to read the full report - Ecolateral by Peter Jones

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Evaluation of Opportunities for Converting Indigenous UK Wastes to Wastes and Energy
AEA/ED45551/Issue 1
or heavy metals will come under WID, as will the combustion of any source of waste wood that might be
contaminated with either of these sets of chemicals.
WID sets out details including the operating conditions, including gas temperatures and residence times,
limits on emission levels for a range of substance to air and water including dioxins and the monitoring
requirements on these substances.
Renewable Energy Directive (RED)
Published June 2009
The RED, which came into EU law in April 2009, is designed to help states progress towards meeting the
EU 2020 target of 20% energy derived from renewable sources. The target for the UK is 15%. 152 Within
the RED biomass is defined to include the biodegradable fraction of industrial and municipal wastes and
residues from agriculture and forestry.
There are two areas of RED that are important to wastes and residues; these are the conditions provided
for biofuels and those for biomass heat and power:
Biofuels: Among other things the RED brings in sustainability requirements and reporting
requirements for biofuels. Guidance on these will be provided by the EC by early 2010. Biofuels
produced from waste and residues (other than agricultural, aquaculture, fisheries and forestry
residues) are exempted from some of these sustainability requirements. The RED requires a
greenhouse gas emission savings from biofuels of at least 35%, but it also states that the contribution
made by biofuels produced from wastes and residues and the lignocellulosic component of biomass
will be considered to be twice that made by other biofuels. This is a strong driver for the use of
wastes and residues and for the development of processes using the lignocellulosic components of
biomass.
In addition in the calculation of default values for biofuels (Annex V), the Directive states: “Wastes,
agricultural crop residues, including straw, bagasse, husks, cobs and nut shells, and residues from
processing, including crude glycerine (glycerine that is not refined), shall be considered to have zero
life-cycle greenhouse gas emissions up to the process of collection of those materials.” These default
values will be subject to review. This simplification is positive for the use of straw and other harvest
residues for energy that would have higher greenhouse gas emissions allocated from cultivation and
alternative use under a full life cycle analysis. It would be more negative for manures and food
wastes that would expect to be allocated a strong emissions reduction credit for avoided methane
emissions from alternative disposal routes.
Finally Member States may encourage the use of biofuels which give additional benefits, including the
benefits of diversification offered by biofuels made from waste and residues. This adds up to a
considerable number of additional incentives to encourage the development of biofuels from wastes
and residues.
Biomass heat and power: In 2009 the Commission will examine whether or not to introduce
sustainability requirements for all biomass for energy (including biomass for heat and power) similar
to those for biofuels. The European Commission published the summary report of responses to its
recent consultation on the requirement for sustainability criteria for biomass for energy (other than
biofuels or bioliquids). This will provide input to the Commission's follow-up report planned for
December 2009. 153
An action plan for the implementation of the RED within UK law needs to be prepared by 30 th June 2010.
152 Proposed Directive http://ec.europa.eu/energy/climate_actions/doc/2008_res_directive_en.pdf
153 http://ec.europa.eu/energy/renewables/consultations/doc/results_public_consultation_biomass_sustainability_scheme.pdf