Discussing the Future of EfW

ESG - now SOCOTEC - and MRW partnered to host a round table of industry experts to discuss the future of Energy from Waste (EfW). James Clay, operations director, Energy & Waste Services, SOCOTEC, reflects on the changes that must be made in order to ensure continued EfW development.

Changes afoot

From the SOCOTEC and MRW round table, it is clear that the waste industry finds itself on the verge of real change and now has the opportunity, not only to improve environmental performance through recycling and diversion from landfill, but to make a significant impact on the UK plan to decarbonise energy generation. 

Energy Recovery Facilities are a practical, sustainable, alternative to fossil fuelled power stations, offering flexible generation, while reducing carbon emissions.  Yet Energy from Waste (EfW) is often little more than a footnote in UK energy policy and recent renewable subsidy cuts threaten the development of this vital sector. 

Collaboration

A collaborative, cross industry effort to raise the profile of EfW with both Defra and DECC, and a conscious integration with established UK energy operators, such as the Shanks-SSE, Multifuel projects, will lead to EfW moving higher up the political agenda, both nationally and locally. 

Consistent UK policy, with clear and secure financial incentives will create greater investor confidence and growth of this sector.  The feedstock for these plants is readily available and with long-term funding, EfW could become a crucial part of the UK’s energy mix.

Fuel quality

Quality and technology are other key elements of the debate; with nearly 3m tonnes of lower quality refuse derived fuel (RDF) being exported out of the UK every year, should there be a greater emphasis on improving fuel quality and could this help to support to the UK EfW infrastructure? If waste is to become a commodity, as many other fuel streams are, then this will only be achieved with a consistent approach to fuel quality. 

New technologies for processing and refining waste derived fuels will go some way to achieving this, but standardised fuel grades and specifications will go even further to creating an end product rather than a waste. 

Setting the standards

More refined RDF/SRF of consistent quality has commercial advantages for both producers, who will have greater negotiation on gate fees, and end users, who will achieve higher levels of plant efficiency with a higher quality, consistent feedstock.  While there has been much debate surrounding the pros and cons of standardising the specifications for waste derived fuels, there is still little definitive guidance.  Again, the waste industry has the opportunity to proactively raise the levels of fuel quality, bringing them in line with the existing standards in the UK energy industry.

Despite the challenges, both technical and commercial, there is a real opportunity to create a vibrant, innovative sector crossing the boundaries of both the UK energy and waste sectors, which will play a major part in UK energy generation.

To read more on the round table discussions, and how EfW can play a part in a balanced energy mix in the UK, please click here.

Meet the experts at RWM

I’m at the NEC in Birmingham for RWM 2015 over the next three days. Are you planning to visit RWM this week? If so, our team of experts are ready to talk all things Energy & Waste, why not come over and meet us?