UK GIB, Foresight invest in 0.5-MW anaerobic digestion plant in N Ireland

The UK Green Investment Bank plc (GIB) and Foresight Group LLP on Monday announced a GBP-1.7 million (USD 2.6m/EUR 2.3m) investment in a 0.5-MW on-farm anaerobic digestion (AD) plant in Armagh, Northern Ireland.

The investment is being made through the Foresight-managed Recycling and Waste LP fund, where GIB is a cornerstone investor. SQN Capital Management will also invest GBP 1.7 million in the GBP-3.4-million AD project.

The plant has been developed by a local farming family together with KPMG (Belfast). It will be built and operated by Northern Irish engineering company Williams Industrial Services.

The facility will use silage, slurry, chicken litter and beet to generate biogas and then electricity. Once up and running, it is expected to produce enough electricity per year to power 850 homes, as well as nutrient-rich fertiliser.

This is the third AD project that GIB and Foresight have funded in Northern Ireland. "Investing in anaerobic digestion encourages rural businesses to be self-sufficient, reducing their reliance on fossil fuels and diverting organic waste from landfill," noted Ed Northam, GIB head of investment banking.

(GBP 1.0 = USD 1.516/EUR 1.375)

Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!