to read the full report - Ecolateral by Peter Jones
to read the full report - Ecolateral by Peter Jones
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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