Member Article

Surgo scoop £3m waste plant contract

North East construction firm Surgo have secured a contract to build two anaerobic digester plants with a combined value of £3m.

Stokesley-based JFS & Associates have appointed Surgo, who will work closely with a German technology partner to construct the 6 metre high concrete tanks at sites in Cumbria and North Yorkshire.

Working on a joint venture basis with farmers and landowners, JFS has ambitious plans to build, own and operate some 25 plus AD plants representing a 2.5% market share of the Government’s targeted 1,000 plants.

Once completed each 250kw digester, which will produce biogas from digested manures, slurries and grass and maize silage. This biogas will then be used to fuel a combined heat and power plant (CHP), which will produce enough electricity for up to 250 homes.

In addition, the waste heat from the CHP can be used for domestic heating or further diversification such as grain drying on farm. The digested material is then used on farm as a valuable bio-fertiliser.

Speaking about the projects and the appointment of Surgo, JFS’s managing director, Peter Johnson said: “We are delighted to be working with Surgo Construction on development of the first two plants. We have a further four schemes that are due to commence over the next six months. Surgo has approached these projects in a fresh and collaborative manner and we have every confidence that they will successfully deliver both schemes on time and on budget. “

The AD process, dovetails into these existing farm businesses. Peter added: “The Government is encouraging the development of anaerobic digestion across the country. For the farmers it is a win- win situation. Without the need to invest any of their own money they benefit from rental income and a percentage of the feed-in tariff, as well as free heat which is generated from burning off the green house gases and finally, they are able use the highly nutritious fertilizer left behind by the waste material presenting a significant cost saving.”

Surgo’s director, Jeff Alexander, spoke about entering a new sector and the company’s commitment to the project. He said: “We have been keen to get a foothold in the energy sector for some time and are extremely pleased to have this opportunity to work with JFS. I am confident that we will deliver both schemes successfully allowing us to make our mark, as we have in other sectors including education, social housing and healthcare, in what I believe will be a developing sector for us.

“We look forward to assisting JFS with their plans to grasp a share of the market and hope to secure further contracts of this type in the future.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .