Anaerobic digestion: the new portal

Anaerobic digestion (AD) reduces waste and produces renewable energy, but until now information on AD has been spread over different organisations and websites. England's Official Information Portal on Anaerobic Digestion brings together all the information about AD onto one website.

Anaerobic digestion is the process where plant and animal material is converted into useful products by micro-organisms in the absence of air. Waste that would have been sent to landfill or left to rot is digested (usually inside a tank) where naturally occurring micro-organisms convert the waste into a fuel, called biogas, and fertiliser, called digestate.

Biogas is mostly methane and it can be used to produce power or added to the national gas grid just like natural gas. Digestate is the residue of the AD process. Nothing goes to waste in AD – the digestate is rich in nutrients so can be used as a fertiliser.

AD has important benefits for the environment; it turns wastes into a resource by diverting them from landfill, it produces local, low carbon energy, and it produces a replacement for chemical fertiliser made from fossil fuels. But finding comprehensive, independent information about AD has been time consuming and frustrating because it comes from so many organisations and websites.

The new AD Portal saves users time because it brings together access to the essential introductory information as well as details of where to find specialist advice. The website lets users find the information most relevant to them, whether a member of the public, a local government planner or a farmer.

The AD Portal was developed by the NNFCC.

About the NNFCC

The National Non-Food Crops Centre (NNFCC) is the UK's national centre for renewable fuels, materials and technologies. It provides independent advice and information to industry, Government and the general public.

Websites: http://www.biogas-info.co.uk