Project Greenpoint, as it’s known, will see cuttings taken from around South Gloucestershire and then converted into biomethane using something called an anaerobic digester.

From there, the biomethane will be piped into the grid and over 40,000 people living in in Bridgwater, Somerset will be able to use it to power their homes.

The fuel is being processed by Cannington enterprises, and the firm hopes that in the future they could also use food waste to create even more clean energy.

South Gloucestershire local council, who are behind the scheme, have said they’re hoping the project will reduce carbon emissions and cut some of the costs involved in the collection of domestic food waste.

“Putting grass into anaerobic digesters to make biogas to reduce the use of fossil fuels isn’t new, but in developing the idea the council recognised that collecting enough from highway verges and amenity areas, in a cost and carbon efficient way, has yet to be established. This is one of the challenges that the project seeks to overcome. The other significant benefit of ‘cut and collect’ is the improvement in biodiversity and carbon storage at verge side while also reducing the rate of grass growth which means less cutting and lower carbon emissions.”

South Gloucestershire local council spokesperson

The grass sits in the digestor and ‘swirls around’ for 45 days. During that time, it breaks down, releases methane gas, we upgrade that to biomethane and then we’re able to inject that directly into the national grid network on a pipeline that passes the site. The amount of grass currently being received was relatively small so was being blending with maize and other crops, but of course there’s lots of verges that could be mowed and brought in. Currently, we’ve processed the best part of 70,000 tonnes of maize, rye and grass silage.”

Alan Armstead – Commercial Director, Cannington Enterprises

There’s another Anaerobic Digester in Avonmouth that the council also hope to involve in the scheme and although that facility is currently unable to accept grass cuttings, it’s hoped that that could change soon.

“The Geneco AD plant operators are in the final stages of the process seeking approval from Ofgem for the permit required to receive cut grass delivered by the Council, co-mingled with food waste. Currently, all domestic food waste collected in South Gloucestershire is disposed of via anaerobic digestion and Greenprint is investigating whether co-mingling of grass and food presents a future opportunity to reduce carbon emissions.”

South Gloucestershire local council spokesperson

Both projects are part of something called ADEPT Live Labs 2: Decarbonising Local Roads in the UK, a three year, UK-wide initiative that aims to decarbonise the local highway network with innovative solutions.