Bangley Quarry Biogas plant – one of the largest infrastructure projects currently under construction in Scotland – has entered its final build phase as it prepares to deliver renewable gas, biofertiliser and liquefied bio-CO2 to local residents, farmers and industry.
On track for completion in autumn 2024 and with capital investment in excess of £30m, the East Lothian anaerobic digestion (AD) facility will generate 1,100m3 per hour of renewable biomethane – more than enough green gas to supply the nearby town of Haddington’s 10,000-strong population. In addition, it will produce 70,000 tonnes each year of a valuable biofertiliser known as digestate, providing local farmers with a sustainable alternative to fossil-fuel derived synthetic fertilisers. Bangley Quarry Biogas will also become Scotland’s largest producer of liquefied bio-carbon dioxide (CO2), which is essential for use in food and drink production, horticulture and industry.
Employment opportunities
As site owners GFD and SWEN Capital Partners gear up for the ‘go live’ phase of the project, they are now looking to recruit key personnel to help operate and manage the facility, which is situated in a disused quarry at a former brownfield site.
“Bangley Quarry Biogas plant is at the forefront of Scotland’s circular economy and is set to become the showpiece for renewable gas in the country,” says co-owner and founder Marc McElhinney. “We are keen to bring local people on board – as well as a full-time site manager, we are also seeking operational staff, plus a business development manager and a feedstock manager. I’d encourage interested parties to get in touch asap via our website (www.bangleyquarrybiogas.co.uk).”
Benefitting local farmers
The farming community will also benefit heavily from the facility. Crops and farm waste will make up a majority of the feedstock material being converted into renewable gas, while the biofertiliser generated as part of the process will be supplied to nearby farms to aid in the sustainable production of food and break crops.
“This is a project with the local farming community very much at its heart,” says Marc. “We are already working with a number of large East Lothian farmers and growers and are keen to speak to others who have an interest in joining our network, either as suppliers of crops and wastes or as users of our digestate biofertiliser.”
Throughout the project’s development, GFD has worked closely with Scottish recycling experts Forth Resource Management (FRM) to enhance its network of farmer relationships. FRM’s Managing Director, Tommy Dale, comments: “We have been delighted to help our customer base of local farmers get involved in supplying Bangley Quarry Biogas plant with feedstocks. We see the project as a real asset for the local area and an opportunity for neighbouring farmers to get involved in a long-term sustainable project, both in supplying feedstocks and in benefitting from the digestate as a green alternative to synthetic fertilisers.”
Paving the way to Net Zero
Once completed, Bangley Quarry Biogas will be Scotland’s 68th anaerobic digestion plant. Financed by SWEN Capital Partners, one of Europe’s leading funders of renewable energy projects, the site will process a mixture of organic materials (including crops, slurries and industrial waste), converting this into biogas. This biogas will then be upgraded to biomethane, which will be exported to the grid to help with Scotland’s decarbonisation efforts, as well as potentially being used as a vehicle fuel.
“The country is already a leader in renewable energy generation and this year, for the first time ever, renewables generated more than 100% of Scotland’s electricity consumption” states Marc. “As Scotland works towards Net Zero – and given the current geopolitical turmoil – the focus now is on generating a domestic supply of renewable gas. Bangley Quarry Biogas plant will be a key tool in helping us to achieve this, while also reducing the volume of greenhouse gas emissions associated with agriculture.”
To find out more about the employment opportunities available with Bangley Quarry Biogas or to join its network of farming partners, contact info@bangleyquarrybiogas.co.uk or visit www.bangleyquarrybiogas.co.uk
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