The generation of biogas from anaerobic digestion (AD) of organic matter is a natural process, adapted for human use since at least the 10th century BC (when the Assyrians used biogas to heat their bathwater). Biogas generation is well-established technology throughout the hotter countries of the world. Millions of small anaerobic digesters are operated in Africa and Asia to generate biogas for heat and light, with perhaps in excess of 4 million farm plants operating in India, and 15 million farm plants in China.

Internationally, farm uptake of biogas systems has been strongest in Europe; but interest is accelerating in Britain, North America, Australia and NZ, principally driven by a convergence of new environmental policy directives.

SFF Project LO7/009 “Waste To Wealth” was jointly funded by New Zealand Pork and the Sustainable Farming Fund. The project was initiated to assess opportunities for the development of biogas systems within the NZ pork industry.

In 2008 the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) and NZPork launched  a project to evaluate the use of manure in different biogas systems on farm. The project was designed to investigate the feasibility of on-farm biogas generation at diferent scales and in different locations and the results will inform farmers and their partners of the most effective opportunities for farms.

EECA work with the primary production sector to develop opportunities to improve energy efficiency in their businesses and have published a number of case studies here. EECA have a range of funding and grants to help you help you examine your energy spend and manage your energy use as efficiently as possible.