Maintaining healthy biology within an anaerobic digester is the most critical aspect of running an AD project. Operating a plant sub-optimally can result in reduced methane production, poorer quality digestate and reduced financial return. At worst, when digester biology isn’t correctly looked after, it can result in severe downtime with plants being out of operation for weeks and even needing to be re-seeded. Don’t risk this happening to your plant.    

This one day training course will help you understand the biological processes involved in biogas production and how to look after your digester to maximise biogas production and minimise downtime. Topics covered include;

• types of bacteria and archaea and replication rates
• stages in the anaerobic digestion process
• the biomethane potentials of different feedstocks
• the issues associated with certain feedstocks
• what to monitor onsite and when to use a professional laboratory
• the importance and role of trace elements
• feeding regimes
• inhibitors of the anaerobic digestion process
• the impact of temperature and pH
• the role of enzymes
• early warning indicators
• restoring optimum performance

Timings:  Registyration 10:00 Finish 4:30 - 5pm

Hear from leading specialists in AD nutrition and plant optimisation.

REA members RAte £20 + VAT

Speakers include:

Tim Elsome, FM BioEnergy
Having worked in the food industry for 10 years Tim moved into the AD sector in 2010 joining one of the UK’s early food waste biogas developers, as was part of the team that delivered one the country’s first food waste plants. 

Witnessing first-hand the many issues involved in running an AD plant Tim switched his focus to plant optimisation in 2013 when he joined FM BioEnergy as General Manage

During the last 4 years he has helped numerous operators improve the biological performance of their facilities through advice and services dedicate to improving the owners return on investment.

Adrian Rochefort, FM BioEnergy
After completing two research projects into both microbiological and biochemical fields, Adrian Rochefort graduated from the University of Leicester in 2013 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. 

In 2014 Adrian combined his passion for the sciences and renewables and moved into the biogas sector starting off as a Research Technician for a Biogas construction company and responsible for running laboratory scale trials in mini-digesters and biological process consultancy responsible for optimisation of customer sites.

In 2015 Adrian joined FM Bioenergy as an Account Manager and now provides nutritional and biological process consultancy to a number of biogas sites in the UK from small scale farm based plants to industrial scale food waste plants. 

Dr. Melanie Hecht, Schaumann BioEnergy GmbH
Dr. Melanie Hecht completed her PhD in Agricultural Sciences on process control optimisation in anaerobic digestion plants in 2008. 

Following this Melanie joined a German Biogas plant builder and was responsible for the laboratory, biological process control and start-up of AD plants (2008-2010).

Since 2010 Melanie has worked for Schaumann BioEnergy offering biological service support to German customer and in 2016 she was promoted to Head of Biological Process control in Germany and liaison with sales partners in the UK and the Baltic states. 

Dr Harald Lindorfer, Schaumann BioEnergy GmbH
Having completed his PhD title “Optimised digestion of energy crops and agricultural residues in rural biogas plants” at the University of Vienna, Harald joined Schuamman BioEnergy as Senior consultant and head of product engineering and product management in 2007.

Harald has many published research papers on biogas optimisation and overseas Schaumann’s product research and has many current PhD students working under his guidance.