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to read the full report - Ecolateral by Peter Jones

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Evaluation of Opportunities for Converting Indigenous UK Wastes <strong>to</strong> Wastes and Energy<br />

AEA/ED45551/Issue 1<br />

System Overview<br />

An energy system based on <strong>the</strong> use of wastes and biomass is built up as a chain of several operations.<br />

Waste is collected, processed and delivered <strong>to</strong> a generating plant where it can be converted <strong>to</strong> heat,<br />

power or transport fuels. Each step is delivered <strong>by</strong> a different sec<strong>to</strong>r with its own priorities and<br />

constraints.<br />

With <strong>the</strong> exception of conventional incineration all of <strong>the</strong> energy technologies require <strong>the</strong> feeds<strong>to</strong>ck <strong>to</strong> be<br />

treated <strong>to</strong> ensure a measure of consistency of composition and properties. In our opinion <strong>the</strong> conversion<br />

of waste components <strong>to</strong> consistent fuels will be a major fac<strong>to</strong>r in enabling more efficient alternatives <strong>to</strong> be<br />

deployed. We have <strong>the</strong>refore included a chapter describing <strong>the</strong> technologies used <strong>to</strong> manufacture <strong>the</strong>se<br />

fuels.<br />

Technical status<br />

The waste management industry prioritises safe and reliable disposal and has in <strong>the</strong> past selected<br />

technologies that guarantee this. Whilst for completeness we describe <strong>the</strong>se more conventional solutions<br />

this <strong>report</strong>, concentrates more on wastes as a resource from <strong>the</strong> point of view of energy and looks in<br />

more detail at those technologies with higher levels of energy efficiency.<br />

Scale of operation<br />

We consider that energy conversion technologies fall in<strong>to</strong> three broad categories depending on <strong>the</strong>ir scale<br />

of operation:<br />

Local, where <strong>the</strong> output is typically less than 2 MW and supplies small premises and industries.<br />

These operations are suitable for bulky or wet wastes or for smaller energy users that can use<br />

clean feeds<strong>to</strong>cks that do not bring with <strong>the</strong>m additional costs for regula<strong>to</strong>ry compliance or<br />

pollution control equipment. Typical technologies in this category are anaerobic digestion, and<br />

combustion for heat and small CHP.<br />

Regional where <strong>the</strong> output is typically less than 50MW and supplies major users, district heating<br />

networks and national electricity and gas networks at <strong>the</strong> distribution level. These operations are<br />

suitable for most wastes and include traditional incineration of municipal wastes. O<strong>the</strong>r<br />

technologies would be industrial scale CHP using combustion or gasification, merchant power<br />

stations and gasification and subsequent methanation for injection in<strong>to</strong> <strong>the</strong> natural gas distribution<br />

network at low pressure. Fuel supplies will typically be upgraded waste fuels and agricultural<br />

residues.<br />

National, where <strong>the</strong> output is typically over 50MW and supplies transport fuel and grid connected<br />

syn<strong>the</strong>tic natural gas and electricity. They are major infrastructure projects located on industrial<br />

complexes. The need <strong>to</strong> transport and s<strong>to</strong>re large quantities of fuel restricts <strong>the</strong> choice <strong>to</strong><br />

relatively dense products. Co-firing at a utility coal fired station also comes in this category.<br />

Risks and barriers<br />

Innovative processes in <strong>the</strong> waste management market face a wide range of technical and non technical<br />

risks and barriers <strong>to</strong> deployment. For each technology we discuss <strong>the</strong>se and <strong>the</strong> relationship with <strong>the</strong><br />

technical status.<br />

Examples of UK and international practice<br />

Many countries are ahead of <strong>the</strong> UK in implementing new technologies and <strong>the</strong>re is much <strong>to</strong> learn.<br />

Consequently we describe examples that demonstrate <strong>the</strong> application of new or strategically important<br />

technologies for energy from waste.<br />

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