BiogenGreenfinch hosts ministerial visit
Environment minister, Lord Henley, tours anaerobic digester
27 Jul 2010
Environment minister, Lord Henley recently toured an anaerobic digester in Northamptonshire as the government considers how such technology can provide a green energy boost for Britain.
During the fact-finding trip, Lord Henley was shown how the plant transforms out-of-date supermarket food into electricity.
BiogenGreenfinch's Westwood plant, near Rushden, can process 45,000 tonnes of food waste each year which generates enough electricity to power nearly 3,000 homes. Most of the electricity is sold to the National Grid.
Lord Henley said: “I've seen first-hand how food scraps and out-of-date supermarket food is a valuable resource that can generate energy - rather than rubbish to be thrown away.”
BiogenGreenfinch CEO Richard Barker said: “We were pleased Lord Henley could see the potential of this innovative technology for himself. Anaerobic digestion is the greenest solution for dealing with food waste and we believe that it significantly contributes to both the government's landfill diversion and energy targets.”
The government held roundtable talks earlier this month with representatives from business, farming, the financial sector and experts from the anaerobic digestion sector to discuss how to move forward with the plans.
Defra and DECC will jointly draw up an action plan by the autumn, looking at the economic capacity for the anaerobic digestion industry.