Energy from waste helps Britian to become 'Zero Waste' nation.
Energy from waste will play a central role in the path towards Britain becoming a 'zero waste' nation, Environment Secretary Hilary Benn has stated.
Speaking at a summit of local authorities and the waste industry on October 13th, Mr Benn said that councils and the waste sector should be using new technologies such as anaerobic digestion (AD), which re-uses farm and food waste to generate energy.
He was speaking as the government announced a raft of targets and measures for both household and commercial and industrial waste, one of which was that in 10 years' time 75% of household waste would either be recycled or used for energy.
Mr Benn said: "We need to rethink how we view and treat waste in the UK. Using new technologies will help us to re-use things, for example anaerobic digestion that creates energy from food and farm waste."
And, at the same event, secretary of state for Communities and Local Government John Denham continued: "If we continue to send recyclable or compostable waste to landfill we are missing a major opportunity to generate heat and energy. I have recently set out ambitions for councils to play a bigger role in tackling climate change and thinking more creatively about waste is just one way to unlock that potential," he added.
The government wants to significantly reduce the amount of waste that is sent to landfill or incinerated without recovering energy, saying that, where possible, energy should be recovered from materials that cannot be reused or recycled, and that disposal to landfill should only be necessary for small amounts of residual material.
Figures released recently in a 2008/09 progress report for the government's Waste Strategy 2007 showed that the amount of energy recovered from waste increased by around 3% between 2007 and 2008, but the government said it want to see a "much greater uptake" of AD by local authorities, businesses and farmers in a way that is "both cost effective and beneficial to the environment."
Defra estimates that if all the food and other organic waste that the UK produces could be harnessed in this way it could provide enough heat and energy to run over two million homes.
Anaerobic Digestion
AD can be used on farms to process animal slurries and other agricultural residues; by the water industry to process sewage sludge; and to process food waste and biodegradable packaging that would otherwise go to landfill.
The Waste Strategy for England 2007 aims to incentivise recovering energy from waste, as well as reducing, re-using, and recycling it, and AD is among the technologies that will receive additional support in the form of two Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs)/MWh as a result of changes introduced by the Energy Act 2008.
This government's call for a larger take-up by local authorities comes after it announced in this year's Budget that an additional £10 million funding package would go towards new composting and AD facilities, which could be able to process over 300,000 tonnes of additional food waste every year.
And, in February 2008, Mr Benn said that up to £10 million would be made available from the Environmental Transformation Fund towards the construction of new plants to demonstrate ‘state of the art' use of AD to create renewable energy. These are expected to be built by March 2011.
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Pilot Tidal Energy Scheme for North Wales Coast
Conwy County Borough Council has backed plans for a pilot tidal energy scheme off the North Wales Coast.
The £150 million scheme at Llanddulas in North Wales would provide a testing facility for turbine designers and manufacturers, and assess the environmental impact of turbines.
The project was given approval by the council as part of a strategic regeneration strategy for the Conwy coast, prepared by consultant Capita Symonds.
Paul Terry, Capita Symonds, said: "Tidal power will play a key role in providing a sustainable energy source for future generations. The North Wales coast is an ideal place for such a scheme as it’s blessed with a good tidal range and suitable ocean depth." He added that the project could also help protect the coast from rising sea levels, storm surges and coastal erosion.
The regeneration strategy also calls for seven new visitor centres costing £30m should be built at key locations stretching from Conwy to Rhuddlan. But North Wales Tourism chairman Chris Jackson raised doubts over whether the proposals could realistically be funded in the current economic climate. The council’s approval now means that Capita Symonds will seek funding for feasibility studies and investigations to develop a business case for the scheme.
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Micro-generation forms key part of Government's vision.
Climate Change Minister, Greg Barker, has launched a consultation on the Government's strategy to boost energy self-sufficiency in communities.
The public debate about microgeneration will look at ways to ensure the quality of generating technology and its installation, how to improve available products, and how to develop the microgeneration supply chain while providing more accessible advice.
The consultation follows last week's news that the Government is to overturn a ban on councils selling "green" electricity back to the national grid by the end of the year.
Mr Barker said“I want to see more homes, communities and businesses generating their own energy. We can literally bring power back to the people.Microgeneration is a key part of this vision.
“By becoming more self sufficient we can create sustainable local energy economies. People and communities can save money on their fuel bills at the same time as generating an income and cutting carbon. I want to work with industry to overcome the challenges it is facing. Together we will create a marketplace for jobs and prosperity alongside products and advice which people trust.”
More information can be found on the Microgeneration Strategy consultation web page
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Green policies could hit UK manufacturing hardest.
A report from the think-tank Civitas warns that the increasing cost of energy, which has been driven up as a result of green policies could hit the UK's manufacturing sector - just as the country needs industry to help boost the economy.
The report said efforts to tackle climate change through cutting greenhouse gas emissions and increasing renewable energy generation could significantly push up energy bills for business.Extra costs are put on energy from policies including the EU's emission trading scheme, the renewables obligation to boost investment in technology such as wind power, and the climate change levy which taxes energy use in businesses and the public sector. Also, the Labour Government's climate change strategy had already added an extra 14% on homeowners' electricity bills and 21% on business bills.
Last year's renewable energy strategy could have created "surcharges" of up to 70% for businesses, and 33% for domestic customers by 2020, the report from Civitas claimed. The study warns the new coalition Government's energy policy could be as damaging to manufacturing industry as the previous administration.
The review by economist Ruth Lea and Jeremy Nicholson, director of lobbyists the Energy Intensive Users Group, said the UK was badly placed to meet its commitments to boost renewables as it was starting from such a low base. Even without the extra costs imposed to pay for climate change policies, Britain has high industrial electricity prices, which threaten its competitiveness.
Ms Lea said: "The economy desperately needs a competitive and thriving manufacturing sector if it is to prosper. Competitive energy prices are vital to the success of manufacturers, especially energy intensive users.Government energy policies are, however, remorselessly driving up energy costs thus risking the 'migration' of manufacturing plants to economies where the costs are lower."
