A SCOTTISH green energy company is offering local farmers the chance to cut their carbon emissions and diversify their income by funding a series of biogas plants on farms across the region.
GFD is an experienced biogas plant developer and thanks to a new partnership with a leading European investment firm, it has launched a campaign to allow more farmers in the region to benefit from this renewable technology – at zero cost.
Biogas plants (also known as anaerobic digestion or AD plants) turn organic wastes such as manure, slurries and crop residues into valuable green power and biofertiliser. There are already 369 biogas plants on farms across the UK, and GFD is keen to increase this number further, specifically targeting farmers in south and south west Scotland.
GFD managing director Marc McElhinney said: “One of the biggest issues stopping more farmers from getting involved in biogas has been funding. We’ve overcome that hurdle with our fully funded biogas plant campaign, backed by one of the biggest funders of renewable projects in Europe – SWEN Capital Partners. We’re delighted to bring this to the market and help more farmers in the area to diversify their income while decarbonising their farming operations – get in touch with us to find out if your farm qualifies.”
Open to farms across the region of all types and sizes that meet the company’s key criteria, the campaign also means that access to the gas grid is no barrier to entry, either.
This will make biogas a possibility for parts of the farming community that have been excluded in the past.
Marc added: “We know that lots of farms in the area are producing suitable feedstock for biogas generation, such as manures, slurries, energy crops and crop residues. Yet because of a lack of funding, or because they’re too far away from a connection point to the gas grid, it hasn’t been an option for them – until now.”
And he outlined the benefits, ranging from generating renewable electricity, heat and gas; creating a nutrient-rich biofertiliser; and helping to cut emissions, to better slurry and manure management, improved soil health and crop rotation.
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