Because of environmental improvements made by farmers and milk processors and technological advances, Dairy UK is to review and set tougher Roadmap targets for 2015 and 2020, said Dairy UK environment manager, Fergus McReynolds. These should be announced in a few months.
Originally the plan had been to build three AD plants at central locations across the UK by 2015. However, it is now economically viable to run an AD from the waste generated from just one processor, cutting down transport distances for feed and reducing electrical grid losses. Two processors are installing AD plants and another will be commissioned in 2011, said McReynolds.
"Advances in technology over the last two or three years means single source dairy waste from dairy sites can be a competitive feedstock," he said.