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Countrywide Injects Lpg in First UK Biogas Plant

Countrywide LP Gas Ltd is involved in a project with Thames Water, British Gas and Scotia Gas Networks to provide biomethane from domestic sewerage, which is then injected with lp gas, to the national grid. The project is the first of its kind to become operational in the UK.

At the Thames Water treatment plant at Didcot, Oxfordshire, the solid part of sewerage is separated, then treated further in warmed up vats in a process called anaerobic digestion, where bacteria break down biodegradable material, yielding biogas. It is then injected with lp gas, typically three to seven per cent, bringing it up to the required calorific specification, around 39 MJ/m3, to be put back into the national grid for use by customers. Biomethane from Didcot will produce enough renewable gas to supply up to 200 homes.

Martin Baggs, chief executive of Thames Water, said: “We already produce £15 million a year of electricity by burning biogas from the 2.8 billion litres a day of sewage produced by our 13.8 million customers. Feeding this renewable gas directly into the gas grid is the logical next step in our energy from waste business.

“What we have jointly achieved at Didcot is a sign of what is to come, which can be replicated across our network and indeed the whole country. Every sewage works in Britain is a potential source of local renewable gas waiting to be put to use.”

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Chris Huhne said: “It’s not every day that a Secretary of State can announce that, for the first time ever in the UK, people can cook and heat their homes with gas generated from sewage.

“This is an historic day for the companies involved, for energy from waste technologies, and for progress to increase the amount of renewable energy in the UK. I know there are other similar projects across the country that are close to completion, so this is just the start of a new era of renewable energy.”

British Gas is going ahead with five biomethane projects, having signed development agreements with GWE Biogas, which uses food waste and farm crops, Potters Waste, Dillington Biogas and Adnams Brewery. According to a study by National Grid, biomethane could account for at least 15 per cent of the domestic gas market by 2020, delivering renewable heat to households through the existing gas network.

Government support for biomethane injection into the grid is part of the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI), which sets out proposed financial incentives for the generation of renewable heat by households, communities and industry.

Gearóid Lane, managing director of communities and new energy at British Gas, said: “We’re delighted that the government will provide support to make investment in biomethane commercially viable. With 85 per cent of homes heated by natural gas, this is a fantastic opportunity to deliver renewable heat through our existing gas network and central heating boilers. By making early investments in biomethane, we intend to drive forward the opportunity to deliver green gas to our customers.”

Although the biomethane produced at Didcot has an oxygen content of up to two per cent, compared with the limit of 0.2 per cent set by the Gas Safety (Management) Regulations (GSMR), the Health & Safety Executive issued a GSMR exemption to Scotia Gas Networks to allow biomethane to be conveyed in a limited area around the plant.

Countrywide engaged Old Park Engineering Ltd to install three lpg vessels, provided by Schneider Industry (UK) Ltd, and connecting pipework and a buffer vessel for mixing the biomethane and lpg. Bill Christie at Countrywide said: “Countrywide is very happy to be associated with a very good example of working together with large utility organisations to further the advance of the lpg gas industry in the field of renewable technology. We would like to say thank you to Iain Ward, external project manager, who originally invited Countrywide to put a proposal forward, Schneider Industry for providing Countrywide with the specialised tanks on a tight schedule, and CNG Services for working closely with Countrywide engineers.”

Contact Countrywide LP Gas Ltd on 01386 750456 www.countrywidefarmers.co.uk

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