BIOGEN is reported to have signed a deal with Edinburgh and Midlothian Council to design and build an anaerobic digestion (AD) plant.

According to website Resource, the plant will be constructed in Midlothian as part of Scotland's Zero Waste project.

The AD plant is expected to process 30,000 tonnes of waste per year. It is also hoped this will generate around 1.4 megawatts of renewable energy for the grid which could power up to 2,000 homes.


BIOGEN, a joint venture between Kier and Bedfordia, will work alongside Alauna Renewable Energy (ARE) for the project. Last month, ARE was selected to manage the development of the Edinburgh and Midlothian Food Waste Treatment Project.

Work on the site is planned to begin in February 2014, with the AD plant expected to produce electricity by Autumn 2015. It will then be handed over to ARE by 31 December 2015.

BIOGEN has contracted Barhale Plc to manage the civil engineering element of the build.

Zero Waste Scotland has said the new facility will "provide a secure, long-term solution for treating food waste collected by partner councils at a competitive price and help achieve higher recycling rates, in line with national targets set out in the Scottish government’s Zero Waste Plan".

(JP/CD)