What is Digestate?
Digestate is a valuable nutrient-rich fertiliser produced by the anaerobic digestion process. It is produced as both a liquid and a solid, both of which have beneficial properties for soils and crops.
Solid digestate provides organic matter and slow-release nutrients to the soil, in addition to benefits such as improving soil structure and water-holding capacity. It can be used in a similar way to compost and helps build long-term soil health.
Liquid digestate contains useful quantities of readily available Nitrogen, Phosphate and Potash as well as micronutrients – all essential for healthy plant growth. It is used to replace artificial fertilisers and is applied when crops are actively growing.
Returning digestate to the soil is fundamental to our working partnerships with farm businesses. Over the past 15 years, we have developed circular agreements with our growers, providing proportionate volumes of solid and liquid digestates as part of feedstock contracts. This has reduced growers’ reliance on carbon-intensive, artificial fertilisers and, following recent agricultural market volatility, made digestate a sought after
commodity.
This digestate displaces the use of synthetic fertilisers which are often mined abroad and imported to farms in the UK. And given our feedstock is generally sourced a maximum of 15 miles from our sites, this means the fertiliser doesn’t have to travel far.
Energy crop production for AD and digestate use integrates well with most types of farming. Several of our sites now work with certified organic and regenerative farming businesses that recognise the benefits of digestate and alternative crops. While organic and conventional farming have traditionally been polarised, the AD process provides opportunities for both.
Types of Digestate
Solid digestate
Solid Digestate needs to be spread on cropland with a spreader
Liquid digestate
Liquid digester is much more concentrated and is applied with a sprayer
Circular Agreements With Growers
Returning digestate to the soil is fundamental to our working partnerships with farm businesses.
Over the past 15 years, we have developed circular agreements with our growers, providing proportionate volumes of solid and liquid digestates as part of feedstock contracts. This has reduced growers’ reliance on carbon-intensive, artificial fertilisers and, following recent agricultural market volatility, made digestate a sought after commodity.
