A new biomethane plant used to supply heat for manufacturing medicines has gone into operation in Gonerby Moor, Lincolnshire. The plant operators AstraZeneca and Future Biogas say the Moor bioenergy plant has been installed without any subsidy.
The plant will operate 24/7, providing 100 GWh of heat annually for AstraZeneca’s R&D and manufacturing in the UK, which is equivalent to 20% of the company’s total global gas consumption.
Crops supplied to Moor Bioenergy will be sourced within 15 miles of the plant with local farmers supported to drive sustainable farming practices. Five-year feedstock contracts will offer farmers greater financial security, helping to mitigate the challenges of fluctuating food crop prices and climate change. Feedstock will be certified by International Sustainability and Carbon Certification (ISCC) – an independent body which verifies that crops are traceable and grown in accordance with strict social and environmental criteria. The residue (digestate) is an organic fertiliser
The plant also has carbon capture technology. The operators say the captured CO2 can either be reused in other industries or in the longer-term it can be permanently stored underground.
Liz Chatwin, VP, Global Sustainability and SHE at AstraZeneca, said, “We are committed to climate action and innovation in sustainability to decarbonise healthcare. By investing in unsubsidised biomethane capacity, we’re proud to contribute to reducing carbon emissions while strengthening the UK’s renewable energy infrastructure.”
Philipp Lukas, chief executuve of Future Biogas, said, “This project is not only about generating clean, renewable gas, it’s a powerful call to all companies to decarbonise industrial gas and heat use.”