From slurry to biofuel to power

Ice cream company Mackie’s of Scotland is building a plant that will convert its slurry into biofuel, which will be used to power the company’s Aberdeenshire facility.

Once the anaerobic digester is installed, the fairy farm in Westertown, Rothienorman, will run completely on renewable energy.

Scientists from the Edinburgh Napier University’s Biofuel Business Programme are working with the company to draw up plans that will help to convert thousands of tonnes of slurry to methane biogas which will then produce electricity.

It is expected that once the project is completed, about £300,000 (€364,000) will be saved in fuel costs, creating three jobs.

The slurry is currently used for agricultural fertiliser but the company want to discover more efficient ways to use the waste.