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JP Concrete has completed a total of seven silage clamps and storage pads for Beeswax Dyson Farming's AD plants in Lincolnshire.
Combined, the facilities produce almost 5MW, powering 10,400 homes via the National Grid.
The pre-cast retaining wall units from JP Concrete have been installed at the Nocton Fen and Carrington AD plants, as well as at five satellite pad locations in the local area.
The two silage clamps and five 50m x 50m freestanding satellite pads enable Beeswax Dyson Farming to meet Silage Slurry and Agricultural Fuel Oil storage (SSAFO) regulations and provide greater flexibility for its harvesting and storage of energy crops such as maize, and food crops that include rye and barley.
Paul Carrott, Farm Manager at Beeswax Dyson Farming, said: "Our new satellite pads allow us to use the crops we harvest as and when required – not just for our AD plants, but for general temporary storage. This greatly reduces vehicle journeys around the surrounding villages, meaning less impact during the busy harvest time. On energy crops alone, we harvest 2150 ha annually."
Beeswax Dyson Farming's contractors installed the earth bank retaining walls, whilst Modular Cubed (JP Concrete's sister company) utilised their own 73-tonne truck-mounted crane to install 3m high, 5.6T dividing T-wall sections.
Mr Carrott added: "The pre-cast products from JP Concrete, which are of excellent quality, were supplied and installed very quickly. The decision was taken to use the existing earth banks on the outer walls of the clamp to provide a base to form new 3m high precast earth bank retaining walls. And because we would be storing a variety of crops, a central dividing wall was constructed using pre-cast modular T-walls, which has certainly improved the way me manage our AD feedstock."
From both Nocton Fen (Beeswax Dyson Farming's first AD plant) and Carrington (commissioned in 2016), a very high quality digestate (applied to the land) has significantly increased the land's fertility and organic matter. This complements the company's sustainable crop rotation and diversity of cropping to enhance the health of the soil, reduce weeds and improve the utilisation of fixed costs.
Phil Sayers from JP Concrete, said: "We aim to provide the AD/agricultural industry with much more than just precast products, offering our experience with design, and via our sister company, Modular Cubed, a complete installation service."
He added: "Helping Beeswax Dyson Farming implement their sustainable and logistically sound approach to crops, land and renewable energy is work that we are extremely proud of."
Previously, JP Concrete created an all-encompassing storage and safety solution to ensure the smooth and efficient operation of a new AD plant in Reading for meat and vegetable producers Butlers Services. JP Concrete supplied concrete bund walling for three digestate tanks, a silage clamp and a retaining wall for site access. They also provided all design calculations and drafting services, as well as carrying out the installation and sealing of the units.
