Our Approach – The work involved the production of a written report detailing AD technology, its benefits and the evolution of the biogas and biomethane market in the UK over the past two decades. A more tailored study was then presented, showcasing how the technology could fit within the applicants’ farming models and demonstrating the benefits that the AD units could bring (particularly in terms of greenhouse gas emissions reduction and cost savings). These findings were then placed within the context of the county’s climate change strategy, demonstrating that projects such as these could have a real impact on the decarbonisation of North Yorkshire and that local funding schemes were key in promoting positive initiatives such as these.

Outcomes & Benefits – Following these audits, the County Council approved the applications and granted the release of funds for the installation of the AD units. One year later, the Council reached out to Alder again to commission case studies on the application and installation process, as well as feedback from the applicants themselves now that the units were up and running. This complementary piece of work, and the conversations that were had with the farmers, showed how successful the SPF process had been and how beneficial AD technology is for small dairy farms. This work went a long way to demonstrating the positive impact that public funding has on local communities, and provides further evidence that AD (and small-scale AD in particular) can lead to significant progress towards the country’s net-zero transition while providing additional revenue streams for the country’s farming community.