Renewable energy specialists Biogen are building and will be operating the 22,500 tonnes per year food waste anaerobic digestion (AD) plant near St Asaph on behalf of the North Wales Consortium of Denbighshire County Council, Conwy County Borough Council and Flintshire County Council.

Once complete, the Waen AD plant will process food waste from local households and businesses to generate enough renewable electricity for around 1,500 homes as well as a valuable biofertiliser for local farmland.

On site, the main reception hall building (where the food waste will be delivered to), biofertiliser storage tanks and the bund walls have all been completed. A combined heat & power unit (CHP) responsible for generating the electricity is in now place, as is a new substation and high voltage cabling. Special tanks which will harvest rain water on site have also been installed.

Sam Bates, Waste Operations Manager at Denbighshire Council said, “The site is progressing well and the Authorities are looking forward to the facility being up and running”.

Simon Musther, Head of Commercial Operations at Biogen said, “This is a great opportunity for any commercial operator who is looking for a food waste management solution.  Recycling food waste at the Waen AD plant will ensure cost savings and environmental benefits to the local area making this a real win-win”.

Commissioning of the plant is due to begin around mid-May and will be fully operational during this summer.

Biogen currently has 3 operational food waste AD plants and 5 other sites at various stages of development throughout England, Scotland and Wales.