What is AD?
Anaerobic digestion is a naturally occurring biological process involving the decomposition of organic matter in the absence of oxygen. The process is essentially the same as composting, except that it occurs in anaerobic digesters that prevent oxygen from entering the system.
During the anaerobic digestion process bacteria breakdown organic feedstock and, and due to the absence of oxygen, produce a methane-rich-biogas and digestate, the residue resulting from the anaerobic digestion process.
Biogas is a carbon neutral gas that can be used to produce renewable energy. Digestate can be separated into a liquid and solid digestate. The liquid digestate can be applied directly onto land/growing crops as a fertilizer, while the solid digestate can used as a fertilizer/soil amendment or animal bedding.
- AD fact sheet 1.pdf (165 KB)
- AD fact sheet 2.pdf (353 KB)
