Brits Seeking a “Huge Increase” in Anaerobic Digestion
July 1, 2010 by nathan
Filed under Events & Happenings
The UK’s new government is aiming for a “huge increase” in anaerobic digestion, requiring “two plants built each week over the next ten years” estimates the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association (ADBA).
Framing their efforts as part of a larger “war on waste”, the Tory/Lib-Dem Anaerobic Digestion (AD) plan includes the collection of thousands of tons of food waste, which will serve as feedstock for new anaerobic digestion plants such as the Selby Renewable Energy Park we reported on in May.
Why would the new Tory-led government favor anaerobic digestion?
As an island nation, England is a nation of port cities who go to considerable expense to transport their waste inland. Food waste takes up 15-20% of the municipal waste stream, and yard waste, 5% of it. Instead of being transported to landfills, this waste can be a valuable resource, and can be put to its highest and best use: anaerobic digestion and composting. The government recognizes this opportunity and is putting these resources to work.
Also, as a participant in agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol, Britain is aiming at reducing its greenhouse gas emissions. Anaerobic digestion has the potential to contribute to that effort. According to the Chicago Climate Exchange draft guidelines, a single ton of food waste will emit .872 metric tons of CO2 equivalent over 10 years (this is assuming a GHG capture effort after 3 years). This makes AD a hugely attractive alternative energy. Even factoring in the emissions of waste transportation (about 6 kg per ton when trucked 25 miles), and the emissions resulting from combusting the resulting biogas (about 280 kg of CO2 for each ton), the saved CO2 equivalent is still .580 tonnes for each ton digested and combusted rather than landfilled.
Lastly, AD is the rare renewable energy that provides a consistent baseline load (unlike wind or solar, which are much more variable), making AD a sensible early component of a robust portfolio of renewable power. Moving forward in a world with limited environmental and economic resources, we need everyone at the table, including AD. To learn more about the vision for 1,000 biogas plants by 2020, check out the ADBA website, or attend their conference July 7-8, 2010.
