BV Dairy's Renewable Energy Facility Opened by Bob Walter MP

11 July 2011
Cambridge

BV Dairy’s Renewable Energy Facility Opened by Bob Walter MP

BV Dairy’s innovative anaerobic digestion (AD) plant was officially opened by the local MP Bob Walter on 11th July 2011.  Designed and built by Clearfleau, this facility is a demonstration plant for the food processing sector and is open to visitors for 12 months.

Clearfleau’s high-rate anaerobic systems treat liquid bio-wastes on the site where they are produced. This design is suited to food and drink processing sites and the company is currently working on projects in the confectionery, dairy and drinks sectors.

The BV Dairy facility, near Shaftesbury, is treating trade effluent and higher strength co-products. The project received funding from WRAP, through a Government initiative to stimulate investment in innovative digestion technology.  

BV Dairy processes milk from farms in Dorset’s Blackmore Vale into added value products such as yoghurt and soft cheese, supplying food manufacturers and food service customers across the country. It is reducing its treatment costs, its energy bill and its carbon footprint.

Thanking Mr Walter for opening the site, Richard Gueterbock of Clearfleau, commented:

“The team at Clearfleau is very proud of this plant and grateful to WRAP for their support on the project also to BV Dairy for selecting Clearfleau to supply the plant.  Its success will encourage other food processors to use on-site digestion to reduce their impact on the environment.  Credit for the project’s success is due to project manager Andy Clark and the design team led by Derek Rodman, who ensured that it was completed on time and within budget.”

Clearfleau is one of a number of British companies that are developing renewable energy technologies with potential worldwide applications.  The BV Dairy project is based on British knowhow and technology that meets the requirements of the food sector. 

By digesting trade effluent and co-products (such as whey permeate), bio-degradable fats and sugars are converted into biogas.  Use of the renewable electricity generated on site in the production processes is cutting BV Dairy’s carbon footprint.  The process can be extended to allow cleansed liquids to be recycled as grey water or discharged to a watercourse. 

BV Dairy’s AD plant is reducing the cost of effluent discharge to the local sewage system.  With installation of the AD plant, there is no need for an extension of the sewage plant to accommodate new houses being built in Shaftesbury.  WRAP’s funding has avoided the need for a larger sum to be spent on the sewage plant upgrade.  This project shows that on-site AD has the potential to transform industrial effluent treatment.