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residential
weekend course
introduction to biogas |
This
course is about turning biomass or wastes into fuel and energy.
It is for anyone interested in producing domestic or farm-scale
biogas, or anyone with a general interest in the topic. The tutor
is David Neylan of Southampton University, PhD researcher into farm-scale
anaerobic digestion using energy crops.
Biogas is a mixture of methane and carbon dioxide, and is produced
by the breakdown of organic material in the absence of oxygen, a
process known as anaerobic digestion (AD).
Traditional (aerobic) composting uses oxygen to breakdown this same
organic material to make soil, but there is no energy output. There
is little energy input in a garden compost heap, but municipal sites
consume lots of energy to deal with green wastes.
A digester can be fed a variety of things from human and animal
slurries and plant material to waste food and paper. Apart from
biogas, the output is a wet compost that can be returned to the
land to improve soil and fertilize crops.
There is a renewed focus on the energy production possibilities
that AD offers over and above the waste transformation role it has
always played. This course sets out the basics of AD both in theory
and practice for those who want to know more about the role of biogas
as a renewable technology. No prior knowledge necessary.
The course
includes:
- basic theory of anaerobic
digestion or what happens inside a digester
- current state of AD
in Europe and beyond, a look at how AD is implemented and what
the future may hold
- practical uses for
all the products of digestion including biogas - where AD fits
into society
- outline system designs
- maintaining digesters
- the basics of how to run a digester
- information on making
a small-scale glass ‘flask’ digester – watch
the anaerobic digestion process at home!
- Q&A – anything
else you need to know
more
on biogas
| how
to book: |
|
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|
| arrive: |
|
Friday
evening at 6.30 for dinner at 7.30 |
| depart: |
|
Sunday
after lunch (served at 1.00) |
| directions: |
|
click
here for
directions by bicycle, public transport and car |
| what
to bring: |
|
pen
and notebook; towel; wellies (for tour if wet); money for
possible trip to pub (meals and bedding are provided)
NO DOGS PLEASE,
as we have sheep |
| let
us know: |
|
if
you are vegan or have any food allergies |
| accommodation: |
|
3-4
people sharing single-sex rooms |
| sat
evening: |
|
either
a trip to the pub in Winslow, or (depending on the weather)
a barbecue and bonfire. You'll be able to meet and chat with
other Redfield members |
| prices: |
|
£190
high-waged; £160 waged;
£130 student / unwaged
Refundable up to two weeks prior to course (minus £30
admin fee)
No refunds for cancellations within two weeks of course
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| discounts:
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| car
sharing: |
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using biogas
to boil a normal kettle on a normal hob - the only difference is
there's no gas bill
this is the
type of flask that David will bring along on the course to demonstrate;
it will also produce a lightable flame
larger-scale
digester on a dairy farm in Shropshire; built by Farmgas (who have
built many agricultural digesters). It is about 15 years old and
still operational
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