Two recent studies that have been released will help establish the “cornerstone” of the Scottish Environmental Protection Agency’s policy on the thermal treatment of waste. Both reports advocate the use of combined heat and power.
The studies, published by SEPA, closely follow the Scottish Government’s opposition to larger Energy from Waste facilities. The government views these processes (including anaerobic digestion) as “inefficient” and recommends utilising small-scale rather than large-scale facilities.
The studies have also provided research which is currently being used to revise SEPA’s Thermal Treatment Guidelines, set to be published in September 2008. The reports have also been referred to as “the cornerstone” of its policy on energy from waste.
“The guidelines will ensure that thermal treatment in Scotland enables the recovery of energy efficiently and does not impede waste prevention and recycling,” SEPA explained.
The studies spent a great deal of time examining different aspects of waste management and both arrive at the same conclusion - “providing combined heat and power through Energy-from-Waste and anaerobic digestion (AD) is the most sustainable option available for various waste streams”.
The first of the two reports was published by consultancy firm AEA Environment and Energy, and was titled ‘The Evaluation of Energy from Biowaste Arisings and Forestry Residues in Scotland’. The report assessed the energy value within the country’s kitchen and food waste and garden waste, as well as related items.
The evaluation also reported its findings regarding the amount of waste generated in the country. Approximately 13.73 million tonnes of this type kind of waste has been produced in Scotland each year; 9.634 million tonnes of which was “technically suitable to be processed in an anaerobic digestion or thermal treatment plant to obtain energy”.
For further information, visit: solarelectricpower.org and aeat.co.uk
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