Food & Drink Process & Packaging Issue 7 2016 | Page 26

HRS Heat Exchangers By Matt Hale, International Sales Manager It is easy to see why anaerobic digestion (AD) has become such a popular technology in the food processing industry. Currently over 400 AD plants are generating more than 500 MW of energy - yet the potential for UK AD is as much as 80 TWh of methane (equivalent to 30% of the UK’s household gas demand) according to ADBA*. AD utilises waste streams and co-products, often removing the need for other waste treatment technologies. It can provide heat and electricity for processing operations and produces a valuable end product in the form of digestate biofertiliser. However, although plants of all scales can provide these benefits, not all of them are as efficient as they could be. With recent changes to support schemes for renewable energ