Energy Recovery
- Biofuels
- Biomass
- Incineration
- Pyrolysis/Gasification
- Liquid Biofuels
- Bioalcohol
- Bioethanol
- Biohydrogen
- Biodiesel
- Reports
Biofuels
The Renewable Energy Association was established in 2001 to represent British renewable energy producers and promote the use of sustainable energy in the UK. The REA was called the Renewable Power Association until October 2005.
REA’s (Renewable Energy Association) main objective is to secure the best legislative and regulatory framework for expanding renewable energy production in the UK. They undertake policy development and provide input to government departments, agencies, regulators, NGOs and others. Read more about them, There are a number of what are called "Resource Groups", some looking at individual technologies, others focused on industry sub-sectors. http://www.r-e-a.net/REA
Biocaldol Ltd - works closely with customers and agro-industrial partners to retrofit conventional ethanol plants, develop process components, provide engineering expertise and gain marketing access within the key market sectors. Specialises in developing turnkey solutions designed to transform the agro-industry. These solutions comprise proprietary, environmentally-friendly micro-organisms, custom-made process design and engineering for the production of second-generation biofuels, animal feed and other biomass-derived products. The current focus of Biocaldol business is system integration. www.biocaldol.com
Biofuels International - is a bi-monthly magazine designed to appeal to those who wish to learn and be kept abreast of the increasingly important area of biofuels.
This encompasses, biodiesel, bioethanol, and biomass with an additional focus on other renewable energy resources such as wind power generation, photovoltaics and solar thermal projects. More information on this publication together with current and back issues can be found at: http://www.biofuels-news.com/
Sustainable biofuels: prospects and challenges - report published by the Royal Society, January 2008
Biomass
Food waste a target for recycling - Food waste is to be targeted for collection and processing in a pilot scheme proposed by an Oxfordshire council - http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/oxfordshire/6646793.stm
Incineration
Mass burn incineration is simply the combustion of biomass with energy recovery. This gives a large reduction in both volume and weight of the waste. However energy production from incineration plants is quite low, in the region of 22-25%, although this can be improved by use of CHP systems.
For food waste the high moisture content can be an issue as incineration generally requires a moisture content of less than 30% (food waste is generally 75% water). However the technology is robust enough to process heterogeneous waste and as such can be used for mixed food and packaging waste. Preparation of refuse derived fuels (RDF) can also be a means to produce a stable and transportable fuel. However, in the preparation of RDF from Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) the food component is often separated and sent for applications such as composting. By contrast the Inetec abrasive drying technology converts food waste (or mixtures of food and packaging) to a combustible fuel suitable for incineration or gasification.
Despite the fact that incineration is a very well established technology it’s use in the UK is limited (in 2006, 9% of UKs municipal waste was incinerated). The Waste Incineration Directive (WID) imposes very high standards on emissions but despite this incineration plants suffer from a very bad public image. By contrast in many parts of Europe waste incineration is widely used.
2006 Article on Waste Incineration http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4622484.stm
Pyrolysis/Gasification
These two related technologies provide additional options for treatment of food waste. Of the two gasification involves heating material to high temperatures in oxygen, whereas pyrolysis is performed in the absence of oxygen. Gasification gives rise to syngas and char as products, whereas the lower temperature generally used in pyrolysis means a liquid product, pyrolysis oil, is also obtained. Control of the temperature and heating rate can be used to determine the quantities of char, oil and gas which are obtained.
Current use of Technology
This technology is not well developed in the UK and there are only a few UK technology providers:
- Graveson Energy Management (GEM): www.gem-ltd.co.uk
- Bioflame: www.bioflame.co.uk
In the case of food waste the material must be dried before it can be used in a gasification or pyrolysis facility, which therefore adds to the energy use of the process. One process which can be used is Inetec's Abrasive Drying technology which converts food and packaging waste into a suitable fuel. www.inetec.co.uk
Inetec along with GEM are working on the EnCycle project which combines Inetec's Abrasive Drying with GEMs gasification. The project aims to build several large scale plants around the country with the first being planned in the Northe East.
Funding & Incentives
Pyrolysis and gasification are both classified as advanced conversation technologies under the review of the renewable obligations certificates and will therefore be eligible for 2ROCs per MWh of electricity generated from April 09.
The Carbon Trust, through its Advanced Bioenergy Accelerator Scheme, plans to provide about £5m of funding to a large collaborative project looking at the use of pyrolysis oils as transport fuels. This project should start late 2008. www.carbontrust.co.uk/technology
Liquid Biofuels
Although the majority of liquid biofuels are currently derived from specifically grown energy crops, food waste can also be used. For example, used vegetable oil is a common feedstock used on both the small and large scale production of biodiesel.
ConocoPhillips and Tyson Foods, Inc. have announced a strategic alliance to produce and market the next generation of renewable diesel fuel, which will help supplement the traditional petroleum-based diesel fuel supply. The alliance plans to use beef, pork and poultry by-product fat to create a transportation fuel.
More information available at: www.conocophillips.com/Tech/emerging/Tyson/index.htm
Biocaldol Ltd are developing a process to obtain bioethanol by the fermentation of food waste.
Bioalcohol
The BioAlcohol Fuel Foundation - the Swedish Ethanol Development Foundation
was established in 1983. The main aim was to develop production techniques
and usage of bio-based ethanol for the transport sector. The founding
factor being that the organisation has identified ethanol as the most
rational alternative fuel for transport. Good access to raw materials,
the knowledge to utilise by-products from the cellulose industry and
bio energy, including the knowledge of technical processes in the paper
pulp and chemical industries were contributing factors to the formation
of the organisation.
The foundation is responsible for projects related to production, distribution and usage of bioethanol as well as knowledge and information of systems change towards sustainable transport systems based on biofuels.
An increasingly international focus inspired the name change in 1999 to the BioAlcohol Fuel Foundation, BAFF. Today, the BioAlcohol Fuel Foundation is a knowledge and information led organisation, involved in projects of sustainable transport around the globe.
More information is available on their website at: http://www.baff.info/english/about_organisation.cfm
Bioethanol
ADM and Purdue to work on cellulosic ethanol - A joint BioEnergy project of Archer Daniels Midland Company and Purdue University has been selected to receive funding by the U.S. Department of Energy to further the commercialization of cellulosic ethanol. Specifically, the Purdue-ADM project is focused on commercializing the use of highly-efficient yeast which converts cellulosic materials into ethanol through fermentation.
For more information Bioethanol projects and other related biomass information visit the US Department of Energy website at: http://www.eere.energy.gov/
Biohydrogen
Biohydrogen Fermentation - Hydrogen is often quoted as being a clean fuel of the future which can be used either in combustion processes or in fuel cells for electricity generation. The traditional method of producing hydrogen is electrolysis which has a high energy demand and there is therefore considerable focus on developing renewable methods of hydrogen production.
Research work is on-going to look at fermentative processes to obtain hydrogen from biodegradable waste streams such as food waste. The key for this work is likely to be obtaining economic quantities of hydrogen.
In Feb 2008, Biowaste2Energy was launched. This company aims to commercialise a waste to hydrogen technology developed at the University of Birmingham and at Oxford university spin-out, EKB Technology Ltd. This technology utilizes a 2 stage fermentation of sugary food wastes.
Research is also ongoing at the University of Glamorgan. This work looks at generating hydrogen from starchy food wastes (for example from the flour industry) and involves a 2 stage fermentation process to produce both hydrogen and methane.
Biohydrogen Production From Food Production Waste - University of Glamorgan
EKB Technology Ltd
EKB Technology Ltd is an Oxford University spin-out company, set up
to develop a noveleBioprocessing Technology which improves the commercial
potential for bioprocessing practitioners through purer products, enhanced
production rates, automatic chemical-free pH control and in-situ product
recovery.
The University of Birmingham
Birmingham University’s School of Biosciences under the aegis
of Professor Lynne Macaskie, has carried out pioneering research in
utilising biological processes for converting waste into energy. This
complements leading edge work being done in Chemistry and Engineering
on hydrogen storage and fuel cells.
University of Glamorgan - work in this area being undertaken by Richard Dinsdale
Biodiesel
Conoco, Tyson to make diesel from animal fats ConocoPhillips and Tyson Foods, Inc. have announced a strategic alliance to produce and market the next generation of renewable diesel fuel, which will help supplement the traditional petroleum-based diesel fuel supply. The alliance plans to use beef, pork and poultry by-product fat to create a transportation fuel.
Case Studies
Biogas - from AD : Biogen UK - http://www.biogen.co.uk/food_waste/recyclable.asp
Reports
The Resource Efficiency and Food Processing KTNs have jointly produced the following reports which cover the areas of food waste exploitation in more detail.
- Conversion of Food Waste to Energy
- Animal By-Products Regulations, Impact on the Food Industry
The above reports available to download at: Resource Efficiency KTN Reports
Several recent feasibility studies have been carried out looking at possible centralised AD facilities. These include reports from DEFRA on methane management.
