When managing an anaerobic digestion site, there are many stakeholders to be considered during operational activities. These stakeholders have an invested interest in establishing that regulations and guidance, are being consistently followed for effective management of negative environmental impacts.
One of these stakeholders being the Environment Agency, who assess anaerobic digestion sites under the environmental permitting scheme. Depending on the nature of the sites activities, it will either operate under a standard permit, bespoke permit or permit exemption. These permits or exemptions can vary in a multitude of ways, depending on the size and uniqueness of your process.
As well as the operational side of anaerobic digestion , the permit obligation also relates to the storage and removal of digestate from site. For waste fed operations, the site will partake in meeting PAS110 specifications and or pasteurisation of the digestate. This enables effective storage and spreading of the by-product digestate without deployment permits and forms being required. This allows the operator to have more freedom surrounding removals, as well as reduced costs.
Sites feeding animal by-products must also consider additional animal and plant health agency approval, some categories of animal by-products may require pre- pasteurisation before use.
As well as considering the sites feedstock type, digestate storage and off take, AD operators must also consider the following,
- Feedstock Storage (SSAFO regulations)
- Duty Of Care for Import or Export Waste
- Contamination to Waterways or Land
- Emissions Parameters to be Followed
- Regular Maintenance and Inspections to Avoid System Failure
- Adequate Bunding as per CIRIA Regulations
- Leak and Gas Detection Systems
- Effective Management of the Biological Process (Controlling H2S Levels)
Within the Adapt Biogas team there is a pool of experienced and qualified personnel. This includes WAMITAB certificate holders, who effectively manage a rigid and effective process for identification, assessment, management, reporting, review and monitoring compliance.
The Company is committed to constantly improving its environmental performance. We will measure control and where practicable reduce emissions, whilst still optimising energy. We will focus primarily on the aspects of your operations with the greatest potential for environmental impact. New investments in plant and operations, will incorporate the best environmental techniques to meet best practice.
