The pressure is on for dairy farmers. With increasing regulations, public demand for greener practices, and soaring energy costs, the industry faces a challenge: how to farm sustainably while staying profitable. At Biolectric, we believe we have part of the solution, and that’s why we recently helped host the ‘Managing Methane with Anaerobic Digestion’ event alongside Innovation for Agriculture (IfA) and IFEAA.

Held at Knott Oak Dairy on Dillington Estate – an 840ha of dairy, beef and arable enterprises in Somerset – the event brought together farmers, industry experts, businesses and policymakers to explore how farm-scale anaerobic digestion (AD) can help future-proof dairy farms.

Leading by example

The day began with a tour of Knott Oak Dairy on the Dillington Estate, where Farm Manager Ollie Blackburn shared how our Biolectric micro-AD system has benefited their operations over the past six years.

The dairy has around 355 cross-bred dairy cows that are robotically milked using six Lely Astronaut A4 robots, with each cow making an average of 3.2 visits per day. The slurry that these cows produce fuels the farm’s AD unit, which has not only slashed electricity costs by up to £4,000 a month but also improved soil health through the use of the nutrient-rich digestate that the unit produces. With energy prices continuing to rise, Ollie emphasised how producing their own electricity has given them stability and control over farm expenses.

“Our micro-AD system allows us to create a closed-loop system,” Ollie explained. “We’re reducing our reliance on external power while also cutting methane emissions from slurry storage. It’s a win-win.”

Beyond AD, Dillington has adopted a range of sustainability initiatives such as 15-metre wide GS4 herbal ley headlands, extensive bi-cropping – growing two crops simultaneously alongside each other – and a focus on producing as much homegrown protein as possible. The estate has also established 110ha of AB9 winter bird food mixes under a mid-tier stewardship scheme. 

Making methane work for farmers

Following the tour, our UK Sales and Development Director, Gary Hague, walked visiting farmers through the AD energy production process, explaining how Biolectric’s small-scale systems work.

By capturing methane from slurry and converting it into electricity and heat through a combined heat and power (CHP) unit, our technology not only produces high outputs of energy but also prevents harmful greenhouse gases from escaping into the atmosphere. With the unit at Dillington achieving a 94.5% operational efficiency rate in 2024, it’s a highly effective way for dairy farms to reduce their carbon footprint while generating renewable energy.

“The dairy here operates 24/7, so it requires a constant and reliable energy source to keep essential equipment running,” explained Gary. “With automated milking parlours, computers, and feed systems operating around the clock, a stable electricity supply is critical. That’s something micro-AD will provide, that solar won’t.

“The ease of installation was also a key factor for the farm’s decision to adopt AD technology, with minimal disruption to existing infrastructure and a straightforward integration into existing slurry management systems. I’ve known farms that have installed and got a micro-AD system up and running in just two weeks.”

Policy perspectives

After Gary had outlined how micro-AD works on farm and the benefits it can bring to individual businesses, George Eustice MP and Professor Penny Atkins of the International Farm Environment Association of Agriculture (IFEAA) put anaerobic digestion into a broader context.

George Eustice, now Chair at IFEAA, highlighted the UK government’s commitment to Net Zero and the crucial role that technology like farm-scale AD will play in reducing agriculture’s carbon footprint. As the former Secretary of State for Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs, he’s been a strong advocate for sustainable farming practices and recognises the importance of technology in helping farmers meet changing regulatory requirements and public expectations.

The UK government is committed to achieving Net Zero by 2050, a target that will require significant changes to the agriculture sector. George stressed that, while planting trees and rewilding efforts can be part of the solution, capturing methane from agricultural sources and converting it into renewable energy is critical to hitting the country’s climate goals.

“We can’t just plant trees – we’ve already got a very ambitious tree planting schedule in this country,” George said. “We need other practical, scalable methods like farm-scale AD to capture and utilise methane efficiently.”

Professor Penny Atkins then introduced the Net Zero Methane Hub Project, a Cornwall-based initiative supporting farmers in adopting methane capture solutions.

She stressed the importance of farm-level AD and how the IFEAA is actively working with policymakers and regulators to try and streamline the adoption of methane reducing technology on farm, provide guidance on funding, infrastructure, and best practices for integrating technology, such as micro-AD, into farming systems.

Showcasing innovation

The event also featured presentations from key players in the industry, with experts from other AD technology companies.

Representing Biolectric, Joseph Fayolle, UK & Ireland Manager, reinforced the importance of processing fresh slurry to maximise methane capture and energy output.

“Freshness is key,” Joseph explained. “That’s why Biolectric systems are designed to integrate seamlessly into existing slurry infrastructure, ensuring they capture slurry as soon as it leaves the cow, and its methane production levels are at their highest. So, getting the right technical advice when setting up an AD system is crucial.”

Joseph also introduced the MyBiolectric app, which allows farmers to remotely monitor their AD system’s biogas production, energy output, and overall performance. The ability to track operations in real-time makes it easier than ever for farmers to optimise efficiency and maximise returns.

He also shared data showing the performance of the Biolectric unit at Dillington, which has produced 900,000 kWh of net electricity production to date, with a reduced annual emission forecast of 200t CO2 equivalent. 

“With electricity costs doubling over the last two years, our systems are helping support the financial resilience of dairy farms” concluded Jospeh. “It’s a proven technology, with over 420 units now in the UK and Europe, and for every £1 invested, small-scale AD offers the highest reductions in Co2 equivalent in the renewable market.

“It’s been fantastic to meet so many farmers who are eager to explore micro-AD. The level of interest is growing year on year, and we’re seeing more AD units being built across the country. It’s clear that small-scale anaerobic digestion is no longer a niche technology, it’s becoming an essential tool for future-proofing dairy farms.”