Waitrose Farms becomes first UK retailer to power tractors on its own biogas

Based near Stockbridge, Hampshire, the 1,130 hectare Leckford Estate has been the farming base for Waitrose for the last 94 years. Originally purchased by the partnership's founder, the business continues to produce commodities for the retailers national supermarket chain.

Reflecting its wider strategy to become carbon neutral by 2035, the farm has installed a biomethane collection system developed by Cornish-based Bennaman. Currently the largest system of its type commissioned, the site uses the solid manure from the 500 head beef unit, which is processed into a slurry using a fixed Triolet stationary mixer and modified Vogelsang separator.

The system developed by Bennaman was originally designed to operate with liquid slurry from dairy units, however the requirements from the John Lewis Partnership (JLP) pushed the development of a system which can use solid manures.