NI's Energy Debate Reshaped By Anaerobic Digestion

Northern Ireland is set to see a second wave of investment in anaerobic digestion (AD). This will change the energy debate in the region. A senior manager at Queen's University Belfast's Institute for Global Food Security (IGFS) made the prediction.

Ian Marshall, the business development manager at IGFS and a former UFU president, thinks that agriculture will play a crucial role in an upcoming energy revolution. The revolution is expected to happen in the near future.

Marshall used to be an Independent Senator on the Seanad's agricultural panel. He thinks that this can happen without creating a competition for farmland. He feels sure about it.

He talked about using new technology to make the industry's waste useful. This technology will drive progress.

Marshall said that in the future, agriculture won't be viewed as a problem.

The industry is seen as a big help. It will be important to solve problems.

Marshall says that the business sector, academia, and government need to work together to achieve this.

He stated that people can no longer work individually to create future energy solutions.

We all need to work together for the common good on this important issue.

Marshall thinks AD can help meet Northern Ireland's future energy needs. AD is a technology that can be developed.

The industry delivers power for renewable energy.

The ex-president of UFU stated that this is just the beginning. It could be helpful for other things too.

AD operations create heat that can be used for energy. This potential source is not being used yet.

AD creates gases that can be sold for profit.

Methane can make amino acids. Amino acids are for protein. Protein needs amino acids to exist.

We can make more animal protein and lessen our dependence on imported soya. Ammonia is good at carrying hydrogen, too. That's according to Marshall.

He thinks AD hubs will be built in Northern Ireland. They will be owned and managed by businesses.

Marshall suggested that there could be new opportunities in agriculture from this idea. Farmers would provide the necessary slurry for the operation.

First, divide the slurry into the solid and liquid parts. The liquid part is saved by farmers. They later use it as fertiliser.

We will use the solid parts of the slurry as a source of energy. The AD process will make this possible.

The farmers will get paid for the slurry they give. Marshall thinks this helps with AD. The farmers can also get carbon credits.

Extracting organic fertilisers from the waste will make the process more profitable.

Companies not in farming can create hubs for AD, so farmers don't need to make their own.

He said this will lower the land competition at the farm level for energy production.

Before Stormont institutions closed last year, Northern Ireland Executive ministers set up political foundations for this to occur.

Marshall believes that more effort is required to make anaerobic digestion plans happen in Northern Ireland.

To create a proper green energy sector in Northern Ireland, we need political support. This can only happen if we have an executive in Stormont.