Ensuring Quality and Consistency in Biogas Across Multiple AD Plants

Qila Energy is a British engineering company who build Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plants throughout the British Isles. Their revolutionary two-stage process drastically reduces the time required to produce high quality biogas from varied feedstocks.

Qila Energy is an industry leader of the UK’s farm-based AD industry producing high quality biogas that can be converted into electricity and injected into the National Grid.

All Qila Energy plants have been constructed to be flexible and cost effective, for use with a wide range of feedstocks, including cost effective materials such as manure and straw, for a sustainable, long term additional income.

Due to the nature and magnitude of its market-leading operations, it is crucial that Qila Energy’s supply partners demonstrate product innovation, state-of-the-art data analysis solutions and outstanding levels of customer service. Most importantly they must be able to resolve any issues as quickly as possible in order to minimise downtime and revenue loss.

In October 2014, Qila Energy began installing Geotech’s fixed gas analyser, the GA3000 PLUS* in 12 AD plants across the UK. This enabled Qila Energy to take advantage of the analyser’s robust nature to monitor CH4, CO2 and O2 levels with the additional option to measure H2S, H2 and CO.

The use of Geotech’s GA3000 PLUS was further complemented by Geotech’s portable gas analyser the BIOGAS 5000, which enabled Qila Energy to enjoy continuous quality analysis and reporting through its consistent and reliable collection of data. Easy to use, calibrate and configure, the BIOGAS 5000 continues to support the efficiency of Qila Energy’s fermentation process, ultimately providing the company with insights that enables it to change gas levels for optimum performance.

The system is designed to avoid unnecessary operational downtime as operators can easily install a temporary replacement analyser during servicing with the Geotech ‘hot swap’ service. This ensures a consistent, high level of productivity while maintaining equipment to the highest standard.

Mick Barker, Head of Operations at Qila Energy said: “Geotech provides the best gas analysis equipment that adheres to the highest certification standards, and we have enjoyed quick response and excellent service from its technical and customer service teams.”

He continues: “The best part about using Geotech’s analysers is that they offer the ability to have our equipment serviced off site as they provide a temporary unit ‘hot swap’ in the interim. For us this is the most appealing part of our partnership as it ensures we have continuity on site.”

Qila Energy recorded immediate results upon installing the BIOGAS 5000, rectifying previous issues with its former gas analysis equipment, which wasn’t displaying the required results. Furthermore, the results achieved have strengthened Qila Energy’s confidence of reaching its 92% full load target.

The consistent monitoring and accurate analysis provided by the BIOGAS 5000 and GA3000 PLUS show that Qila Energy’s plants are running within its desired parameters.

Qila Energy has exciting plans for expansion within which Geotech analysers will play an instrumental role.

“We are very happy with the results we have achieved with Geotech thus far. Therefore, we will be using their analysers on all our future projects,” Mick concluded.