The Wales Centre of Excellence for Anaerobic Digestion (The AD Centre) was established at the University of South Wales in 2008. The University has been researching and developing Anaerobic Digestion (AD) related processes since the mid 1970's, and the initial aim of the AD Centre was to provide a mechanism through which this academic knowledge could benefit the development of the emerging AD industry.

Since 2008, the AD industry in the UK and across the world has evolved considerably, and so too has the AD Centre.

The AD Centre delivers industry led research projects focussed on the development of biological processes that can be integrated with industrial operations such as renewable energy generation, waste and wastewater treatment, recovery processes or manufacturing processes to deliver a range of benefits such as material and economic efficiencies and reduction of environmental impacts.

We work with industry and a number of other stakeholders to develop and implement innovative solutions and to optimise existing processes. Projects range in scale from a few days of targeted research through to 3+ year collaborative research programmes, and all of our work is delivered with academic rigour.

Our broad fields of activity include:

• Optimisation of Anaerobic Digestion facilities
• Added value products from bio-materials and by-products
• Added value products from industrial waste gases
• Biological processes to store renewable energy

The AD Centre was established with funding from the Welsh Government (2008-2013) and the European Regional Development Fund (2010 - 2014)