Evaluation of Opportunities for Converting Indigenous UK Wastes to Fuels and Energy (Report), NNFCC 09-012

This detailed one hundred and ninety-five page report looks at UK waste arisings by type and by region, and considers which technologies are available to convert such wastes and how their adoption might best be encouraged.

Summary

This study findings help gain an appropriate and effective insight into the waste market in the UK and how waste might be used in the most efficient way as a resource for energy and fuels.

The study provides detailed figures on UK waste arisings by type and region, as well as information on the legislation governing waste management and energy generation, current and future technologies for the conversion of waste to energy and fuels, greenhouse gas balances of potential routes from waste to energy and fuels and evidence of research and information gaps.

The report concludes that the UK has a large resource of waste materials that could be used for renewable energy. Processes that deliver heat, or combined heat and power with a high heat to power ratio, give excellent greenhouse gas abatement potential.

To maximise the benefit installations need to be sized to match the energy demand, rather than the tonnage of waste, resulting often in smaller installations in a multiplicity of locations. These will require the use of fuels with consistent properties such as graded wood chip, or solid recovered fuels.

Processes for the production of these fuels should be regarded as important enabling technologies. Their technical development should be supported as should their introduction in to the market as a traded commodity such through the development of standards and codes.