Anaerobic digestion
Updated 13 June 2024
Applies to England
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Anaerobic digestion is a natural process in which plant and animal materials are broken down by micro-organisms in the absence of oxygen, producing a biogas that can be used to generate electricity and heat. The process allows more efficient capture and treatment of the nutrients and greenhouse gas emissions from animal slurries and manures than can be achieved by spreading directly onto land. The remaining digestate is rich in nutrients and can be used as fertiliser. The data below looks at the proportion of farmers who are currently processing any waste, crops or feedstocks in this way.
Figure 1 Proportion of holdings processing any waste, crops or feedstocks by anaerobic digestion
| Year | Holdings processing any waste by anaerobic digestion |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 5% |
| 2020 | 7% |
| 2021 | 9% |
| 2022 | 8% |
| 2023 | 9% |
The majority of farms do not currently process slurries, crops or other feedstocks by anaerobic digestion. In 2019, just 5% of farms were processing by anaerobic digestion but this has increased in recent years, rising to 9% in 2023 (Figure 1).
Crops were the most common material type being processed, with 5.3% of farmers choosing this option in 2023 (Figure 2). Slurries and manures were the next most popular option processed by 5.1% of farmers.
Figure 2 Proportion of holdings processing by anaerobic digestion by waste type
| Waste type | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Other feedstocks from outside your farm | 1.7% |
| Other feedstocks from your farm | 2.5% |
| Any feedstocks | 3.2% |
| Slurries/Manures | 5.1% |
| Crops (including silage) | 5.3% |