Food waste anaerobic digestion projects


Client: EcoGenR8 Ltd
Location: London, UK
Service division: Engineering
Sector: Waste; Water; Energy; Power


EcoGenR8 develops and manages waste treatment and renewable energy supplies in the UK with a primary focus on producing biogas through the anaerobic digestion of organic wastes. In 2011, EcoGenR8 were awarded a contract to develop a portfolio of energy from waste (food waste anaerobic digestion) projects with Thames Water, the UK’s largest water and sewerage company. Thames Water serve a population of 14 million across London and the Thames Valley including  an established network of over 30 anaerobic digestion sites.

Anaerobic digestion has been used to treat sewage sludge for many decades. As well as reducing pathogens in sludge, the process produces valuable biogas which is converted to electricity and heat through CHP (combined heat and power) engines, or upgraded to natural gas quality (biomethane) and injected directly into the gas grid.

EcoGenR8 partnered with Howard Tenens, a sustainable logistics company, to develop the Thames Water opportunity, the focus of which is to sweat existing assets and maximise synergies with current operations in order to develop a portfolio of sites that will have the capability to treat food waste and generate a combination of renewable electricity and biomethane. The project  incorporates detailed technical and commercial development, including:

  • Definition of the market potential
  • Development of technical and financial models
  • Identification of technology, waste, construction and operational partners
  • Planning and permitting applications
  • Securing contracts required for financing

AFECO are providing ongoing support to EcoGenR8 in developing the technical aspects of this project and in particular site investigations, technology evaluations and assessment of integration with existing assets.