Free consultancy support for AD Plants is now available under a new WRAP initiative.

Plants committed to certification under PAS110 and ADQP (Anaerobic Digestion Quality Protocol) /ASRS (Additional Scheme Rules for Scotland) can apply for a maximum of 3 days’ consultancy support. It is intended that the support should assist plant operators to adapt systems and procedures to enable the plant successfully to achieve certification. This follows on from the successful WRAP programme of 2010/2011 in which 10 plants received support.

The Biofertiliser Certification Scheme will once again administer the consultancy support.  We have changed the criteria for the consultancy support to include both operating plants and those at an early stage of development. (Full details are set out below.) In this way plants at an early stage will have the option to amend design features that would otherwise not be compliant with PAS110 and ADQP/ASRS.

The  same two organisations have been appointed to provide the consultancy services:

Association for Organics Recycling (AfOR)
Recogen Ltd

Criteria for consultancy support:

• The support is for biogas plants designed to produce quality digestate for the end uses defined in the ADQP and ASRS.  
• The biogas project may be at any stage of development but it must already have been granted planning permission
• The project owners must confirm in writing their intention to apply for BCS certification as soon as they gain RO, RHI or FITs accreditation from Ofgem

How to apply

• In the first place plant developers/owners should send an email to BCS to apply for the consultancy – cburns@biofertiliser.org.uk
• The consultancy support scheme  has a limited budget and is due to  end on 31st March 2012. It is therefore being run on a first come first served basis at the discretion of BCS.
• The 3 days consultancy will normally consist of one site visit and two further days to produce a written report  with recommendations and guidance. The 3 days need not be concurrent and can be spaced out as convenient to the plant developers/owners.
• Once it receives the application, BCS will discuss the needs of the plant with the operator
• Once these have been agreed, BCS will then allocate a consultant
• BCS will notify the consultant, who will then contact the operator and agree the work schedule
• The consultant will discuss the schedule with BCS and then commence work
• BCS will contact the operator at least once during the consultancy
• Once the consultancy has been completed BCS will contact the operator to confirm that the service has been provided as expected
• BCS will report monthly to WRAP on the provision of consultancy to plant operators

Conditions

• The BCS will provide whatever support and encouragement it can to operators who apply for certification of their plant to PAS110 and ADQP/ADSR. However, BCS is not responsible for ensuring that the plant successfully achieves certification - this is entirely a matter for the Certifying Body, and the BCS is independent of this process 

BCS is not responsible for any costs or changes in design which the plant operator may decide to put in place in order to comply with PAS110/ADQP/ASRS