By Anna Burdett

Last updated at 10:59, Friday, 11 September 2009

Plans for a second multi-million pound anaerobic digester near Silloth have been unveiled.

Businessman Simon Rigby bought Dryholme Farm and feed mill from David Montgomerie last month because he thought it was a good site for a digester.

Mr Rigby owns Leeds-based company Spice which provides infrastructure support to energy companies.

He has employed specialist company Farmgen to put together a planning application for the digester, which is due to be submitted next month after the purchase of the farm is completed.

The plant will use animal slurry, grass silage and other crops from fields surrounding the farm to create biogas, which is then used to generate electricity.

Plans are still at an early stage, but the scheme is expected to be broadly similar to a £2.5 million project in Lancashire and could generate enough electricity for 1,000 homes.

Farmgen’s Ed Cattigan said: “Cumbria is a strong farming county and is, therefore, a potentially a very important area for anaerobic digestion (AD), particularly as diversification has become a key issue in rural communities.

“Cumbria seemed the next logical move for us, as the site became available, and we are hopeful of introducing AD plants elsewhere in the county.

“At this stage it is too early to say how many, but we are certainly interested in hearing from other farmers, who want to learn about what AD energy generation could mean for them.”

The technology is generating a lot of interest in the farming community.

Mr Montgomerie, the former owner of Dryholme, said: “I think this kind of plant is the way forward. AD ticks all the boxes and produces electricity 24/7, unlike wind turbines.”

Details of plans for another digester at Blackdyke, near Silloth were put on display last week. This, unlike Dryholme, would be a community scheme with many investors. It is the brainchild of Community Renewable Energy North West (CoRE), and already has 20 local farmers on board.

Digesters are broadly carbon-neutral and produce heat as well as electricity. A by-product is a green fertiliser, which is left over after the process is completed.

First published at 05:18, Friday, 11 September 2009
Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk