Farmgen submits latest AD plans
Ambitious anaerobic digestion operator Farmgen has submitted a planning application to build its latest £4m energy farm power plant in St Michael's on Wyre, Lancashire.
The Blackpool-based company already has one 800kw plant up and running in Lancashire, at Warton, near Preston, which was switched on earlier this year. The company raised £30m to roll out 10 AD plants by the end of 2015.
The site of the latest application, the 320-acre Moss House farm, was recently acquired by Farmgen founder Simon Rigby for £2.2m. If approved by Wyre councillors, the AD plant at Moss House would use crops from local fields, converting them to electricity to be supplied to the National Grid. It would generate 1.2MW of electricity.
Following the start of production at Warton, Farmgen's second plant, at Silloth in Cumbria, was switched on earlier this month.
Ed Cattigan, Farmgen's commercial director, said: "Our aim is for Moss House Farm to play an important part in our growth plans, as part of the revolution in 'green energy'.
"Lancashire is our home and we believe that rural communities across the county can benefit from farm-based AD.
"As a result of our efforts, farmers can now see the real and tangible benefits that AD can give them and the opportunity they have to create a sustainable and stronger future for themselves by switching to 'energy farming'.
"We believe what we have achieved at our operations at both Carr Farm and Dryholme Farm in Silloth shows just how successful on-farm AD plants can be. The Moss House Farm plant, if approved, will follow that proven formula."
