NEWS


Feasibility study highlights potential of carbon capture technology to produce sustainable fuels


emissions from the combustion of non-recyclable biogenic waste, which is present in about 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions generated as a result of the incineration process. The biogenic carbon dioxide can be combined with green hydrogen to create fuels such as eMethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel, reducing the carbon intensity of shipping and air travel.


V


eolia has launched a site feasibility study ahead of a pilot project to use innovative carbon capture processes in Energy Recovery Facilities (ERF) in the UK. Developed with the aim of producing green fuels by capturing, extracting and purifying


CO2, it can create synthetic green end products, such as eKerosene, eMethanol and specialty chemical products to transform the sustainability of the wider transport industry. Engineered by Veolia’s in-house design teams, the system uses Advanced Amine technologies to capture carbon


The pioneering Carbon Capture, Utilisation And Storage (CCUS) implementation project has the potential to enable Veolia’s Energy Recovery Facilities in the UK to make carbon savings of over 100,000 tonnes per year. As part of the project, the CCUS technology can be seamlessly integrated into existing energy recovery sites, resulting in near-zero, or even negative, CO2 emission power generation, thus significantly improving the environmental and energy balances of municipal waste incineration. Commenting on this new technology, Donald Macphail, chief operating officer – treatment, at Veolia said: “This latest innovation marks a major step forward in our ability to utilise non-recyclable waste and captured CO2 to create the next generation of fuels. This development, combined with greater recycling and the removal of plastics from waste streams, will further reduce carbon emissions from ERF. It will also make a major contribution to meeting Net Zero targets that protect the environment for the future, and supports our commitment to achieve ecological transformation.” Veolia operates 10 ERFs in the UK. These facilities take around 2.3 million tonnes of non-recyclable waste and


transform this into electricity for over 400,000 homes, and this combined generating capacity of 180MWe takes pressure off the stretched UK electrical grid and effectively avoids using fossil fuels for generation. Some of these facilities also produce heating for communities through district heating networks, by using combined heat and power technology.


Every building should be treated as high risk – BESA M


any contractors are still ignoring safety regulations despite repeated warnings that measures introduced by the Building Safety Act are already in place and affect every project, according to the Building Engineering Services


Association (BESA). The Association is concerned that firms do not realise the Act has already altered the regulations that apply to all construction work and not just higher risk/high rise residential buildings (HRBs)* and, therefore, face potential prosecution. While the Act itself is primarily focused on HRBs, it has


already changed many elements of the existing fire safety and building regulations, including the supporting approved documents that apply to all projects. It is also introducing secondary legislation that affects all building work. “Anyone sitting back and waiting to see what happens is going to be in a lot of trouble,” said Nick Mead, chair of BESA’s Building Safety Act Advisory Group (BSAAG). “The Regulator is looking for proof that you are complying with regulations now and that the people working on a project were competent to carry out the specific tasks assigned to them.” He said the industry should be braced for a high-profile


prosecution under the Act because the Regulator would be keen to make a point.


Change


“The simplest thing is to treat every building as high risk. The Act has already significantly changed the rules, and every occupant deserves to be safe,” said Mead. BESA’s director of specialist knowledge Rachel Davidson added that it was hardly surprising there was confusion as the industry tried to adapt to the new regulations. “We are trying to get away from the previously accepted


approach of ‘build and design’ i.e. rushing into projects and then trying to sort out the details later,” she said. “However, we do know what needs to be done but many contractors are sitting back and waiting to see what happens. That is the riskiest approach. “Companies are only being asked to do what they should


already have been doing before the Act, which is comply with existing regulations. So, what are you waiting for?” * An HRB is defined as being over 18 metres in height or consisting of seven storeys, containing at least two residential units, and/or is a hospital or care home.


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Read the latest at: www.bsee.co.uk Swegon qp BSEE Dec23.indd 1


10/11/23 16:13 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER MARCH 2024 5


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