October 6, 2023. Waitrose is the first UK retailer to use renewable natural gas (RNG) to power tractors at its farm in an industry leading move.
It is a significant step towards reaching net zero across their own operations by 2035. The company announced in 2021 that it will use its farm, at the Leckford Estate in Hampshire, to facilitate radical change by experimenting with a variety of environment-friendly agricultural techniques.
James Bailey, Executive Director of Waitrose, said: “Two years ago we challenged ourselves to use Leckford as an experiment in farming best practices, to pave the way for genuine solutions to help conserve our soil, air and water for the future generations, and our biomethane lagoon does just that. An innovative example to help our farm and hopefully other farms, reach net zero.”
Manure produced by the 500 cattle kept at the farm is harvested and upgraded on site, producing fugitive biomethane. This not only fuels machinery, but significantly reduces the carbon footprint.
A pioneering facility has been built to provide sustainable fuel which will help cut down up to 1,300 tonnes of carbon per year.
The innovative covered lagoon – which is the size of two and a half Olympic swimming pools – holds the energy rich fluid separated from farmyard manure. The solid material is extracted as a digestate which is rich in nutrients and can be used as fertiliser for crops.
The fluid which enters the lagoon emits gases, including methane. As the decomposition process happens, these are trapped and cleaned and upgraded in the system to biomethane gas, in turn this is used to power compressed natural gas (CNG) tractors. It is the largest plant of its type in the UK.
The process is truly circular, from grazing cows in the field to producing manure, which then captures the methane gas and refines it. This process leaves behind a natural fertiliser, which will be pumped directly back onto the fields. The monitoring system for the facility is also powered by solar panels on farm buildings.
The facility was designed and built by Cornwall based clean energy experts Bennamann in conjunction with New Holland tractors.
