Anaerobic Digestion (AD)

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the breakdown of grasses and other organic material by micro-organisms, in the absence of oxygen. It produces nutrient-rich digestate, used as a fertiliser, and biogas which is increasingly used as a renewable energy.

Both monocultures such as maize or rye and mixtures like herbal leys have attracted a great deal of interest as a feedstock for AD plants in recent years. The benefits of a herbal ley as a feedstock are its high quality and large yield of the cut material, the lifespan of the ley, the soil improvement benefits and the mitigation of environmental impact which can be associated with AD.

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Date Posted: 18th January 2018