential contribution to manure management. I am already in discussion with farming groups and other interested sectors about how we address the barriers to its increased take up."
The Nitrate Pollution Prevention Regulations will extend the areas of England designated as "Nitrate Vulnerable Zones" to 70% of the country.
Farmers within such zones are required to limit their use of fertilizers, and under the new rules cannot use more than 170 kg per hectare of nitrogen from livestock manures.
Defra has already championed anaerobic digestion through last year's Waste Strategy and this year's draft Renewable Energy Strategy, and met with industry in July to find out how to drive investment into the technology (see this New Energy Focus story).
A follow-up meeting is expected to be held later this year. The Department sees the technology as a useful source of renewable energy as well as a treatment option for agricultural and food waste.
Mr Woolas said: "Anaerobic digestion is an exciting and innovative technology, and it is clear we are not making full use of its potential. I know from talking to the farming industry that there are barriers to enabling its wider take up by farmers and that's something I have promised to look at."
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