CONFERENCE PREVIEW
An industry comes of age
Julia Pugh-Cook looks at the energy from waste industry and charts its progress over
the last five years as well as giving a taster of Recycling & Waste World Conferences’
forthcoming Energy from Waste conference.
W
hen the energy originated outside the UK. eU legislation, buildings, decentralised energy systems and the
from Waste conference notably the Landfill Directive of 1998, forced implementation of combined heat and power
series started five years the UK government to consider its long term within the UK.
ago, the term energy waste policies and that in turn put pressure on Combined heat and power (CHP) is
from waste was still generally synonymous local authorities to develop waste plans that certainly efficient and is being supported by
with large, old incinerators. While delegates radically decreased the amount of waste going government policies, notably the Renewables
and speakers at the first conference back in to landfill. Obligation Order. However, implementation of
2005 were enthusiastic and optimistic about At the same time energy issues have become CHP is moving slowly in the UK for a number
the potential and opportunities of energy increasingly important. Questions of energy of reasons, including the structure of the energy
from waste technology, the general image security have focused attention on generating industry, the capital costs involved, the lack of a
of efW in the UK was of 1970s type plants, ‘home-produced’ energy supplies. current infrastructure and so on.
‘blackspots’ of emissions, prone to stoppages And probably the most significant driver Decentralised energy is another area of
and inefficiencies. of all in the long term has been that of climate great potential for EfW and Robert Tudway,
However, much has changed in the change and carbon reduction - a theme not senior policy advisor, climate change, London
intervening time, as Mike Snell, general even considered at the first Energy from Waste Development Agency, will be discussing
manager external affairs, of Waste Recycling conference. now it is of central importance. how the energy from waste industry can get
Group, sponsors of the current conference Such has been the speed of change that the involved. Most particularly he will be looking
and chairman of the first Energy from Waste revised EU Waste Framework Directive of at the stumbling blocks currently slowing
conference explains: “What has happened in 2008 now counts efficient energy from waste as down implementation and the implications for
the past five years has been quite remarkable. energy recovery, not just waste disposal. technology choice and energy forms.
there is now a different regulatory framework. And whereas before there was a feeling in There is more to waste, of course, than just
Five years ago government understanding of the industry that the government’s waste and black-bag municipal waste. Sembcorp power
the potential of EfW seemed to be missing. But energy policies were unconnected, now there is station in teesside went into full operation a
since then changes have been made to policy a recognition that these policies have synergies year ago, using a mix of fresh and waste wood
and there is a greater awareness and acceptance and overlaps. as its fuel source. Carbon neutral, this plant uses
of the role and potential of EfW in both waste Speakers from BERR will be outlining the 40% waste wood, sourced by local company
management and energy production”. UK government’s renewable energy strategy UK Wood Recycling. Nick Booth, senior vice
While technologies have developed and and the renewable and low carbon heat policies. president business development, Sembcorp UK,
improved dramatically, the key drivers for this A number of sectors now hold great business explained the decision to use waste wood.
change have mostly, although not completely, potential for EfW, including low carbon “While waste wood has contamination
issues and therefore requires specific permitting,
it still remains cheaper to use waste wood than
not. We wanted to ensure that our boilers would
have flexibility, in terms of feedstock, even if
that meant losing one or two percentage points
of efficiency. We have achieved that.”
This case illustrates again the double
benefit of EfW - waste is saved from landfill
and energy is generated. In this instance it
is calculated that the biomass power station
saves 200,000 tonnes of CO2 compared to a
conventional power station.
Vigorous debate is a key element at the
Energy from Waste conference every year and
2009 will be no exception.
n For further information see www.
Sita's energy from waste facility in Cornwall.
recyclingwasteworld.co.uk/conferences
18 SuStainablE SolutionS December/January 2009
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