Looking at the benefits and challenges of creating Energy From Waste
Prospect negotiations officer, Tom Sidwell, looks at how Energy from Waste has become, and will continue to be, an increasingly important part of the UK’s renewable energy mix.
Energy from Waste (EfW) is an increasingly popular method of generating renewable energy in the United Kingdom. With a growing focus on sustainability and reducing waste, EfW has become a key part of the our renewable energy mix.
In this blog, I’ll explore the benefits and challenges of EfW, as well as its current status in the UK. Prospect has a significant opportunity to gain influence and leverage with EfW and I hope to show how this technology is helping to shape the future of renewable energy in the UK.
There are a number of methods of generating energy from unrecyclable household waste, including Gasification (which produces combustible gas), Anaerobic digestion (producing biogas) and by far the most common: Incineration to produce heat for turbine generation.
ERFs (Energy Recovery Facilities) are becoming much more common, with a number of well-known employers growing their current ERF fleet or building and acquiring new facilities.
Employers such as Virador (8 ERFs) and Veolia (8 ERFs) lead the way, but other UK businesses in the energy sector are looking to extend their reach into energy from waste. For example, Uniper are currently in the process of building and commissioning an ERF on their Ratcliffe site in Nottinghamshire.
The vast majority of ERFs are linked to municipal waste contracts, with many sharing the same site or a neighbouring site to a Household Waste Recycling Centre.
While these plants are becoming more common, energy from waste is not without some controversy.
Objections at the planning stage are extremely common, causing long lead in times from proposal to the breaking of ground.
Some of the common objections to ERFs are:
- Environmental concerns: Some people worry that EfW plants contribute to pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. While it is true that these plants do produce emissions, they are heavily regulated and designed to minimize their environmental impact. Additionally, EfW plants produce less greenhouse gas emissions than landfills, making them a better choice for the environment.
- Health concerns: There is a fear that EfW plants produce toxic emissions that can be harmful to human health. However, modern EfW plants employ state-of-the-art technology to control emissions, and the levels of pollutants produced are well below the limits set by regulatory agencies.
- Waste reduction: Some people argue that EfW plants do not promote waste reduction and instead encourage overconsumption and wastefulness. However, EfW plants can be part of a larger waste reduction strategy that includes recycling and composting. By diverting non-recyclable waste from landfills, EfW plants help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills, which is an essential step in reducing waste overall.
- Economic concerns: Building and operating an EfW plant can be expensive, and some people worry that the costs will be passed on to taxpayers. However, many EfW plants are built and operated by private companies that sell the energy produced to the grid, generating revenue that can offset the costs.
In conclusion, while there are objections to Energy from Waste plants, they are generally well-regulated and designed to minimize their environmental impact and protect human health.
EfW plants can be an effective way to reduce waste sent to landfills, generate energy, and create jobs while helping to address the world’s energy and waste challenges.
Prospect’s presence in the sector is mostly concentrated within Veolia. However, the design, set-up and running of ERFs are broadly similar, regardless of which employer owns the facility.
Most ERF Plants can be in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week with a staff body of approximately 30. This is usually a three-shift system involving a mix of plant operators, maintenance engineers and operatives.
Prospect’s Midlands Office is currently in the process of running a campaign for recognition at a “stand alone” ERF in Coventry, which is run by the Coventry and Solihull Waste Disposal Company, which will hopefully expand the union’s footprint in the sector.
