Australian start-up Earthlee has signed a deal with UK company Aardvark to bring organics-to-energy technology to Australia.
According to Earthlee, the partnership will offer a wide range of organics treatments (biogas and anaerobic digesters) suitable for different sections of the Australian market.
Since mid-2017, Earthlee has been researching the current and emerging technology options for organics treatment and energy generation around the world with a view to introducing them to Australia.
“Of all the systems and teams we’ve assessed, we were most impressed with the range of organic treatment systems available with QUBE, and the strong expertise in system design, management and optimisation via the parent company, Aardvark,” Earthlee Managing Director Adam Odeh said.
Aardvark is recognised as a leader in the UK, running seminars on optimising systems and feedstock. It’s also now leading the nation in developing accreditation standards for systems and management with peak bodies and the UK government.
“For organics treatment to grow in Australia, we need to draw on the experts who design and manage not only their own systems, but are also called in to fix up systems designed by others,” Mr Odeh said. “Combined with our business expertise in Australia, we believe we have a strong partnership team and can now provide quotes and installations in Australia.”
Unlike many other countries, Australia still allows organics material – food and garden organics – to go to waste and rot in landfill. In many other countries, this material is diverted to make compost and mulch for farmers and gardens. This reduces fertiliser use and creates clean, renewable energy as biogas or electricity via a turbine.
“We now offer six different technology options to suit the needs of almost every type of site, ‘waste’ feedstock material, energy demand profile and operator skillset,” Mr Odeh said.
“Currently, Australia only has a few large AD (anaerobic digestion) or biogas plants running, and they almost all rely on large quantities hauled in by truck, high capital outlay, major energy demand on site, and specialist expertise. These requirements minimise the successful adoption of organics-to-energy treatment in Australia.”
Earthlee says it is looking forward to turning organic ‘waste’ into valuable resources and energy for Australian consumers.