Anaerobic Digestion
Transform your organic waste into a valuable resource.
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Visit: 323 Learmonth Rd, Ballarat, VIC
What is anaerobic digestion?
Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which microorganisms breakdown biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The Gaia EnviroTech biodigester allows these processes to operate in their optimum conditions, unlike other digesters where they can be compromised by the need to coexist in a single chamber.
Modular in design, the Gaia EnviroTech anaerobic biodigester is both highly configurable and efficient. The multistage system allows each step of the digestion process to be optimised for greater biogas production, and thereby energy generation, from a particular feed material.
Suitable feedstocks
Almost any organic material can be used to feed a biodigester, but some work better than others. Gaia EnviroTech biodigesters utilise a wet digestion method, and organic matter can form a 10-15% solids slurry (liquid) are generally optimal. In general, wastes such as fruit and vegetable matter work well, animal manures offer stability but lower methane output. If you are not sure if your feedstock is suitable, we offer physical and chemical analysis to assess the suitability of potential biodigester feed materials as part our bio-lab services.
The overview below showcases feedstock tested and processed to date.
Dairy processing waste
Bakery products
Food manufacturing by-products
Agricultural waste
Abattoir waste
Sugary waste
Brewery waste
DAF sludge
Case studies
Booth Transport Strathmerton, Victoria – Waste treatment plant sludge
Gaia EnviroTech commenced its partnership with Booth Transport in 2020 with the installation of a modular Anaerobic Digestor (AD) facility with ancillary equipment.
This operation is largely automated requiring minimal day-to- day touch time and continuously captures data to monitor key performance criteria. The facility was sized to accept a primary feedstock of wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) sludge and accept small volumes of secondary feedstock on an ad-hoc basis.
Dairy farm in Regional Victoria – Dairy effluent
The system in this case study was installed in November 2018 as a 12-month research and development project to establish viability of an anaerobic digestion plant designed to convert dairy effluent to energy and minimise odour.
The pilot unit is a 160m3 prototype system and is a novel modular multistage
‘biodigester’ to capture biogas released during the anaerobic digestion process. The sequential flow system ensures manure is effectively retained for a defined duration.
The average feed loading was12m3/day and held in the system for 13 days, resulting in production of approximately 250m3 of biogas per day.
Cheese factory in Tasmania – AD trial on whey and permeate
This case study displays to results of an AD trial on both whey and permeate at a semi-commercial level in an Australian setting.
The pilot unit was successfully installed and operated for 315 days during 2021 and 2022. The outcomes on all target levels have been achieved and better than expected production levels have been achieved in gas production.
Bio-laboratory services
At Gaia EnviroTech we have a dedicated biodigester laboratory specialising in multistage anaerobic digestion. We have a suite of existing test capabilities but can also investigate new aspects related to anaerobic digestion. Contact us and find out if your feedstock is suitable for anaerobic digestion.
Testwork capabilities include:
- Physical and chemical analysis to assess the suitability of potential biodigester feed materials
- Assess potential feed pre-digestion
- Biomethane potential (BMP) for feedstocks
- Assess feedstock performance using a laboratory multistage biodigester
- Assess potential post-digestion requirements
Our modular approach
Modular by design, Gaia EnviroTech solutions are easily expandable to match waste volumes:
- Add cells to increase waste treatment capacity
- Client investment and returns can scale with business growth
- Add modules for hot water, gas and electricity production
- Low-cost delivery and fast installation
- Small and configurable footprint for local installation
- Maximised biogas production with multi-stage digestion process
Latest anaerobic digestion news
Case study: Start-up and operation of Anaerobic Digestion facility Booth Transport
Read this case study on how the Gaia Envirotech and Booth Transport teams worked together to optimise renewable gas production and maintain a healthy microbe environment whilst treating variable organic waste sources. This installation has the capacity to treat 5,500...
Gaia EnviroTech team delivers hands-on training at Ellinbank SmartFarm
The Gaia EnviroTech team recently hosted a productive and hands-on training day at the Victorian Government’s Ellinbank SmartFarm, where they focused on the installation of the cutting-edge Gaia Anaerobic Digestion (AD) system. The session was a significant milestone...
National guidelines for dairy feedpads and contained housing
The release by Agriculture Victoria and Dairy Australia of the ‘National Guidelines for Dairy Feedpads and Contained Housing’ provides great guidance on the design and management of feedpads and housing systems for dairy cattle. These guidelines emphasise effective...