Success for Base Structures proves that the low carbon sector is creating huge new opportunities for smart green innovation

Low Carbon South West member company Base Structures design and build world class tensile fabric structures. Their vast portfolio includes everything from iconic fabric structures that define a building to smaller-scale tension structures. But recently they have been diversifying by moving into the developing market of biogas storage.

Biogas storage is a fundamental part of all anaerobic digestion systems; which are a low carbon way of producing energy from waste. With capacities ranging from 5m3 to 5,000m3, biogas holders are used to regulate the supply of methane gas produced from the decomposition of slurry and organic waste. The membrane gas holder is designed to work like a flexible lung, increasing in size to accommodate extra gas when the anaerobic digester plant is producing more than required and then accurately supplementing the supply when the AD plant is not in itself providing quite enough.

Base Structures have recently landed two major contracts for biogas storage. One of these contracts came directly as a result of initial contacts made at ETS UK 2011, the South West's leading Environmental Trade Show organised by Low Carbon South West, where Burdens group representatives first viewed a display model.

Recently, leading lights in anaerobic digestion Methanogen UK Ltd approached Base Structures to develop a small scale membrane biogas holder to act as a buffer in their Biogastronomy systems. With a capacity of only 0.2m2, the initial biogas holder will form part of a portable demonstration model used to raise awareness of anaerobic digestion technology by bringing it to events, community groups and the general public.

Base Structures now have a major contract with the Burdens Group, well known as one of the UK's largest suppliers of civil engineering and building materials and who have recently developed their own high tech anaerobic digestion plant - and it all began at ETS UK 2011.

Burdens immediately recognised the benefits of the simple, modular unit, as it fitted the design of their new AD plant perfectly, where every component of the system is an individual "plug and play" unit.

In addition to their biogas storage work, Base Structures are also proud to be involved in the 'Up at The O2' roofwalk, the innovative and unique new visitor attraction at The O2 in Greenwich, London. This groundbreaking project is unlike anything ever constructed in the UK and draws on the company's extensive expertise in their field. For the full story and photos from this amazing project, please see the Base Structures website.

Congratulations Base Structures!