Ireland is considered to be among the countries of the EU with the greatest potential per capita for farm biogas. However, despite this potential, it was not until 1999 with the construction of Camphill digestion plant, that a decentralised anaerobic digestion plant was created in this country. The main aim of the project was to test the development and operation of a centralised anaerobic digestion plant in Ireland in order to study the feasibility of using farm and industrial (from the agro-food industry) wastes as the basis of a profitable renewable energy enterprise. The installation is located in the Ballytobin Camphill Community (a residential therapeutic centre for disabled children and adults, located within a 20 acre farm).

Description
Financial resources / Economic Benefits
Results
Energy production and other benefits
Potential for replication
Contact


Description

Wastes feeding the digester come from farms and food-processing industries (a creamery and brewery) located close to the plant. The gas produced after the anaerobic digestion of the wastes is burned in a traditional CHP installation. The solid effluent resulting from the process is composted and sold as organic garden compost.


Financial resources / Economic Benefits

Total cost of the project was € 140,000. It was financed by the Irish Government and by the European Commission through the Horizon Programme, LEADER II Community Initiative and the ALTENER programme (having received € 70,000 within the framework of this contract).

Results

Energy production and other benefits

The electricity produced from waste treatment is used to meet the energy requirements (both heat and power) of the 90 people living in Ballytobin Camphill Community, estimated to be 150,000 kWh of electricity and 500,000 kWh of primary energy for heating per year.
Moreover, employment in a rural enterprise has been created for people with disabilities.


Potential for replication

The final aim of this project was to test the model in order to determine if it was appropriate for replication by the creation of 15 similar biogas plants in Ireland (in the following 5 years), of variable sizes and to create the know-how that will make possible the proliferation of plants of this kind in Ireland (a country with a high potential for farm biogas). It is expected that the B.I.G. partnership will make it easier to collect the modelling tools to replicate the model and to disseminate the programme properly.

Contact

BEOFS
(Bio-energy and Organic Fertiliser Services)
+353 56 55836
beofs.ballytobin@camphill.ie