Proposal to develop renewable energy from fuel cells using biogas as the feedstock

It has been recognised that biogas (mainly methane) – produced from the anaerobic digestion of organic matter – is potentially a valuable and prolific feedstock for use in fuel cells being developed at St. Andrews University. Scottish agriculture generates between 12 - 14 million tonnes per annum of animal slurries and manures, making it the greatest potential source of this renewable gas. This innovative proposal brings together the technologies of advanced anaerobic digestion and fuel cells to present a unique business case for on-farm treatment of slurries, providing a source of renewable energy which may be used on-farm or sold through the major energy providers. This will provide an additional source of income to the farming industry, whilst retaining the nutrient value inherent in the slurries for their subsequent application to land. The project will take the work carried out at St Andrews University from laboratory to market place, with ground breaking world-wide potential.

Left to itself, methane is the second most important greenhouse gas next to carbon dioxide and is 23 times more potent than CO2 over a 100-year period. It is estimated that up to 25% of man-made global methane comes from agriculture in the form of livestock enteric fermentation and manures. An international climate change agreement to cut emissions of methane and generate revenue from its energy use was signed in November 2004. The UK and the USA are signatories to the Methane to Markets Partnership.

If you are interested in participating in this project, please don't hesitate to contact us here.

If you are a member of the Scottish Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Association, you can find a more detail on this opportunity in the SHFCA Members-Only Area. Please click here to find out more about membership and logging-on.