Closure of anaerobic digestion plant – Coder Road Business Park, Ludlow

Shropshire Council and Biogen have jointly agreed to cease operation of the Biocycle anaerobic digestion (AD) plant at Coder Road, Ludlow.
 
After a very successful six years operating as the UK’s first demonstrator food waste anaerobic digestion plant, the decision has been made to wind down plant operations during September with the complete closure of the plant by the end of 2012. 
 
The AD plant is owned by Shropshire Council and operated by AD specialists Biogen (formerly BiogenGreenfinch). 
 
The 5,000 tonne per annum plant, designed as a non-commercial operation, was set up with financing from DEFRA and Advantage West Midlands in 2005.   Biocycle currently services a small number of contracts outside Shropshire which will be served at other AD plants in the future.
 
Richard Barker, Biogen’s Chief Executive, said:

“The Biocycle plant has fully delivered on its original objectives and we are proud and grateful to have been a part of the groundbreaking journey.  The plant has contributed to extensive research into AD technology of food waste, thus benefiting the entire AD industry.  Biogen will continue to build on the back of its early work; in fact we have recently invested in three pilot scale digesters to further advance our Research & Development activities at Ludlow.
 
“As a demonstration plant, the site has received over a thousand visitors and has helped to educate the general public, students and numerous interest groups about the benefits of anaerobic digestion.”

Shropshire Councillors Rosanna Taylor-Smith, Martin Taylor-Smith and Mike Owen, added:

“Although our role in the future of the plant is undecided at present, informal discussions will be taking place to identify interest in continuing the operation of the facility or any other suitable alternative.”

Biogen also owns and operates anaerobic digestion plants in Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire which process almost 90,000 tonnes of food waste each year to power around 5,500 homes continually.