Biofuels and 'green energy' producer SS Agri Power is focus on production of its new PlantGrow fertiliser rather than on electricity generation.

PlantGrow was developed as a means of utilising the residue produced by the company’s anaerobic digester whilst generating ‘green’ electricity. But the interest shown in the new plant food persuaded them to commit its facilities to PlantGrow production. From now on, it is electricity that will be the by-product.

In order to guarantee the purity of PlantGrow, only crops grown specifically for the purpose of producing the fertiliser can be used. The digester has undergone an intensive 60-day deep clean to remove all traces of previous waste, however small.

The project has meant working closely with the Environment Agency so the product can be accurately classed as a pure, chemical-free fertiliser for use in horticulture. New protocols and standards had to be developed, as this was the first product of its kind.

Anaerobic digesters produce electricity by breaking down plant material (for example, crops such as maize or food waste). For the purposes of producing PlantGrowTM, zero waste - not even a small sticker on an ex-supermarket apple - can be allowed to pass through the digester if the product is to meet the strict rules on what is pure and waste free.

Steve Suggitt, of SS Agri Power, said: “We are very excited at the reaction we are already getting from horticulturalists and gardeners. What started as an interesting experiment has opened up a new market in the gardening sector and is rapidly developing into a significant business for us.”

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