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Evaluation of Opportunities for Converting Indigenous UK Wastes to Wastes and Energy
AEA/ED45551/Issue 1
12 Recommendations and NNFCC’s role
Challenges, issues and the role of NNFCC
Throughout this report we have identified areas of uncertainty, and specific challenges that need work if
the full potential of energy from waste is to be realised. These are set out in the table below. Most of
these are concerned with building business confidence in the links between each of the technology steps.
Not all of this work will come under NNFCC’s remit but a significant amount is concerned with
coordination of stakeholders and the provision of information to the market.
Those topics we feel are most appropriate for NNFCC initiatives are as follows:
• Improve quality of policy and investment decision making by developing an understanding of the
fit between SRF properties and energy production technologies. What properties does each of
the technologies require?
• There is a wide difference in the benefits brought by various waste to energy chains and it is
important that policy support those that contribute the most. NNFCC could add value by
developing an evidence base for the design and implementation of policy and a hierarchy of uses
for each class of resource based on environmental and social benefits including life cycle GHG
impact.
• To maximise the benefits of using waste for energy we will need to change current practices
across a wide range of stakeholders. NNFCC could add value by developing an understanding of
the relative timeframes of structural changes and technology developments necessary to
maximise implementation.
• Develop a better understanding of the impacts of increased energy usage on alternative and
existing markets for straw and other residues.
• NNFCC could consider the logistics of moving dispersed low density feedstocks around the UK,
taking a role to assess options for transport modes and evaluate the optimal size of plants for the
various feedstocks.
• Municipal and solid waste is being managed using more sustainable technologies. There is
interest in developing these technologies on one site, so that recycling, separation technologies
or mechanical and biological treatment and anaerobic digestion is all integrated. NNFCC could
examine the potential energy benefits in such trends and the impact they may have on energy
recovery from waste in general.