ANAEROBIC DIGESTER INSTALLED FOR DAIRY FARM

CUMBRIAN BASED DAIRY FARM PROVIDES SOURCE OF GREEN ENERGY FOR LOCALS

7%

SAVINGS FROM ENERGY PROCUREMENT

5%

SAVINGS IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

ABOUT

THE CLIENT

Andrew Miller comes from a long line of dairy farmers who have been farming in the Aspatria area of Cumbria for over 300 years and have established several successful businesses, one of which is supplying and distributing nationwide. 

INDUSTRY

SERVICES DELIVERED

Challenge

ENSURING STABLE INCOME WITH ANAEROBIC DIGESTER

Constructing and commissioning an anaerobic digester was the natural expansionary step in securing a stable and guaranteed income in what is a common challenge for all dairy farmers. The 500KWh digester was commissioned in June 2016 and draws on feedstocks across different areas of the farm such as maize and silage grass from the open fields and slurry from the dairy herd. 

solution

ENHANCING SUSTAINABILITY WITH EXPANDING MARKET OPPORTUNITIES

The fully commissioned AD plant has opened a range of new market opportunities for the farm and facilitated the expansion of the business. The digestate output is dried, then reused for bedding the farms cattle during the winter months. Some of this after it comes out of the sheds is put back through the digester as a feedstock, the reminder is spread back on the land and is a very useful source of fertiliser. The dried digestate replaces straw which in the past was previously bought in, this makes a huge saving for the farm. 

The Miller’s wider place as a green enterprise has been solidified by the recent installation of a 3MW ground source heat pump. Electricity generated by the digester provides the pump with enough energy to start heating underground water pipes which can then warm the cow sheds through the cold Cumbrian winters and generate electricity exported to the grid. Through further investment into renewable energy, the farm shows their commitments to sustainability whilst maximising energy efficiency. 

The AD plants export volume has been consistent in the first half of the year and is in a solid position going into winter 2019. The Miller’s AD plant can power 910 households with electricity and could meet of the domestic energy demand for the local town of Aspatria. The plant is of great importance to the local area as a green source of energy, capable of delivering base-load electricity. 

results

SUSTAINABLE WASTE MANAGEMENT FOR FARM

The Millers' diversified enterprise can now deliver ‘clean’ electricity to the national grid, whilst creating a sustainable waste management solution on the farm.