About Us
Who is ADIAC?
The Anaerobic Digestion Initiative Advisory Committee (ADIAC) has been created to provide an official support role for the development of Anaerobic Digestion (AD) projects in BC. The ideology of ADIAC is to act as a ‘one-stop shop’ for pioneers from the agricultural sector, and others sector where applicable (such as municipal solid waste and waste water treatment facilities), who are interested in building and operating AD facilities. Consisting of representation from a wide variety of pertinent ministries, associations, crown agencies and energy providers, ADIAC will facilitate and assist AD project proponents as they work their way through the complex process of taking AD from concept to reality in BC. ADIAC will also function as an intra-agency-industry discussion forum, facilitating the exchange of AD-related information among ADIAC representatives and working towards streamlining processes pertinent to the development of an AD industry in BC.
What is ADIAC’s Role?
The three main objectives of ADIAC are:
- Support: Facilitate and assist project proponents as they work their way through the process of taking AD from concept to reality,
- Educate: Increase the awareness and understanding of AD while facilitating the exchange of AD-related ideas and information, and
- Advise: Provide sound and unbiased advice to those making AD-related funding and approval decisions.
How can ADIAC Help?
Whenever taking AD projects from concept to reality, multiple steps must be carefully considered and completed. While some of these steps will be simple, others will be more complex and non-completion will result in severe delays or even project failure. ADIAC has been created to provide helpful advice and assistance to the first few AD project proponents in BC, enabling them to complete these steps in an efficacious and timely manner. Some examples of where ADIAC will be able help include:
- Technology providers: Once feedstocks have been secured, project proponents will need to select technologies. ADIAC can assist with this selection by suggesting appropriate technology types.
- Nutrient balance: For any AD project, a nutrient management plan must be completed to ensure that digester effluent does not cause a nutrient imbalance on the land where it will be applied. ADIAC can provide advice related to development of this plan.
- Permitting & approval: AD facilities in BC will require multiple permits and approvals before construction. These include, but are not limited to, approval to bring off-farm waste onto farms and sell energy to the grid, and appropriate building, zoning, air emission, gas safety and grid interconnectivity permits. ADIAC can advise which of these permits and approvals are necessary and potentially facilitate application processes that are breaking new ground in BC.
- Energy contracts: Once all permitting and approvals are in place, AD project proponents may need to negotiate long term energy contracts. ADIAC can assist in the early stages of securing these contracts.
- Carbon offsets: Project proponents should investigate opportunities to sell carbon offsets resulting from AD projects. ADIAC can help assess the eligibility of these offsets as well as their quantification and provide advice on which carbon market(s) these offsets can be sold in to maximise their benefits.
- Reality check: AD facilities in BC will have a much greater likelihood of success if they are deemed appropriate when viewed through an agricultural lens. ADIAC can provide project proponents with farmer perspective’s as well as advice on the structure and politics of BC’s agricultural sector.
- Additional contacts: During each stage of project development, other ministries, associations, agencies, etc. may become involved. ADIAC can potentially provide the necessary names and contact information.
- Funding advice: ADIAC can assist project proponents identify grant and loan programs that might provide support for AD projects.
