Ecotricity will produce gas from grass

British green energy company, Ecotricity, submitted a planning application for a Green Gas Mill at Sparsholt College – a partnership that will inject EUR60 million into the local economy.

The Green Gas Mills will make gas from grass – sourced from marginal land on farms in the local area. The by-product of the process will go back onto the farmers’ fields to improve the soil.

As part of the unique partnership, Ecotricity will finance and build the Green Gas Mill, with an initial EUR10 million investment, and will also help fund the development of a renewable energy centre, where the college can train the workforce necessary to support the green gas revolution coming to Britain.

Ecotricity introduced the concept of making green gas from grass in Britain early last year, and if the company’s application to Winchester City Council is accepted, the Green Gas Mill will pump EUR3 million into the local economy every year for the twenty years of its operation.

Dale Vince, Ecotricity founder, said: “Sparsholt is one of the first Green Gas Mills we’re looking to build in Britain – one of the first in what will be a green gas revolution in this country. And what’s particularly special is that, together with Sparsholt, we’ll be helping to train the green gas engineers Britain will need.”

Up to eight specialist professional jobs will be created to run the Green Gas Mill, while the new supply contracts with farmers – providing the grass and rye feedstock required to supply the anaerobic digestion process – will also reinforce existing jobs.