Household waste could generate 17% of Britain’s electricity by 2020

LONDON, England, May 11, 2005 (Refocus Weekly)

Thirty million tonnes of household waste is sent to landfill dumps in England each year, of which more than half could be used to generate power for two million homes.

There is “huge potential” for increasing the generation of energy from waste, and 17% of UK electricity could come from rubbish by 2020, according to ‘Quantification of the Potential Energy from Residuals in the UK’ produced by the Institution of Civil Engineers and the Renewable Power Association.

“We are not generating enough renewable electricity, which means that the UK will not reach the EU Renewables Directive target of producing 10% of our electricity from renewable sources by 2010,” says Peter Gerstrom of ICE. “We are even less likely to reach the next target of having 20% provided by renewables by 2020.”

A large majority of waste is already recognized under EU legislation as a source of renewable energy.

“The UK should be taking the opportunity to harness this energy as this will boost our environmental performance by increasing our use of renewable power and reduce the UK’s reliance on landfill,” he adds. “This will not happen in the current climate.”

A current government review of the Renewables Obligation includes an opportunity to consider allowing energy generated from waste to receive Renewable Obligation Certificates. Currently, producers of energy from waste are excluded from the ability to obtain certificates for their green power, which can be sold to suppliers who need to fulfil their obligation under the law.

“Producing energy from waste after recycling targets have been achieved is environmentally sound and will help us meet both our renewables targets and help us minimize the amount of waste going to landfill,” says Gaynor Hartnell of the RPA. “It also helps with energy security, through reducing dependence on energy imports.”

The UK should limit the option of landfill for commercial and industrial waste, in line with the balance of Europe, to encourage greater recycling and secure sufficient amounts of biodegradable waste to realize the 17% potential, the report notes. Both ICE and RPA are asking government to encourage the development of this energy resource.

“It is patently not in the UK’s interest to allow the energy, enough to power the population of Wales and Northern Ireland every year, to go to waste by being buried,” adds Gerstrom. “Radical thinking about alternative energy, such as that highlighted in this report, is required to ensure the safety and diversity of the UK energy supply.”

The ICE is a learned society in engineering with 70,000 members. The RPA is a trade association with 200 members in the renewable energy industry.

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