In the UK, Lancaster University spin-out business, ADTechOptima, is set to tackle long standing problems holding back the biogas-bioenergy sector. The company, formed by researchers from the Lancaster Environment Centre and Lancaster University’s School of Engineering, is focused on developing two groundbreaking anaerobic digestion technologies. Anaerobic digesters convert organic waste, such as food waste and sewage, into biogas for electricity production. There are currently around 650 anaerobic digestion plants in the UK alone. However, many plants under-perform.
By addressing inefficiencies in anaerobic digestion, ADTechOptima’s innovations have the potential to create a significant impact on both energy productivity and waste management. With growing concerns about climate change and the environmental toll of landfill waste, these new technologies, created at Lancaster University, could offer a cleaner, more sustainable solution for the future.
ADTechOptima’s technologies aim to solve two key problems: the underperformance of anaerobic digesters and the quality of the “digestate” produced as part of the process. Digestate is a nutrient-rich substance that can be used as a fertiliser. The first solution the company is developing is an additive that enables digesters to remain operationally reliable at much higher through-puts of organic waste.
Tags: biogas, Lancaster University, UK
Category: Fuels
