EcoNomad Secures £400K to Empower Small Livestock Farms with Waste-to-Energy Solutions
UK-based EcoNomad Solutions raises £400K to help small livestock farms reduce methane emissions and energy costs through its BioNomad system, which converts organic waste into renewable energy and biofertiliser. The funding includes £230K from the British Design Fund and support from Innovate UK and Beeches Group.
UK startup EcoNomad Solutions has secured £400,000 in funding to support small livestock farms in cutting methane emissions and lowering energy and fertiliser costs. The investment includes £230,000 from the British Design Fund (BDF), alongside an Innovate UK Investor Partnership grant and additional backing from existing investor Beeches Group.
## Addressing Challenges for Small Farms
Small and mid-sized livestock farms in the UK and Europe face rising energy and fertiliser costs, stricter waste management regulations, and pressure to reduce methane emissions. However, most anaerobic digestion systems are designed for large farms, making them impractical for smaller operators. EcoNomad’s BioNomad system aims to bridge this gap by offering an affordable, scalable solution tailored for smaller farms.
## The BioNomad System
The BioNomad captures methane emissions, converts organic waste into biogas for heating, cooking, or electricity, and produces high-quality biofertiliser. A smallholding with around 50 cows could save thousands of pounds annually on energy and fertiliser, depending on usage. The system was inspired by decentralised waste-to-energy solutions Dr Ilan Adler observed in Latin America, adapted for colder climates and regulatory environments in the UK and Europe.
## Founder’s Vision and Expansion Plans
Dr Ilan Adler, founder and CEO of EcoNomad Solutions, has over 20 years of experience in environmental engineering and renewable energy. He developed the BioNomad with support from a Royal Academy of Engineering fellowship, and the system is now operational on farms in the UK and internationally. EcoNomad’s technology is deployed on over 10 UK farms, with additional installations in Africa and trials in insect farming, food waste management, and integrated renewable systems.
The company plans to evolve the BioNomad into a fully automated, plug-and-play system, simplifying operations for farmers. Future goals include scaling commercial deployment across the UK and expanding into Europe and emerging markets, with a long-term vision of making on-farm waste-to-energy solutions more accessible to small farms globally.
Damon Bonser, CEO of the British Design Fund, praised EcoNomad’s innovative approach, stating that their decentralised anaerobic digestion system has the potential to deliver significant environmental and economic benefits for small farms worldwide.
