Two of the firms to first pioneer the use of anaerobic digestion technology for the treatment of municipal solid waste in the UK have merged in a move which they claim will "significantly change" the face of the industry.
BIOGEN (UK) Ltd, which runs a flagship 42,000 tonne-a-year capacity AD plant at Twinwoods in Bedfordshire, has taken over Shropshire-based engineering company Greenfinch.
Greenfinch runs a 5,000 tonne-a-year capacity plant in Ludlow which was the first full-scale AD facility to treat municipal waste in the UK (see letsrecycle.com story) and is one of Defra's New Technologies Demonstrator projects.
The new company, entitled BiogenGreenfinch, now plans to deliver "a fully integrated AD solution to the agricultural, food, waste and water industries and to local authorities" and will employ 43 people.
Michael Chesshire, founder of Greenfinch and technology director of BiogenGreenfinch, said: "Britain needs a strong home grown AD industry and BiogenGreenfinch brings together the expertise and resources of two pioneering companies which have invested heavily in the development of the technology for food waste, for agriculture and for the water industry."
He added: "Interest in AD has increased enormously over the past two years because of its strong credentials as a low carbon technology, addressing the challenges of landfill diversion, energy costs, fertiliser costs and resource management."
Biogen build and operate AD plants to convert food waste and animal slurry into energy and biofertilser. Its facilities treat food waste from local authorities and food manufacturers and slurry from a pig farming operation run by its parent company, Bedfordia.
Greenfinch is an engineering company that provides AD technology for sewage, slurry and food waste treatment. It designed, built and runs the South Shropshire Biodigester in Ludlow.
Investment
Dan Poulson, chief executive of BiogenGreenfinch said: "This is an exciting milestone for both companies. BiogenGreenfinch has secured funding from Bedfordia Group plc which has invested a total of £18m to develop the business. The consolidation of two such complementary businesses enables a significant increase in research and development investment, improving further on the second generation AD plant currently under construction and ten further plants in development."
An AD facility planned by BIOGEN is currently under construction at Westwood, near Rushden in Northamptonshire, and is set to process 45,000 tonnes of food waste each year and produce enough electricity to power 2,000 homes. It is expected to be operational by March next year (see letsrecycle.com story).
John Ibbett, chairman of BiogenGreenfinch and of Bedfordia Group said: "We feel privileged and delighted to be joining forces. Both Biogen and Greenfinch have grown from family businesses with strong values and these will continue to be upheld."
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Monday, October 27, 2008
Recent Conferences Feature on AD when Reducing Waste to Landfill
There have been a number of events and conferences that have taken place so far this Autumn in the waste field that have been set up with the key driver of reducing waste sent to landfill - and guess what they include in their armoury of options, to do this - Anerobic Digestion!
The UK government's Defra funded New Technology Demonstrator Programme (NTDP) features in many of the events. The NTDP sets out to provide councils and staff from the local authorities with the opportunity of seeing new technologies for waste processing in operation, and for the lucky chosen few operators the opportunity to show off their technological prowess in developing these plants, commissioning, and operating them.
Information being gathered and publicised about the new technologies in the NTD Programme is playing a vital role in informing the discussions on a national scale.
Some recent conferences have been:
European Biofuels Expo and Conference
This conference took place in Nottingham on October 15th and 16th it aimed to balance the recent negative press and focus on the ‘good’ biofuels and how to address the challenges facing the industry. The 3rd annual event covered sustainable biofuel and bioenergy solutions for a low CO2, long-term sustainable future. Day 1 of the conference included speakers and workshops on biogas production through anaerobic digestion.
Food Waste Collection and Processing Conference (MRW)
This conference on October 16th aimed to “bring together innovative local authorities, Central Government policy makers, pioneering waste processing facilities and top consultants to set the path forward for a fully joined up solution to food waste.” Presentations included discussion around the WRAP food collection trails, in which the Biocycle Anaerobic Digestion plant, in Ludlow has participated. There was also a focus on incorporating business food in to local waste strategies, again, a scheme is being piloted in Ludlow with the Biocycle demonstrator facility.
As well as discussion on anaerobic digestion (AD), the key role of in-vessel composting (IVC) is also highlighted, and this new technology is demonstrated by Bioganix and Envar as part of the NTDP.
Scottish Waste and Resources Conference, Glasgow
Formally known as Eventful Scotland, this high profile event was held on October 7th and 8th.
Although not directly featuring any of the NTDP plants, this conference focused on some of the key issues being highlighted by the Defra Programme such as:
The UK government's Defra funded New Technology Demonstrator Programme (NTDP) features in many of the events. The NTDP sets out to provide councils and staff from the local authorities with the opportunity of seeing new technologies for waste processing in operation, and for the lucky chosen few operators the opportunity to show off their technological prowess in developing these plants, commissioning, and operating them.
Information being gathered and publicised about the new technologies in the NTD Programme is playing a vital role in informing the discussions on a national scale.
Some recent conferences have been:
European Biofuels Expo and Conference
This conference took place in Nottingham on October 15th and 16th it aimed to balance the recent negative press and focus on the ‘good’ biofuels and how to address the challenges facing the industry. The 3rd annual event covered sustainable biofuel and bioenergy solutions for a low CO2, long-term sustainable future. Day 1 of the conference included speakers and workshops on biogas production through anaerobic digestion.
Food Waste Collection and Processing Conference (MRW)
This conference on October 16th aimed to “bring together innovative local authorities, Central Government policy makers, pioneering waste processing facilities and top consultants to set the path forward for a fully joined up solution to food waste.” Presentations included discussion around the WRAP food collection trails, in which the Biocycle Anaerobic Digestion plant, in Ludlow has participated. There was also a focus on incorporating business food in to local waste strategies, again, a scheme is being piloted in Ludlow with the Biocycle demonstrator facility.
As well as discussion on anaerobic digestion (AD), the key role of in-vessel composting (IVC) is also highlighted, and this new technology is demonstrated by Bioganix and Envar as part of the NTDP.
Scottish Waste and Resources Conference, Glasgow
Formally known as Eventful Scotland, this high profile event was held on October 7th and 8th.
Although not directly featuring any of the NTDP plants, this conference focused on some of the key issues being highlighted by the Defra Programme such as:
. residual waste and its options;
• love food, hate waste;
• residual waste energy and heat;
• food waste experience; and
• anaerobic digestion.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
UK Government Consults on Plan to Slow Biofuel Targets
Transport minister Andrew Adonis launched a consultation today on the government's plan to slow its annual rise in targets for using biofuels within UK road transport fuel.
The consultation, which closes December 17, 2008, represents the response to this summer's Gallagher Review, which recommended a more cautious approach to promoting biofuels because of concerns about their social and environmental side-effects
The plan under consultation from today includes slowing the annual increase in renewable transport fuel targets to 0.5% each year.
This would see the target under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) rising to 5% in 2013/14, rather than in 2010/11 as in current plans.
Launching the consultation, Mr Adonis said: "Everyone agrees that to tackle climate change we must develop new and cleaner fuels. But we are clear that biofuels will only have a role to play in this if they are sustainably produced."
Within the consultation, the government said it wants to add biobutanol and hydrogenated renewable diesel to the list of renewable fuels that qualify under the RTFO, which requires all companies that supply more than 450,000 litres of petrol or diesel to UK forecourts to include proportions of renewable fuel within their supplied products.
EU target
The Department for Transport said it is still supporting the proposed European target of 10% renewable transport fuels by 2020, as being negotiated within the forthcoming Renewable Energy Directive.
But, contradicting its statement of support, the Department said the 10% target was "not presently justified by the scientific evidence" and would only be possible if new controls on land use change were enforced globally.
Transport ministers want the target to be kept open to review should new evidence emerge on the impacts of biofuels.
In the mean time, the government said sustainability criteria for biofuels are being negotiated and should address indirect as well as direct effects on land use, while the government said it aims to help draw up international standards and controls on biofuels "which reflect the international nature of the biofuels industry".
Long-term policy
As well as the immediate changes to the RTFO targets, which will be pushed through Parliament within the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (Amendment) Order 2009, today's consultation also poses some "long-term" policy questions.
The government is seeking views on issues that could help shape future UK biofuels policies, including support for using tallow as a biofuel, and how to encourage more production of second-generation biofuels - biofuels made from non-food crops.
Europe's draft Renewable Energy Directive suggests double rewards for biofuels from non-food sources, and the government in the UK also believes "we should aim to target support on the development of lower carbon and other so called ‘second generation' biofuels".
Further questions within the consultation ask for views on whether to split the RTFO to introduce quotas for first generation biofuels and separate targets for other renewable fuels. And, the government is looking into how to link the RTFO targets to carbon emissions savings achieved by biofuels, in order to encourage efficient production processes.
Research
Alongside the biofuels consultation today, the Department also announced a new £6 million injection of funding into research the Carbon Trust is carrying out into developing advanced biofuels.
Mr Adonis said: "We need to take a more cautious approach to biofuels and today's consultation sets out our options, as well as dedicating a further £6 million to helping ensure that second generation biofuels are truly sustainable."
The consultation, which closes December 17, 2008, represents the response to this summer's Gallagher Review, which recommended a more cautious approach to promoting biofuels because of concerns about their social and environmental side-effects
The plan under consultation from today includes slowing the annual increase in renewable transport fuel targets to 0.5% each year.
This would see the target under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) rising to 5% in 2013/14, rather than in 2010/11 as in current plans.
Launching the consultation, Mr Adonis said: "Everyone agrees that to tackle climate change we must develop new and cleaner fuels. But we are clear that biofuels will only have a role to play in this if they are sustainably produced."
Within the consultation, the government said it wants to add biobutanol and hydrogenated renewable diesel to the list of renewable fuels that qualify under the RTFO, which requires all companies that supply more than 450,000 litres of petrol or diesel to UK forecourts to include proportions of renewable fuel within their supplied products.
EU target
The Department for Transport said it is still supporting the proposed European target of 10% renewable transport fuels by 2020, as being negotiated within the forthcoming Renewable Energy Directive.
But, contradicting its statement of support, the Department said the 10% target was "not presently justified by the scientific evidence" and would only be possible if new controls on land use change were enforced globally.
Transport ministers want the target to be kept open to review should new evidence emerge on the impacts of biofuels.
In the mean time, the government said sustainability criteria for biofuels are being negotiated and should address indirect as well as direct effects on land use, while the government said it aims to help draw up international standards and controls on biofuels "which reflect the international nature of the biofuels industry".
Long-term policy
As well as the immediate changes to the RTFO targets, which will be pushed through Parliament within the Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (Amendment) Order 2009, today's consultation also poses some "long-term" policy questions.
The government is seeking views on issues that could help shape future UK biofuels policies, including support for using tallow as a biofuel, and how to encourage more production of second-generation biofuels - biofuels made from non-food crops.
Europe's draft Renewable Energy Directive suggests double rewards for biofuels from non-food sources, and the government in the UK also believes "we should aim to target support on the development of lower carbon and other so called ‘second generation' biofuels".
Further questions within the consultation ask for views on whether to split the RTFO to introduce quotas for first generation biofuels and separate targets for other renewable fuels. And, the government is looking into how to link the RTFO targets to carbon emissions savings achieved by biofuels, in order to encourage efficient production processes.
Research
Alongside the biofuels consultation today, the Department also announced a new £6 million injection of funding into research the Carbon Trust is carrying out into developing advanced biofuels.
Mr Adonis said: "We need to take a more cautious approach to biofuels and today's consultation sets out our options, as well as dedicating a further £6 million to helping ensure that second generation biofuels are truly sustainable."
More..
Anaerobic Digestion Quality Protocol nears Completion
AnDigestion Ltd, which currently requires 60-70 separate consents for digestate from its AD plant in Devon, has welcomed the Protocol.
A major regulatory barrier to the development of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants in the UK is close to being overcome, with work to develop a "quality protocol" for the process now nearing completion, writes James Cartledge.
The Protocol will allow companies generating energy through the AD process to deal with the residues from the process more easily - opening the door to potentially hundreds or even thousands of new schemes in the UK.
Anaerobic digestion generates energy from organic waste materials including household or commercial food waste, as well as agricultural wastes and slurry. The technology involves huge tanks in which the organic material is broken down by bacteria, which generate energy-rich "biogas", which is mainly methane.
But while the solid residues from the process is a useful nitrogen-rich fertiliser, farmers seeking to use it on their fields are currently hindered by its legal classification as a "waste".
The new Quality Protocol will mean that if the digestate material is produced to a certain standard - known as PAS 110 and also nearing completion - the fertiliser will not be classed as a waste in the eyes of the law.
Yesterday saw the developers of the Protocol, the government's Waste and Resources Action Programme, granting the UCAS-accredited scheme independence by formally handing over its operation to the Renewable Energy Association.
At the REA's Bioenergy 2008 event in Birmingham, the Association announced formation of a new oversight panel for the AD Quality Protocol, chaired by Defra policy advisor Roger Unwin. The REA is now inviting representatives of different industry sectors interested in anaerobic digestion to come forward to become members of the Protocol oversight panel.
Mr Unwin said yesterday: "I have been asked to announce that there will be an REA biogas certification scheme, it will be working with this Quality Protocol to a PAS 110 standard, which should shortly be available."
The final form of the Protocol is awaiting only the sign-off from the Environment Agency, which polices waste regulations including governing the spreading of organic waste-derived fertilisers on land. More...
A major regulatory barrier to the development of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants in the UK is close to being overcome, with work to develop a "quality protocol" for the process now nearing completion, writes James Cartledge.
The Protocol will allow companies generating energy through the AD process to deal with the residues from the process more easily - opening the door to potentially hundreds or even thousands of new schemes in the UK.
Anaerobic digestion generates energy from organic waste materials including household or commercial food waste, as well as agricultural wastes and slurry. The technology involves huge tanks in which the organic material is broken down by bacteria, which generate energy-rich "biogas", which is mainly methane.
But while the solid residues from the process is a useful nitrogen-rich fertiliser, farmers seeking to use it on their fields are currently hindered by its legal classification as a "waste".
The new Quality Protocol will mean that if the digestate material is produced to a certain standard - known as PAS 110 and also nearing completion - the fertiliser will not be classed as a waste in the eyes of the law.
Yesterday saw the developers of the Protocol, the government's Waste and Resources Action Programme, granting the UCAS-accredited scheme independence by formally handing over its operation to the Renewable Energy Association.
At the REA's Bioenergy 2008 event in Birmingham, the Association announced formation of a new oversight panel for the AD Quality Protocol, chaired by Defra policy advisor Roger Unwin. The REA is now inviting representatives of different industry sectors interested in anaerobic digestion to come forward to become members of the Protocol oversight panel.
Mr Unwin said yesterday: "I have been asked to announce that there will be an REA biogas certification scheme, it will be working with this Quality Protocol to a PAS 110 standard, which should shortly be available."
The final form of the Protocol is awaiting only the sign-off from the Environment Agency, which polices waste regulations including governing the spreading of organic waste-derived fertilisers on land. More...
Agri-food Producers Could Do More to Send Food Waste to Anaerobic Digestion Plants says Greg Hilton
Bidwells Proposes Anaerobic Solution
Agri-food businesses and householders alike could be diverting more of their food waste to anaerobic digestion plants in order to save on volumes going to landfill and creating a renewable energy source.
Greg Hilton, Renewable Energy consultant for Bidwells Agribusiness said: “We throw away over 6 million tonnes of food waste each year, with the vast majority going to landfill. If we used just 10 per cent of this food waste in AD plants we would be able to supply 50,000 houses with clean, green energy. We would also have a significant impact on our carbon emissions as the food sector is responsible for around 20 per cent of the entire UK carbon emissions.
Diverting food waste from landfill, where it produces the damaging greenhouse gas methane, would make a big difference." The outputs of AD are electricity for use on site or export to the national grid, as well as heat for use in the business or nearby properties, and a rich bio-fertiliser, which could have added benefits for horticultural and agricultural land.
Increases in landfill tax and increased returns from renewable electricity are likely to make AD increasingly attractive in the future. Hilton said: "Anaerobic Digestion offers a win-win situation. It diverts waste from going to landfill, reduces greenhouse gas emissions, and provides high value, sustainable energy.
As energy prices increase, technology develops and pressure mounts to reduce carbon emissions, measures that are green and sustainable become increasingly popular and more viable.
At Bidwells we have…experience in evaluating the technical and economic viability of anaerobic digestion and biomass combined heat and power systems, and we predict that more and more projects will become economically viable over the coming years as margins improve and set up costs fall."
Meanwhile, Leicestershire County Council has recognised the potential value and benefits of anaerobic digestion and is offering support to businesses that would like to evaluate its potential. The council is offering grants of up to £5,000 for a maximum of half the value of an AD feasibility study and is keen to encourage businesses to take up the opportunity. More.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Hydrolysis Combined with Anaerobic Digestion is a Winner for Sewage Sludge Digestion Plant Operators
Many of the the companies which have been involved in sewage sludge digestion and are the most experienced in the field are using thermal hydrolysis within their chosen processes. These companies tend to develop their own slant on optimising the hydrolysis stage and to use their own trade name, neverthelsss there is a common reason for doing this and it is to increase the rate of conversion of organic matter, to reduce retention periods within the digester and improve gas yields.
We have uploaded a new page with the title "Hydrolysis, Sewage Sludge and Anaerobic Digestion", to the UK Anaerobic Digestion Community web site, based upon Veolia's experience with using hydrolysis a part of the digester systems, which provides more information on this.
Sewage sludge digestion has been carried out by anaerobic digestion at some UK sewage works since in the UK sewage sludge first began to accumulate in the new activated sludge type sewage works built from the 1950's in inland areas. However, most of it was simply discharged to the sea untreated until the 1970s including huge tonnages from our large cities. Fortunately, those days are long past with the practice outlawed by the European Union, and ever since then, the huge volumes produced have been treated and disposed of by a variety of methods. All are expensive, and the lowest cost option of discharge untreated to land, brings with it health and soil-metals build up problems, such that its use has to be limited.
As a result, safe and cost-effective disposal of sewage sludge is, without doubt, one of the biggest challenges now facing the wastewater industry. The high cost of energy means that some disposal routes such as incineration which were once favoured are less viable, and others have ceased to be economic.
However, as one technology fades another shines. That process is thermal hydrolysis, and when combined with anaerobic digestion they are a great combination.
Companies such as CAMBI, Monsal, and Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies have recognised this and produced their own proprietary systems. More about advanced AD with hydrolysis.
We have uploaded a new page with the title "Hydrolysis, Sewage Sludge and Anaerobic Digestion", to the UK Anaerobic Digestion Community web site, based upon Veolia's experience with using hydrolysis a part of the digester systems, which provides more information on this.
Sewage sludge digestion has been carried out by anaerobic digestion at some UK sewage works since in the UK sewage sludge first began to accumulate in the new activated sludge type sewage works built from the 1950's in inland areas. However, most of it was simply discharged to the sea untreated until the 1970s including huge tonnages from our large cities. Fortunately, those days are long past with the practice outlawed by the European Union, and ever since then, the huge volumes produced have been treated and disposed of by a variety of methods. All are expensive, and the lowest cost option of discharge untreated to land, brings with it health and soil-metals build up problems, such that its use has to be limited.
As a result, safe and cost-effective disposal of sewage sludge is, without doubt, one of the biggest challenges now facing the wastewater industry. The high cost of energy means that some disposal routes such as incineration which were once favoured are less viable, and others have ceased to be economic.
However, as one technology fades another shines. That process is thermal hydrolysis, and when combined with anaerobic digestion they are a great combination.
Companies such as CAMBI, Monsal, and Veolia Water Solutions & Technologies have recognised this and produced their own proprietary systems. More about advanced AD with hydrolysis.
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Somersets Best Practice for Collecting Food Waste
We make no apology for providing posts on food waste collection. We believe that many AD Projects will rely heavily on food waste for performance and profitabiity, and therefore that the AD Community will be interested in articles like this one which inform about the development of the relatively new art of food waste collection.
Somerset shares best practice for collecting food waste
29-09-2008
The Somerset Waste Partnership has recommended two ways in which councils can help successfully capture food waste which were "not fully covered" in recent WRAP research.
There are two aspects, not fully covered by the trials, involving food waste caddy liners and collection vehicles, which have been important features of our successful collections in Somerset
Published earlier this month (see letsrecycle.com story), the WRAP research was conducted by 19 local authorities serving over 94,000 households.
However, the SWP, which manages waste and recycling on behalf of Mendip, South Somerset, Sedgmoor and West Somerset district councils, Taunton Deane borough council and Somerset county council - has also provided food waste collections since October 2004 and serves over 165,000 households.
While welcoming the WRAP study, which highlighted public support for food waste collections, the SWP pointed out that it itself had increased yields through methods which were not discussed in detail.
In particular, it claimed it was not always necessary to provide free liners at a great cost to councils as had happened during the trials or to provide dedicated food waste collection vehicles - advocating selling liners locally and combined collection vehicles instead.
These methods have already helped the SWP to capture an average yield of 1.71 kg a household a week across Somerset, rising to 1.93kg in Taunton Deane. The SWP claimed that only two of the WRAP trials achieved more than this and overall averaged 1.7kg a household a week in areas where there were fortnightly refuse collections and 1.4kg a week for trials with weekly refuse collections.
David Mansell, strategy and communications team leader at the Somerset Waste Partnership, said: "The WRAP trials have increased knowledge on food waste collections, especially for multiple-occupancy housing and the performance that can be achieved over a range of local authorities, including those with weekly and fortnightly refuse collections. However, there are two aspects, not fully covered by the trials, involving food waste caddy liners and collection vehicles, which have been important features of our successful collections in Somerset."
Liners
While the WRAP study did acknowledge that the creation of an independent network for the distribution of liners could have the "added benefit of providing a new business opportunity for local retail outlets", WRAP said that the use of caddy liners was imperative in councils achieving high participation rates and issued them free of charge during the course of the study. Aware that there were certain resource implications, the study did state that the "associated avoided disposal costs could justify the provision of free liners".
However, the SWP said that when it first introduced food waste collections in 2004, the council stated that it could not afford to provide an on-going supply of caddy liners and instead promoted the use of newspaper to wrap food waste or line kitchen caddies and also made arrangements for liners to be sold in local shops.
Mr Mansell said: "Both options have worked well and retail liner sales have developed into a thriving local market, which we estimate could be worth over £450,000 a year in Somerset, with supermarkets and some local retailers now sourcing their own supplies."
Vehicles
The WRAP study also advocated the use of dedicated food collection vehicles, which the SWP contested.
The SWP currently operates combined collection vehicles which it says suits the rural layout of the authority.
Mr Mansell said: "The other feature of the Somerset collections which varies from the WRAP trials is the use of combined collection vehicles for greater operational efficiency, especially on collections in rural areas. The WRAP pilots used separate dedicated collection vehicles for food waste. In Somerset, our contractor, May Gurney, uses stillage vehicles which combine recycling and food waste collections."
Related links
The Partnership is currently undertaking trials of a three-way split compaction vehicle, which would have a section for food waste behind the driver's cab and split compaction chambers at the rear for plastics bottles and cardboard. The SWP pointed to the capabilities of this collection type and how it is currently used on the Isle of Wight to collect both food waste and refuse.
A 19-page information pack on Somerset's food waste collections is available from the Somerset Waste Partnership by emailing: enquiries@somerset.gov.uk
Somerset shares best practice for collecting food waste
29-09-2008
The Somerset Waste Partnership has recommended two ways in which councils can help successfully capture food waste which were "not fully covered" in recent WRAP research.
There are two aspects, not fully covered by the trials, involving food waste caddy liners and collection vehicles, which have been important features of our successful collections in Somerset
Published earlier this month (see letsrecycle.com story), the WRAP research was conducted by 19 local authorities serving over 94,000 households.
However, the SWP, which manages waste and recycling on behalf of Mendip, South Somerset, Sedgmoor and West Somerset district councils, Taunton Deane borough council and Somerset county council - has also provided food waste collections since October 2004 and serves over 165,000 households.
While welcoming the WRAP study, which highlighted public support for food waste collections, the SWP pointed out that it itself had increased yields through methods which were not discussed in detail.
In particular, it claimed it was not always necessary to provide free liners at a great cost to councils as had happened during the trials or to provide dedicated food waste collection vehicles - advocating selling liners locally and combined collection vehicles instead.
These methods have already helped the SWP to capture an average yield of 1.71 kg a household a week across Somerset, rising to 1.93kg in Taunton Deane. The SWP claimed that only two of the WRAP trials achieved more than this and overall averaged 1.7kg a household a week in areas where there were fortnightly refuse collections and 1.4kg a week for trials with weekly refuse collections.
David Mansell, strategy and communications team leader at the Somerset Waste Partnership, said: "The WRAP trials have increased knowledge on food waste collections, especially for multiple-occupancy housing and the performance that can be achieved over a range of local authorities, including those with weekly and fortnightly refuse collections. However, there are two aspects, not fully covered by the trials, involving food waste caddy liners and collection vehicles, which have been important features of our successful collections in Somerset."
Liners
While the WRAP study did acknowledge that the creation of an independent network for the distribution of liners could have the "added benefit of providing a new business opportunity for local retail outlets", WRAP said that the use of caddy liners was imperative in councils achieving high participation rates and issued them free of charge during the course of the study. Aware that there were certain resource implications, the study did state that the "associated avoided disposal costs could justify the provision of free liners".
However, the SWP said that when it first introduced food waste collections in 2004, the council stated that it could not afford to provide an on-going supply of caddy liners and instead promoted the use of newspaper to wrap food waste or line kitchen caddies and also made arrangements for liners to be sold in local shops.
Mr Mansell said: "Both options have worked well and retail liner sales have developed into a thriving local market, which we estimate could be worth over £450,000 a year in Somerset, with supermarkets and some local retailers now sourcing their own supplies."
Vehicles
The WRAP study also advocated the use of dedicated food collection vehicles, which the SWP contested.
The SWP currently operates combined collection vehicles which it says suits the rural layout of the authority.
Mr Mansell said: "The other feature of the Somerset collections which varies from the WRAP trials is the use of combined collection vehicles for greater operational efficiency, especially on collections in rural areas. The WRAP pilots used separate dedicated collection vehicles for food waste. In Somerset, our contractor, May Gurney, uses stillage vehicles which combine recycling and food waste collections."
Related links
The Partnership is currently undertaking trials of a three-way split compaction vehicle, which would have a section for food waste behind the driver's cab and split compaction chambers at the rear for plastics bottles and cardboard. The SWP pointed to the capabilities of this collection type and how it is currently used on the Isle of Wight to collect both food waste and refuse.
A 19-page information pack on Somerset's food waste collections is available from the Somerset Waste Partnership by emailing: enquiries@somerset.gov.uk
Wednesday, October 08, 2008
Anaerobic Digestion is the Way Forward Ruddock Says
An anaerobic digestion plant in Ludlow, which takes food waste from the town and turns it into electricity and compost, was described as ‘the way forward’ by Minister for Waste, Joan Ruddock when she visited the site last week.
The plant is part of Defra’s £30 million New Technologies Demonstrator Programme which tests innovative technology that could offer alternatives to landfill. The Ludlow partnership attributes some of its success to good communication with the local community, which has led to 70 percent of residents taking part in the voluntary food waste collection scheme which supplies the plant.
Anaerobic digestion breaks down organic matter to produce biogas which can be used as a renewable energy source for heat and power, and as a transport fuel. It produces a nutrient-rich digestate which can be used as fertiliser, and importantly it keeps organic waste out of landfill, which cuts greenhouse gas emissions. At its full potential it is thought anaerobic digestion could produce enough electricity to power 2 million homes.
Visiting the Ludlow plant, Joan Ruddock said:
Anyone interested can register for more information at: www.wrap.org.uk/ETF [Broken Link]
The plant is part of Defra’s £30 million New Technologies Demonstrator Programme which tests innovative technology that could offer alternatives to landfill. The Ludlow partnership attributes some of its success to good communication with the local community, which has led to 70 percent of residents taking part in the voluntary food waste collection scheme which supplies the plant.
Anaerobic digestion breaks down organic matter to produce biogas which can be used as a renewable energy source for heat and power, and as a transport fuel. It produces a nutrient-rich digestate which can be used as fertiliser, and importantly it keeps organic waste out of landfill, which cuts greenhouse gas emissions. At its full potential it is thought anaerobic digestion could produce enough electricity to power 2 million homes.
Visiting the Ludlow plant, Joan Ruddock said:
“Anaerobic digestion is extremely attractive. Why would we go on throwing food waste into holes in the ground when we could generate our own electricity and end up with a product that can be returned to the soil?
“It seems to me that a plant on this scale would fit into any industrial estate in the country. While the decision has to be taken locally – and in consultation with residents – I am sure this is the way forward.”
Defra is now making a further £10 million available for a programme to test the full range of applications and benefits of anaerobic digestion. This will be delivered through a capital grant competition run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme with assistance from the Carbon Trust. Between three and six projects will be selected, and bids will be invited in the autumn.
Anyone interested can register for more information at: www.wrap.org.uk/ETF [Broken Link]
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Further Boost for Anaerobic Digestion from DEFRA Demonstrators
Defra unveils fresh boost for AD
17-07-2008
Defra has announced the next stage of its £10 million anaerobic digestion demonstrator project with bids invited for between three and six new schemes which will be built to showcase the benefits of treating waste using the technology.
Ministers Joan Ruddock, Phil Woolas and Jeff Rooker met with industry and non-governmental organisation (NGO) executives yesterday (July 16) to discuss the future of the anaerobic digestion (AD) demonstrator projects. The scheme was originally announced by Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn, in February 2008.
"Our £10 million demonstration programme will provide a focus for joint action to make sure that the future development of anaerobic digestion in England is as cost-effective and environmentally beneficial as possible."
Phil Woolas, Energy Minister.
Defra met with the executives to discuss practical ways to achieve a major increase in the use of anaerobic digestion.
Energy minister Phil Woolas said: "Anaerobic digestion is still an emerging technology outside the water treatment industry in this country, and it's clear we are not yet making full use of its potential.
"It has a number of real environmental benefits which we want to maximise, but to do this we need to overcome certain barriers, like the chicken and egg stand-off which can discourage investment in unfamiliar technology, and the lack of understanding of its benefits or the value of its outputs.
He added "Our £10 million demonstration programme will provide a focus for joint action to make sure that the future development of anaerobic digestion in England is as cost-effective and environmentally beneficial as possible. We will be inviting bids for the projects in the autumn."
Barriers
The industry and Defra agreed at the meeting to work together to overcome barriers to greater use of AD and to take action to increase its capacity in the UK. Delegates at the event heard that AD has the potential to produce enough energy to power up to two million homes.
The AD demonstrator programme will be delivered through a capital grant competition run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme with assistance from the Carbon Trust.
Each of the three to six projects chosen will demonstrate how ‘state of the art' use of AD technology can make a significant contribution to achieving one or more of the following aims:
• maximising the cost effective production of biogas;
• maximising the environmental benefits from the use of anaerobic digestion and its products;
• maximising the potential of anaerobic digestion to reduce the carbon footprint of the food supply chain;
• maximising the opportunity for the injection of biomethane into the gas grid; and
• maximising the potential of anaerobic digestion to reduce the carbon footprint of water treatment infrastructure.
See the full article at LetsRecycle here.
17-07-2008
Defra has announced the next stage of its £10 million anaerobic digestion demonstrator project with bids invited for between three and six new schemes which will be built to showcase the benefits of treating waste using the technology.
Ministers Joan Ruddock, Phil Woolas and Jeff Rooker met with industry and non-governmental organisation (NGO) executives yesterday (July 16) to discuss the future of the anaerobic digestion (AD) demonstrator projects. The scheme was originally announced by Secretary of State for the Environment, Hilary Benn, in February 2008.
"Our £10 million demonstration programme will provide a focus for joint action to make sure that the future development of anaerobic digestion in England is as cost-effective and environmentally beneficial as possible."
Phil Woolas, Energy Minister.
Defra met with the executives to discuss practical ways to achieve a major increase in the use of anaerobic digestion.
Energy minister Phil Woolas said: "Anaerobic digestion is still an emerging technology outside the water treatment industry in this country, and it's clear we are not yet making full use of its potential.
"It has a number of real environmental benefits which we want to maximise, but to do this we need to overcome certain barriers, like the chicken and egg stand-off which can discourage investment in unfamiliar technology, and the lack of understanding of its benefits or the value of its outputs.
He added "Our £10 million demonstration programme will provide a focus for joint action to make sure that the future development of anaerobic digestion in England is as cost-effective and environmentally beneficial as possible. We will be inviting bids for the projects in the autumn."
Barriers
The industry and Defra agreed at the meeting to work together to overcome barriers to greater use of AD and to take action to increase its capacity in the UK. Delegates at the event heard that AD has the potential to produce enough energy to power up to two million homes.
The AD demonstrator programme will be delivered through a capital grant competition run by the Waste and Resources Action Programme with assistance from the Carbon Trust.
Each of the three to six projects chosen will demonstrate how ‘state of the art' use of AD technology can make a significant contribution to achieving one or more of the following aims:
• maximising the cost effective production of biogas;
• maximising the environmental benefits from the use of anaerobic digestion and its products;
• maximising the potential of anaerobic digestion to reduce the carbon footprint of the food supply chain;
• maximising the opportunity for the injection of biomethane into the gas grid; and
• maximising the potential of anaerobic digestion to reduce the carbon footprint of water treatment infrastructure.
See the full article at LetsRecycle here.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Report: Energy-from-Waste and Anaerobic Digestion (AD) is the Most Sustainable Option
Scottish waste policy set to lean towards CHP
04-07-2008
Two reports which will help form the "cornerstone" of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency's policy on the thermal treatment of waste have both advocated the use of combined heat and power.
The studies, which were published by SEPA in tandem yesterday (July 3), come in the wake of the Scottish Government's opposition to larger Energy-from-Waste facilities (including anaerobic digestion) which it views as "inefficient" (see letsrecycle.com story), and, perhaps reflecting this, they both recommend "small-scale" rather than large plants.
John Ferguson, SEPA
Research from both reports is currently being used to revise SEPA's Thermal Treatment Guidelines, which are set to be published in September 2008, and are described by the agency as "the cornerstone" of its policy on energy from waste.
"The guidelines will ensure that thermal treatment in Scotland enables the recovery of energy efficiently and does not impede waste prevention and recycling," SEPA explained.
While examining different aspects of waste management, both reports arrive at the conclusion that providing combined heat and power through Energy-from-Waste and anaerobic digestion (AD) is the most sustainable option available for various waste streams.
Energy
Published by consultancy AEA Environment and Energy, the first report, entitled 'The Evaluation of Energy from Biowaste Arisings and Forestry Residues in Scotland', assesses the energy value within the country's garden, kitchen and food waste, and related wastes.
And, it discovered that, of the 13.73 million tonnes of this kind of waste produced in Scotland each year, 9.634 million tonnes of it was "technically suitable to be processed in an anaerobic digestion or thermal treatment plant to obtain energy".
After analysing the energy content of these biowastes, the report calculated the potential for conversion to "useful" energy (heat or electricity) and, using combined heat and power as the preferred option, discovered that there is the potential for 2,285,200 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity and 8,784,1000 MWh to be produced.
Plants
The report estimated that 741 AD and 228 thermal treatment plants, "allowing localised energy production and waste treatment", would be required to achieve this level of electricity and heat production, and also claimed that it would offset up to 5.6% of Scotland's total net greenhouse gas emissions.
While it did not examine economic issues, the report concluded that: "Given the substantial technical potential, even if a modest proportion of this were to be economic, energy from waste has a material contribution to make to Scotland's energy supply."
04-07-2008
Two reports which will help form the "cornerstone" of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency's policy on the thermal treatment of waste have both advocated the use of combined heat and power.
The studies, which were published by SEPA in tandem yesterday (July 3), come in the wake of the Scottish Government's opposition to larger Energy-from-Waste facilities (including anaerobic digestion) which it views as "inefficient" (see letsrecycle.com story), and, perhaps reflecting this, they both recommend "small-scale" rather than large plants.
"There is recognition that waste at any level has an inherent value and that value can be recovered through the generation of heat and power."
John Ferguson, SEPA
Research from both reports is currently being used to revise SEPA's Thermal Treatment Guidelines, which are set to be published in September 2008, and are described by the agency as "the cornerstone" of its policy on energy from waste.
"The guidelines will ensure that thermal treatment in Scotland enables the recovery of energy efficiently and does not impede waste prevention and recycling," SEPA explained.
While examining different aspects of waste management, both reports arrive at the conclusion that providing combined heat and power through Energy-from-Waste and anaerobic digestion (AD) is the most sustainable option available for various waste streams.
Energy
Published by consultancy AEA Environment and Energy, the first report, entitled 'The Evaluation of Energy from Biowaste Arisings and Forestry Residues in Scotland', assesses the energy value within the country's garden, kitchen and food waste, and related wastes.
And, it discovered that, of the 13.73 million tonnes of this kind of waste produced in Scotland each year, 9.634 million tonnes of it was "technically suitable to be processed in an anaerobic digestion or thermal treatment plant to obtain energy".
After analysing the energy content of these biowastes, the report calculated the potential for conversion to "useful" energy (heat or electricity) and, using combined heat and power as the preferred option, discovered that there is the potential for 2,285,200 megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity and 8,784,1000 MWh to be produced.
Plants
The report estimated that 741 AD and 228 thermal treatment plants, "allowing localised energy production and waste treatment", would be required to achieve this level of electricity and heat production, and also claimed that it would offset up to 5.6% of Scotland's total net greenhouse gas emissions.
While it did not examine economic issues, the report concluded that: "Given the substantial technical potential, even if a modest proportion of this were to be economic, energy from waste has a material contribution to make to Scotland's energy supply."
Saturday, July 05, 2008
Biofuels: Rising Food Prices Force United Kingdom Government Rethink
Biofuels were being seen as the sustainable answer to both global warming and a means to take the sting out of rising fuel prices.
However, a report to be published on Monday 6 July 2008, is expected to force the Prime Minister Gordon Brown to rethink his support for using crops to keep Britain's cars and lorries running.
Unexpectedly rapidly rising world food prices look set to force Gordon Brown to take U-turn over the use of crops such as corn, rapeseed, palm and soya to produce fuel as an alternative to petrol and diesel.
A second and related report will also, the Independent Newspaper believes, force the UK government to revise its policies on food and the environment inevitably opening Mr Brown to the charge from environmental groups that he will be going soft on the Government's green agenda.
In the first report the Prime Minister will be been warned in a report by Professor Ed Gallagher, head of the Renewable Fuels Agency, that the rush for bio-fuels has made a "significant" contribution to the soaring cost of food on the global markets. Corn ethanol and biodiesel derived from vegetable oil were being widely being seen as important ways of creating fuel and combating carbon emissions which contribute to global warming, until these recent food cost increases.
Substantially increased use of biofuel was an important plank in Mr Brown's, and European environmental strategy. The UK government introduced targets in April in Britain requiring all petrol and diesel to contain 2.5 per cent of bio-fuels with the intention of doubling it to 5 per cent by 2010.
The policy has also been further developed in Europe where the EU has been debating a 10 per cent target by 2020. Professor Gallagher's report will say the production of fuels from "biomass" - non-food crops - may be sustainable but it challenges the targets for producing fuel from other crops normally used for food.
Greenpeace said biofuels initially "looked good on paper" but the Gallagher review would conclude that the risks are too great to impose higher targets.
The campaign group has called for a moratorium on targets, subsidies and tax breaks for bio-fuel consumption until it was clear that these fuels could be produced from sustainable sources.
Oxfam said: "It is clear that any additional pressure on limited land resources has the potential to drive further agriculture clearance of forests or other habitats and to drive up food prices."
The vast majority of the European biodiesel was made from rapeseed oil, said Oxfam. "As we divert more and more rapeseed crop into fuel, European industry is buying increasing supplies of edible oils from overseas including palm oil.
A second report by the UK Cabinet Office strategy unit is intended to launch a debate over how Britain uses its land more effectively to produce more food.
Anaerobic Digestion News: Our view is that Anaerobic Digestion of waste biomass IS capable of producing sustainable biofuels which do combat climate change.
However, a report to be published on Monday 6 July 2008, is expected to force the Prime Minister Gordon Brown to rethink his support for using crops to keep Britain's cars and lorries running.
Unexpectedly rapidly rising world food prices look set to force Gordon Brown to take U-turn over the use of crops such as corn, rapeseed, palm and soya to produce fuel as an alternative to petrol and diesel.
A second and related report will also, the Independent Newspaper believes, force the UK government to revise its policies on food and the environment inevitably opening Mr Brown to the charge from environmental groups that he will be going soft on the Government's green agenda.
In the first report the Prime Minister will be been warned in a report by Professor Ed Gallagher, head of the Renewable Fuels Agency, that the rush for bio-fuels has made a "significant" contribution to the soaring cost of food on the global markets. Corn ethanol and biodiesel derived from vegetable oil were being widely being seen as important ways of creating fuel and combating carbon emissions which contribute to global warming, until these recent food cost increases.
Substantially increased use of biofuel was an important plank in Mr Brown's, and European environmental strategy. The UK government introduced targets in April in Britain requiring all petrol and diesel to contain 2.5 per cent of bio-fuels with the intention of doubling it to 5 per cent by 2010.
The policy has also been further developed in Europe where the EU has been debating a 10 per cent target by 2020. Professor Gallagher's report will say the production of fuels from "biomass" - non-food crops - may be sustainable but it challenges the targets for producing fuel from other crops normally used for food.
Greenpeace said biofuels initially "looked good on paper" but the Gallagher review would conclude that the risks are too great to impose higher targets.
The campaign group has called for a moratorium on targets, subsidies and tax breaks for bio-fuel consumption until it was clear that these fuels could be produced from sustainable sources.
Oxfam said: "It is clear that any additional pressure on limited land resources has the potential to drive further agriculture clearance of forests or other habitats and to drive up food prices."
The vast majority of the European biodiesel was made from rapeseed oil, said Oxfam. "As we divert more and more rapeseed crop into fuel, European industry is buying increasing supplies of edible oils from overseas including palm oil.
A second report by the UK Cabinet Office strategy unit is intended to launch a debate over how Britain uses its land more effectively to produce more food.
Anaerobic Digestion News: Our view is that Anaerobic Digestion of waste biomass IS capable of producing sustainable biofuels which do combat climate change.
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Dorset Consent Soon for £3¼ million Anaerobic Digestion Plant
Dorset Composting Firm to Branch into AD
01-07-2008
Dorset-based composting firm Eco Sustainable Solutions is adding to its portfolio of facilities with a £3 ¼ million anaerobic digestion site which is currently in the final planning stages and a brand new transfer station.
Trelawney Dampney, managing director of Eco Sustainable Solutions, revealed yesterday that he expects to get consent for a £3 ¼ million anaerobic digestion (AD) plant within the next three or four months.
He also hopes the company's £10 million biomass generator, which was first proposed in 2006 (see letsrecycle.com story), will have gained planning permission by the end of this year.
The AD facility, which is expected to go to Piddlehinton, five miles north of Dorchester, will process 35,000 tonnes of waste per year. Mr Dampney said it was a "sizeable investment" for the company and once built, would be their second largest site.
The plant will take in food waste, green waste and pig slurry from local farms. Mr Dampney expects the final product will be returned to the site in Parley to be blended and sold on for use in horticulture, although he anticipates that some will be used for agriculture.
Mr Dampney explained that so far the AD project had been entirely funded by Eco Sustainable Solutions "but we may look to get support from WRAP to assist us in funding construction."
He added that the firm had not decided on the type of equipment for the AD plant yet but were looking at "two or three tenders at the moment and will decide within the next three months."
Biomass
The AD plant is part of the bigger picture for Eco Sustainable Solutions. It is also planning to build a £10 million biomass generator at their site in Parley. It is currently awaiting a planning decision for the 2.5MW power station.
Eco Sustainable Solutions is hoping to run the biomass generator of dirty waste wood sourced from civic amenity sites.
Mr Dampney said:
Full LetsRecycle article here.
01-07-2008
Dorset-based composting firm Eco Sustainable Solutions is adding to its portfolio of facilities with a £3 ¼ million anaerobic digestion site which is currently in the final planning stages and a brand new transfer station.
Trelawney Dampney, managing director of Eco Sustainable Solutions, revealed yesterday that he expects to get consent for a £3 ¼ million anaerobic digestion (AD) plant within the next three or four months.
He also hopes the company's £10 million biomass generator, which was first proposed in 2006 (see letsrecycle.com story), will have gained planning permission by the end of this year.
The AD facility, which is expected to go to Piddlehinton, five miles north of Dorchester, will process 35,000 tonnes of waste per year. Mr Dampney said it was a "sizeable investment" for the company and once built, would be their second largest site.
The plant will take in food waste, green waste and pig slurry from local farms. Mr Dampney expects the final product will be returned to the site in Parley to be blended and sold on for use in horticulture, although he anticipates that some will be used for agriculture.
Mr Dampney explained that so far the AD project had been entirely funded by Eco Sustainable Solutions "but we may look to get support from WRAP to assist us in funding construction."
He added that the firm had not decided on the type of equipment for the AD plant yet but were looking at "two or three tenders at the moment and will decide within the next three months."
Biomass
The AD plant is part of the bigger picture for Eco Sustainable Solutions. It is also planning to build a £10 million biomass generator at their site in Parley. It is currently awaiting a planning decision for the 2.5MW power station.
Eco Sustainable Solutions is hoping to run the biomass generator of dirty waste wood sourced from civic amenity sites.
Mr Dampney said:
"It moves us more into the future with the waste and energy sector especially going forward with a biomass generator. Our goal has always been to maximize the back-end value of everything we produce."
Full LetsRecycle article here.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Bio-methane for Transport Vehicle Use Encouraged in United Kingdom
The following post was placed on the KARAMEL web site and appeared in Biogasmax ( www.biogasmax.eu ) on 6 March 2008, and although it is not exactly a new posting, I thought it of sufficient interest to include here.
I am not absolutely certain about the definition of bio-methanisation as used by the Europeans, but in this context it appears to be refering to the scrubbing and compressing of biologically produced methane, as is produced by anaerobic digestion.
The posting follows:-
To underline his point about the huge potential of bio-methane, John Baldwin quotes the experiences of Biogasmax partners such as Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, and the French town of Lille, which has an Organic Waste Valorisation Centre supplying bio-methane to the city’s buses. At the Biogasmax Friends Day, held in Bern on January 30 2008, our partners were able to take on board the UK interest in our project, welcoming a young researcher from Exeter, Dr. Ulf Winkler, whose work deals with the assessment of best practice in managing urban transport.
On March 03, 2008, Cenex, in partnership with NGVA Europe (Natural Gas Vehicle Association) and Environmental Protection UK, hosted a one-day conference in London (Devonport House, Greenwich). Its purpose was to highlight the environmental virtuous circle of bio-methanisation, which offers both a solution to urban organic waste treatment and a possible answer to the obligation to increase the proportion of biofuel in global consumption.
I am not absolutely certain about the definition of bio-methanisation as used by the Europeans, but in this context it appears to be refering to the scrubbing and compressing of biologically produced methane, as is produced by anaerobic digestion.
The posting follows:-
Increasing interest for bio-methane in the United Kingdom
The United Kingdom is becoming more and more interested in bio-methanisation and in bio-methane for vehicle use. This renewable « natural gas » has already attracted the attention of the UK government. English companies with an interest in natural gas and renewable energies, supported by John Baldwin (Managing Director of CNG Services Ltd), are hoping to obtain the same financial status for this « green » gas as that accorded to «green» electricity. During the Biogasmax Friends Day (30.01.08 in Bern), we were pleased to welcome a scientific observer from Exeter University. As well as this, on March 03, 2008, Cenex organized a one-day conference in London to promote organic waste bio-methanisation with the aim of clean fuel production.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since 2005 – 2006, six new bio-methanisation plants have been built in the United Kingdom, increasing UK capacity by over 100%. In 2007, two new plants were started and many new biogas projects indicate that similar levels of expansion are now possible in Germany.
The British Minister for Sustainable Consumption and Production, Joan Ruddock, declared that her Department considered «Anaerobic Digestion» the best process for dealing with organic waste. Many studies show that the energy cost of upgrading biogas to bio-methane is insignificant and there are no regulatory barriers to injecting bio-methane into the natural gas grid.
The UK Gas Industry Trade Association, along with NGVA Europe (Natural Gas Vehicle Association) and REA (Renewable Energy Association) are lobbying for this renewable gas in order to get financial support from the government. They are claiming equivalent treatment for bio-methane as that accorded to «green» electricity, so that gas suppliers could offer «green» gas tariffs. John Baldwin, Managing Director of CNG Services Ltd, supports this campaign, pointing out that bio-methane production offers solutions to many problems: waste recycling, reduction in global warming and reduction in fossil fuel imports.
To underline his point about the huge potential of bio-methane, John Baldwin quotes the experiences of Biogasmax partners such as Sweden, Austria, Switzerland, and the French town of Lille, which has an Organic Waste Valorisation Centre supplying bio-methane to the city’s buses. At the Biogasmax Friends Day, held in Bern on January 30 2008, our partners were able to take on board the UK interest in our project, welcoming a young researcher from Exeter, Dr. Ulf Winkler, whose work deals with the assessment of best practice in managing urban transport.
On March 03, 2008, Cenex, in partnership with NGVA Europe (Natural Gas Vehicle Association) and Environmental Protection UK, hosted a one-day conference in London (Devonport House, Greenwich). Its purpose was to highlight the environmental virtuous circle of bio-methanisation, which offers both a solution to urban organic waste treatment and a possible answer to the obligation to increase the proportion of biofuel in global consumption.
Thursday, June 05, 2008
Biofuels in the European Context: Facts and Uncertainties
The report "Biofuels in the European Context: Facts and Uncertainties" has been published on the Biofuels TP Secretariat web site (http://www.biofuelstp.eu/newsletter.html ).
The European Biofuels Technology Platform (Biofuels TP) is EU funded and is to contribute to the development of sustainable, cost-competitive, world-class biofuels technologies, to the creation of a healthy biofuels industry and to accelerate the deployment of sustainable biofuels in the European Union through a process of guidance, prioritisation and promotion of research, development and demonstration.
The platform is now up and running and this is just one of 8 reports now available for downloading from their web site. This provides an interesting new resource for those of us that believe that there is a big future for biofuels from Anaerobic Digestion and wish to learn more. Most new Anaerobic Digestion plants built and planned fior the UK so far have concentrated on electricity production, and I feel that the biofuel capability of AD has hardly yet been properly explored.
After all, wind power, hydro, solar and wave power etc,. will never be able to produce transport fuels directly, and fuel production from methane avoids the power generation and transmission inefficiences inherent in electricity production.
Biofuel from food crops is becoming increasingly unpopular as it is seen as contributory to world food shortages and recent price rises.
This first report introduces its content as follows:-
"The report presents facts, findings and models regarding biofuels in a broad context. It points out the associated uncertainties. The document identifies scenarios which may evolve in either a predictable or non predictable way in the future but which in turn may considerably influence the debate. Finally, this report has identified open issues."
The report devotes only one small section to anaerobic digestion though.
"Making biogas itself saves GHG emissions because it avoids methane release from stored manure, but it is more economic to use biogas locally, to generate electricity and heat. This saves the cost of purification, distribution, compression, storage, and vehicle modifications."
I am not sure at all that "stored manure" produces biogas, perhaps an agricultural expert would email in and tell me...
However, this runs contrary to what a number of people have said to me recently.
I have been told that the additional cost of biofuel conversion equipment is beneficial for biogas plants because during the summer for example when it would be swutched on, there is no heating demand and CHP systems stand idle while biofuel conversion can be taking place on methane gas at a much higher overall efficiency, because the energy efficiency of running biogas power generation without a CHP load are acknowledged to be low.
As ever, your emailed comments are welcome, and we will publish good ones. However, for some obscure technical reason the comments sign-up page does not seem to be functioning on the blog though.
The European Biofuels Technology Platform (Biofuels TP) is EU funded and is to contribute to the development of sustainable, cost-competitive, world-class biofuels technologies, to the creation of a healthy biofuels industry and to accelerate the deployment of sustainable biofuels in the European Union through a process of guidance, prioritisation and promotion of research, development and demonstration.
The platform is now up and running and this is just one of 8 reports now available for downloading from their web site. This provides an interesting new resource for those of us that believe that there is a big future for biofuels from Anaerobic Digestion and wish to learn more. Most new Anaerobic Digestion plants built and planned fior the UK so far have concentrated on electricity production, and I feel that the biofuel capability of AD has hardly yet been properly explored.
After all, wind power, hydro, solar and wave power etc,. will never be able to produce transport fuels directly, and fuel production from methane avoids the power generation and transmission inefficiences inherent in electricity production.
Biofuel from food crops is becoming increasingly unpopular as it is seen as contributory to world food shortages and recent price rises.
This first report introduces its content as follows:-
"The report presents facts, findings and models regarding biofuels in a broad context. It points out the associated uncertainties. The document identifies scenarios which may evolve in either a predictable or non predictable way in the future but which in turn may considerably influence the debate. Finally, this report has identified open issues."
The report devotes only one small section to anaerobic digestion though.
"Making biogas itself saves GHG emissions because it avoids methane release from stored manure, but it is more economic to use biogas locally, to generate electricity and heat. This saves the cost of purification, distribution, compression, storage, and vehicle modifications."
I am not sure at all that "stored manure" produces biogas, perhaps an agricultural expert would email in and tell me...
However, this runs contrary to what a number of people have said to me recently.
I have been told that the additional cost of biofuel conversion equipment is beneficial for biogas plants because during the summer for example when it would be swutched on, there is no heating demand and CHP systems stand idle while biofuel conversion can be taking place on methane gas at a much higher overall efficiency, because the energy efficiency of running biogas power generation without a CHP load are acknowledged to be low.
As ever, your emailed comments are welcome, and we will publish good ones. However, for some obscure technical reason the comments sign-up page does not seem to be functioning on the blog though.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Rising Demand for Biofuel 'will increase GHGs'
(25 March 2008)
Growing demand for biofuels could actually increase greenhouse gas emissions as farmers clear forests and grassland to create more cropland, according to a new US study.
Biofuels are not as environmentally-friendly as we think, the study claims
A team of researchers from Princeton University concluded land use change reduces the benefits of biofuels because it would release carbon sequestered by the land into the atmosphere.
Presenting the results of the study at Imperial College, London, Professor Tim Searchinger, one of the authors of the study, said increasing demand for food will put even greater pressures on farmers to convert land for agriculture.
He said: "There's already a carbon benefit being provided by land and previous analyses of the benefits of biofuels haven't taken that into account.
"Using cropland to produce biofuels will cause large increases in greenhouse gases from land use change."
According the team's calculations, biofuels produced from soybeans reduce emissions by 70% compared to regular fuel, but when land use change is factored in, this changes to a 50% increase in emissions.
The study - first published in Science magazine - calculated that it could take decades for biofuels to pay back their carbon debt if forests and grassland were converted to grow them or to grow the food crops displaced by biofuel crops.
Professor Searchinger recommended that national governments should stop setting mandatory levels of biofuel use, and should provide producers with incentives to get their biofuels from existing agricultural land.
It was vital to find new ways to increase crop yields to meet demand for both food and biofuels, he added.
He said: "We are going to need more agricultural expansion to feed everybody and we are going to need big yield increases to keep the impact down.
"We need a massive worldwide strategy to boost yields using existing agricultural land."
Kate Martin
More at Edie Net News. Biofuel demand 'will increase GHGs'
Source: www.edie.net
Growing demand for biofuels could actually increase greenhouse gas emissions as farmers clear forests and grassland to create more cropland, according to a new US study.
Biofuels are not as environmentally-friendly as we think, the study claims
A team of researchers from Princeton University concluded land use change reduces the benefits of biofuels because it would release carbon sequestered by the land into the atmosphere.
Presenting the results of the study at Imperial College, London, Professor Tim Searchinger, one of the authors of the study, said increasing demand for food will put even greater pressures on farmers to convert land for agriculture.
He said: "There's already a carbon benefit being provided by land and previous analyses of the benefits of biofuels haven't taken that into account.
"Using cropland to produce biofuels will cause large increases in greenhouse gases from land use change."
According the team's calculations, biofuels produced from soybeans reduce emissions by 70% compared to regular fuel, but when land use change is factored in, this changes to a 50% increase in emissions.
The study - first published in Science magazine - calculated that it could take decades for biofuels to pay back their carbon debt if forests and grassland were converted to grow them or to grow the food crops displaced by biofuel crops.
Professor Searchinger recommended that national governments should stop setting mandatory levels of biofuel use, and should provide producers with incentives to get their biofuels from existing agricultural land.
It was vital to find new ways to increase crop yields to meet demand for both food and biofuels, he added.
He said: "We are going to need more agricultural expansion to feed everybody and we are going to need big yield increases to keep the impact down.
"We need a massive worldwide strategy to boost yields using existing agricultural land."
Kate Martin
More at Edie Net News. Biofuel demand 'will increase GHGs'
Source: www.edie.net
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Surprise UK Budget Subsidy Change Will Boost Biofuel from Biogas
There is an item about this in the Daily Telegraph:-
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Which describes this biofuel subsidy removal as a negative, which it will be for the big petroleum companies, but for biogas producers it provides an additional incentive to further invest in the equipment to take their biogas and process it into biofuel (eg biodiesel).
All UK biogas producers should now consider biogas to biofuel investment. The reasons for this are explained in the following paragraphs which are provided using information provided by John Baldwin, MD of CNG Services Ltd at http://www.cngservices.co.uk .
In essence, in Tuesday's Budget the Government has increased the RTFO buy-out price to 35 p/litre (from 15 p/litre) so customers pay for the shift to biofuels and not the Govt (in form of duty reduction). Yes, it is a stealth tax, but one that helps biomethane as biomethane still will have the same low fuel duty as it had previously.
If you run a vehicle on biomethane you will pay 13.7 p/kg duty, but you will now (as a result of this budget change) get back 35 p/kg. Before this budget you would have got back 15 p/kg. This means that you will now get paid 20 p/kg by the UK petroleum industry + Government.
How do you make biofuel from biogas? You clean biomethane up and compress it.
A small 400,000 kg clean up facility costing about £600k should provide a potential extra income of 80,000 pounds/annum from the RTFO credit (400,000 kg at 20 p/kg, and there will be no diesel to be paid for!).
Those with biogas should consider starting to clean some of it up fom now on, and running vehicles on it.
That way the biogas producer will get paid to save the planet.
Now that can’t be bad!
The vehicles are also already available to run on it, made by VW and MB. These are not conversions and still run on petrol.
We can’t see any downsides, and also some biogas operations will be able to run these vehicles on gas that would otherwise be flared!
http://www.telegraph.co.uk
Which describes this biofuel subsidy removal as a negative, which it will be for the big petroleum companies, but for biogas producers it provides an additional incentive to further invest in the equipment to take their biogas and process it into biofuel (eg biodiesel).
All UK biogas producers should now consider biogas to biofuel investment. The reasons for this are explained in the following paragraphs which are provided using information provided by John Baldwin, MD of CNG Services Ltd at http://www.cngservices.co.uk .
In essence, in Tuesday's Budget the Government has increased the RTFO buy-out price to 35 p/litre (from 15 p/litre) so customers pay for the shift to biofuels and not the Govt (in form of duty reduction). Yes, it is a stealth tax, but one that helps biomethane as biomethane still will have the same low fuel duty as it had previously.
If you run a vehicle on biomethane you will pay 13.7 p/kg duty, but you will now (as a result of this budget change) get back 35 p/kg. Before this budget you would have got back 15 p/kg. This means that you will now get paid 20 p/kg by the UK petroleum industry + Government.
How do you make biofuel from biogas? You clean biomethane up and compress it.
A small 400,000 kg clean up facility costing about £600k should provide a potential extra income of 80,000 pounds/annum from the RTFO credit (400,000 kg at 20 p/kg, and there will be no diesel to be paid for!).
Those with biogas should consider starting to clean some of it up fom now on, and running vehicles on it.
That way the biogas producer will get paid to save the planet.
Now that can’t be bad!
The vehicles are also already available to run on it, made by VW and MB. These are not conversions and still run on petrol.
We can’t see any downsides, and also some biogas operations will be able to run these vehicles on gas that would otherwise be flared!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
The Weekly Geek at Greenpeace Features Anaerobic Digestion
A Excerpt from the GreenPeace Blog:-
Ken Livingstone wants it for London, Hilary Benn is giving money to it and Adam and Debbie are bringing it to Ambridge. After a couple of millennia in the sidelines, anaerobic digestion has finally hit the big time (well, The Archers, anyway) - which is why we've chosen it for this second edition of the Weekly Geek.
Every year, we bury thousands of tonnes of waste food in landfill sites around the UK. We produce almost one and a half million tonnes of sewage a year (don't do the maths - it's disturbing), which is mostly spread on land, incinerated or buried as landfill. And we produce enormous amounts of agricultural waste on our farms. All of this waste breaks down to release greenhouse gases as it decomposes.
In all, about half of our total landfill comes from biodegradable waste, where it becomes part of the problem that contributes to climate change. Instead of sending it to landfill, anaerobic digestion allows us to convert this waste into ‘biogas', making it part of the solution.
Anaerobic digestion can help us to replace fossil fuels, reduce methane emissions from landfill sites and increase the efficiency of our energy system. As well as helping us to fight climate change, it can solve many of our waste management problems, reduce freshwater pollution from organic wastes, increase fuel security and reduce our dependence on chemical fertilisers.
The following is an animation from EfficienCity outlines showing how it works:
The organic matter used can be pretty much any biodegradable material: food waste from households, markets, shops, restaurants, caterers, breweries, distilleries, industrial kitchens and companies that process food and drink; abattoir waste; agricultural waste like manure, slurry, straw, feathers and crop residues; industrial waste and residues from, say, pharmaceutical processes or paper manufacturing; and sewage sludge.
More here ...
Ken Livingstone wants it for London, Hilary Benn is giving money to it and Adam and Debbie are bringing it to Ambridge. After a couple of millennia in the sidelines, anaerobic digestion has finally hit the big time (well, The Archers, anyway) - which is why we've chosen it for this second edition of the Weekly Geek.
Every year, we bury thousands of tonnes of waste food in landfill sites around the UK. We produce almost one and a half million tonnes of sewage a year (don't do the maths - it's disturbing), which is mostly spread on land, incinerated or buried as landfill. And we produce enormous amounts of agricultural waste on our farms. All of this waste breaks down to release greenhouse gases as it decomposes.
In all, about half of our total landfill comes from biodegradable waste, where it becomes part of the problem that contributes to climate change. Instead of sending it to landfill, anaerobic digestion allows us to convert this waste into ‘biogas', making it part of the solution.
Anaerobic digestion can help us to replace fossil fuels, reduce methane emissions from landfill sites and increase the efficiency of our energy system. As well as helping us to fight climate change, it can solve many of our waste management problems, reduce freshwater pollution from organic wastes, increase fuel security and reduce our dependence on chemical fertilisers.
The following is an animation from EfficienCity outlines showing how it works:
The organic matter used can be pretty much any biodegradable material: food waste from households, markets, shops, restaurants, caterers, breweries, distilleries, industrial kitchens and companies that process food and drink; abattoir waste; agricultural waste like manure, slurry, straw, feathers and crop residues; industrial waste and residues from, say, pharmaceutical processes or paper manufacturing; and sewage sludge.
More here ...
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Scottish Councils to Trial Food Waste Collection Schemes
We thought that all AD and Biogas fans would be interested in this item as successful food waste collection would be likely to lead to enhanced implemetation of biogas schemes. The following is from Let's Recycle! News:-
The first of Remade Scotland's food waste trials will begin collections on 25 February, after being delayed last year by the change in Scottish government.
Remade Scotland are managing seven food waste collection trials, lasting one year, following in the footsteps of the Waste & Resources Action Programme's food waste trials in England and Wales (see letsrecycle.com story).
The aim of the trials is to promote better understanding of the effectiveness and economics of different food waste collection systems.
Four of the Scottish trials will focus on collecting food waste only (in Aberdeenshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde) and three of the trials (in Falkirk, North Lanarkshire and Perth and Kinross) will add to existing infrastructure, collecting food waste with the garden waste.
Aberdeenshire: While the majority of the participating councils are due to start trials in March and April, Aberdeenshire will begin its trials in February with 5,000 households in Aberchirder, Banff, Macduff, Whitehills involved in the weekly collections.
All residents will receive a 20 litre bin in addition to a five litre kitchen caddy. Residents will also be provided with a free supply of compostable liners, manufactured by Biobag which come in rolls of six.
The waste will be collected in 7.5 tonne capacity trucks manufactured by Farid and taken to Gray's in-vessel composting facility where it will be composted and used as agricultural fertiliser in the local area.
In preparation for the trials in Aberdeenshire, surveyed 450 households to get an insight into the attitude towards to the forthcoming trials.
David Gunn, assistant campaign manager at Scottish Waste Awareness Group said: "For each of the participating councils, we will do pre-trial and post trial surveys and when all the trials are rolled out we will be collate and analyse the information and submit it to the Scottish Government. We hope to have the report from the pre-trial surveys collaged by the Summer."
All data from the Scottish trials will feed into the data for the UK-wide trials.
Two of the participating local authorities will send their waste to TEG Environmental Plc and four will send their waste to Scottish water's Deerdykes Composting and Organics Recycling Facility - pending award of Pollution Prevention Control Permit being issued by SEPA.
The first of Remade Scotland's food waste trials will begin collections on 25 February, after being delayed last year by the change in Scottish government.
Remade Scotland are managing seven food waste collection trials, lasting one year, following in the footsteps of the Waste & Resources Action Programme's food waste trials in England and Wales (see letsrecycle.com story).
The aim of the trials is to promote better understanding of the effectiveness and economics of different food waste collection systems.
Four of the Scottish trials will focus on collecting food waste only (in Aberdeenshire, East Renfrewshire, Glasgow, Inverclyde) and three of the trials (in Falkirk, North Lanarkshire and Perth and Kinross) will add to existing infrastructure, collecting food waste with the garden waste.
Aberdeenshire: While the majority of the participating councils are due to start trials in March and April, Aberdeenshire will begin its trials in February with 5,000 households in Aberchirder, Banff, Macduff, Whitehills involved in the weekly collections.
All residents will receive a 20 litre bin in addition to a five litre kitchen caddy. Residents will also be provided with a free supply of compostable liners, manufactured by Biobag which come in rolls of six.
The waste will be collected in 7.5 tonne capacity trucks manufactured by Farid and taken to Gray's in-vessel composting facility where it will be composted and used as agricultural fertiliser in the local area.
In preparation for the trials in Aberdeenshire, surveyed 450 households to get an insight into the attitude towards to the forthcoming trials.
David Gunn, assistant campaign manager at Scottish Waste Awareness Group said: "For each of the participating councils, we will do pre-trial and post trial surveys and when all the trials are rolled out we will be collate and analyse the information and submit it to the Scottish Government. We hope to have the report from the pre-trial surveys collaged by the Summer."
All data from the Scottish trials will feed into the data for the UK-wide trials.
Two of the participating local authorities will send their waste to TEG Environmental Plc and four will send their waste to Scottish water's Deerdykes Composting and Organics Recycling Facility - pending award of Pollution Prevention Control Permit being issued by SEPA.
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
BERR Listens To Renewables Obligation Waste Concerns
BERR has published the Government’s response to the consultation on the reform of the Renewables Obligation, which took place during summer 2007. In its response the Government has recognised many of the concerns raised by ESA during the consultation period.
The regulations for the measurement and sampling of biomass have been proven to be ill suited to the heterogeneity of mixed waste fuels. Consequently waste-fired power plants have been unable to satisfy Ofgem with sufficient certainty as to the biomass content of their inputs and therefore been unable to claim ROCs for their renewable generation. BERR had already conceded the principle of deeming the biomass content of waste but had previously suggested that this should be set at the conservative level of 35%. In response to ESA lobbying, the Government has now decided initially to raise the proposed deemed level to 50%, in line with the level recognised under the climate change levy.
BERR has also noted the difficulties that changes to the qualifying index for good quality combined heat and power (CHP) made to the ROC eligibility of waste-fired CHP facilities. The Government has consequently decided to change the qualifying criterion for such plants, which will now be based on a single efficiency threshold of 35% gross calorific value.
Other changes made by the Government include a commitment to the principle of grandfathering support levels for renewable electricity projects. More at ESA UK.
The regulations for the measurement and sampling of biomass have been proven to be ill suited to the heterogeneity of mixed waste fuels. Consequently waste-fired power plants have been unable to satisfy Ofgem with sufficient certainty as to the biomass content of their inputs and therefore been unable to claim ROCs for their renewable generation. BERR had already conceded the principle of deeming the biomass content of waste but had previously suggested that this should be set at the conservative level of 35%. In response to ESA lobbying, the Government has now decided initially to raise the proposed deemed level to 50%, in line with the level recognised under the climate change levy.
BERR has also noted the difficulties that changes to the qualifying index for good quality combined heat and power (CHP) made to the ROC eligibility of waste-fired CHP facilities. The Government has consequently decided to change the qualifying criterion for such plants, which will now be based on a single efficiency threshold of 35% gross calorific value.
Other changes made by the Government include a commitment to the principle of grandfathering support levels for renewable electricity projects. More at ESA UK.
Possible European Biowaste and Biogas Directives to Boost Anaerobic Digestion
The European Parliament Agriculture Committee has proposed the development of an EU directive on biogas production, suggesting that there may be benefit in a joint biogas and biowaste directive.
The Committee published a draft report on 29 November 2007 arguing that such a directive should include:
• specific targets for the agricultural biogas share within the target for renewable energy production
• measures for the construction and promotion of biogas installations
• adoption of national and regional planning measures to reduce legal and administrative barriers to biogas installations
• introduction of incentives to invest in biogas plants.
The draft report urges the European Commission to present as soon as possible a proposal for a biowaste directive, including quality standards, and “invites the Commission to explore the possibility for a joint biogas and biowaste directive”.
In response, the Parliament’s Environment and Industry Committees have both made suggestions which they would like included in the Agriculture Committee’s “motion for a resolution”, including calling on the Commission to present as soon as possible a proposal for a biowaste directive. More ...
We think that everyone in the AD Community will be in favour of this.
The Committee published a draft report on 29 November 2007 arguing that such a directive should include:
• specific targets for the agricultural biogas share within the target for renewable energy production
• measures for the construction and promotion of biogas installations
• adoption of national and regional planning measures to reduce legal and administrative barriers to biogas installations
• introduction of incentives to invest in biogas plants.
The draft report urges the European Commission to present as soon as possible a proposal for a biowaste directive, including quality standards, and “invites the Commission to explore the possibility for a joint biogas and biowaste directive”.
In response, the Parliament’s Environment and Industry Committees have both made suggestions which they would like included in the Agriculture Committee’s “motion for a resolution”, including calling on the Commission to present as soon as possible a proposal for a biowaste directive. More ...
We think that everyone in the AD Community will be in favour of this.
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