Waste to Watts: Biological cycles in a circular economy
GENeco is a recycling and renewable energy company that operates as a circular economy by transforming wastes into usable products and energy. Committed to innovative, cost effective and sustainable solutions, it achieved carbon neutrality and zero waste to landfill status within the first three years of operation.
Location: Bristol Bioresources And Renewable Energy Park, Kings Weston Lane, Avonmouth, Bristol
The Challenge
In the UK, it was estimated that 10.7 million tonnes of food waste arise across households, hospitality & food service, food manufacture, retail, and farm sector in 2021. WRAP’s report in 2021-22 found that 18 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent came from 6.4 million tonnes of food and drink waste generated by UK households alone.
The Innovation
The facility in Avonmouth is a state-of-the-art anaerobic digestion plant that treats over 700,000 tonnes of varied waste per annum including food, liquid and solid materials.
Renewable energy, in the form of electricity and biomethane, is generated from the biogas produced in the digestion process in the gas to grid plant, and the solid digestate is a used as sustainable agricultural biofertiliser.
The gas to grid plant at the Bristol Bioresources and Renewable Energy Park is the first and largest of its kind and energy self-sufficient. The plant produces up to 1,900m3/hr of enriched biomethane (from both food waste and sewage treatment) and this is supplied to the local distribution network across Bristol. If you use gas for heating or cooking at home in Avonmouth or Shirehampton, it may be coming from your poo!
Explore more here Our services | GENeco
Initiatives
GENeco has been developing its expertise in this field and a number of iconic initiatives have enabled learning through doing.
The Bio-Bug is the UK’s first VW Beetle powered by human waste. The waste flushed down the toilets of just 70 homes produces enough biogas to power the Bio-Bug for a year!
The GENeco Bio-Bus showcased the possibilities of biomethane powered transport. After running a successful trial route between Bath and Bristol Airport, the GENeco Bio-Bus was used in regular service within the city of Bristol.
The Bio-Bee is the UK’s first vehicle to both collect and run on commercial food waste and is operated from Avonmouth.
The Bio-Bee demonstrates a real alternative to diesel Refuse Collection Vehicles and HGVs by running on clean biomethane. In 2023, the Bio-Bee collected 74,684 bins worth of organic wastes.
Contact details
info@geneco.uk.com
01225 524560