South Molton homes powered entirely by renewable energy

South Molton’s homes are being powered by renewable gas and electricity thanks to an Anaerobic Digestion (AD) facility located on the outskirts of the town.

Condate Biogas, situated just one kilometer from South Molton, powers the town with enough renewable gas to meet the needs of every single home.

MP for North Devon, Selaine Saxby, recently visited the plant to learn more about the facility and the technology.

Selaine said: “It is incredible to think that South Molton’s homes are being powered by renewable gas and electricity thanks to Condate Biogas’s anaerobic digestion facility.

Since 2016 anaerobic digestion has been powering South Molton and the facility currently provides enough renewable gas to meet the needs of every single home and also supplies 40% of the town’s electricity.

There are very few towns in the UK that can claim to be powered by renewable energy and it is something we can all be proud of.”

“It also makes fertiliser as a side product, which goes back on the local land growing the maize which in turn provides the matter to help produce the gas. A truly circular form of local, sustainable, energy production.

Having locally produced renewable energy is really important and it is key when it comes to helping solve the current UK energy crisis. It also contributes to future energy resilience as well as helping hit the Government’s target of Net Zero by 2050,” she added.

Anaerobic Digestion works by processing energy crops, agricultural waste and animal manures to produce biogas. This gas is turned into renewable energy which is injected directly into the gas and electricity grid by the plant. Everything Condate Biogas needs to generate renewable energy is supplied by local farmers.

The company, which employs six local people, has plans to increase its energy output in the near future in order to help deliver even more renewable energy for the locality.

Darren Stockley, Managing Director for Condate Biogas, comments: “Thanks to operating efficiencies, we are now capable of generating enough renewable electricity to supply 70% of South Molton with renewable electricity and we could increase our gas output to cover over 3000 homes. This means we could supply a wider range of villages and neighbourhoods around South Molton.”

“We hope to be in a position to be able to deliver the additional energy soon because we believe that locally produced renewable energy provides the key to solving the current UK energy crises,” Darren added.

For more information about Condate Biogas, visit https://ixoraenergy.co.uk/condate-biogas/