Posted: 17 December, 2021. Written by Olivia Furssedonn
REAL are thrilled to announce that the second project of the Research Hub 'To develop a 'data pack' on the properties, characteristics, and content of digestate that will provide context for the development of new uses of outputs from Anaerobic Digesters' is complete, and the project outputs are now available for access.
REAL have been working closely with Solidsense Ltd, the project contractor, to bring the project to fruition.
The project outputs include a standalone digestate ‘data pack’ report and a separate digestate valorisation report.
The ‘data pack’ acts as a reference point for UK digestate characteristics. It comprehensively reports key positive and negative characteristics of UK digestates produced from different feedstock types. Specialist laboratory analysis was carried out, focussing on microplastic analysis and dewaterability of digestates derived from food waste processes.
Digestate dewaterability results are included within the valorisation report alongside valorisation options that are at Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 7 or higher, meaning they have been demonstrated under ‘real world’ conditions. The report also presents a roadmap for digestate valorisation in the UK that outlines ‘waypoints’ - areas of focus for regulators, policy makers and the anaerobic digestion industry.
The project outputs are timely and will be useful tools during the revision of the AD Quality Protocol and the UK's fertiliser regulations. Further, the outputs will assist AD operators in valuing their digestates when marketing them to land managers in the farming sector.
Our BCS and CCS operators, as well as government, will have access to the reports free of charge. For other industry members, there is a fee applicable, the details of which can be found here.
If you would like to receive a copy of the project outputs, please email olivia@realschemes.org.uk, Research Hub Manager (Cc'ing info@realschemes.org.uk), to request the files. The project outputs will be emailed to you in PDF format.
If you are required to pay the fee, it will be a one-off cost. All recipients of the project outputs will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement before the documents are released.
For fuller details on the project, please visit the Research Hub website here. The Press Release associated with this project can be found below.
Thank you,
The Research Hub