With news on: REA slams AD subsidy setback; Solar Park to power Swindon HWRC; Waitrose launches CNG-fuelled fleet; ‘Recyclability by Design’ guidelines revised, and; Ward Recycling director cuts ribbon on community project
REA slams subsidy setback for AD
The Renewable Energy Association has criticised the government’s response to a consultation on feed-in tariff subsidies for anaerobic digestion, arguing it will limit deployment of the technology.
Anaerobic digestion plant deployment could be limited by the government’s new tariffs
The government has based its proposed generation tariffs on consultation responses, which was launched in May last year, as well as price projections.
While it acknowledges calls for a new feed-in tariff band for AD projects generation less than 100kW, current data ‘does not suggest significant differences in capital costs for plants below 100kW and up to 250kW’.
The government will also limit payments on electricity generated through AD of feedstocks not derived from waste and residues to 50% of the total biogas yield.
It also plans to launch a sustainability criteria, which reflects the requirements in place on the Renewable Heat Incentive.
James Court, head of policy and external affairs at the Renewable Energy Association said: “AD was once heralded as a key technology by the government, as it should be. AD has the potential to be a large contributor to our efforts to decarbonise, across heat, transport and in this case, electricity.
“It’s good for farmers and the wider rural economy, it’s good for reducing our waste and it’s a key part of any future circular economy. Yet it now faces a huge decrease in support. There is now a serious policy gap for the industry, which needs to be addressed.”
The government will be laying the new tariffs in Parliament ‘as soon as practicable’ and will come into effect on 1 April 2017.
Solar Park to power Swindon HWRC
Construction has started on Public Power Solutions’ Barnfield Solar Park which will supply the Swindon household waste recycling centre (HWRC) with energy directly.
PPS, a wholly owned company of Swindon borough council, developed the 2.5MW solar project on a council-owned former landfill site adjacent to the Cheney Manor recycling centre.
The centre also houses a solid recovered fuel (SRF) plant for Swindon’s municipal waste, which will benefit from the power source.
As well as saving the authority energy costs on operating the plant, Barnfield will also be one of the last solar farms to benefit from UK government support and will be eligible to receive 1.2 ROCs, PPS has claimed
Overall, the council estimates the prohject will provide additional income for Swindon of around £200,000 per year.
Sean Magee, head of waste solutions at PPS, said: “We’re also looking at further technology development such as energy storage (batteries), so that even when light levels are low we can still operate the plant with renewable energy.
Waitrose launches CNG-fuelled fleet
Retailer Waitrose has launched ten CNG-fuelled Scania lorries capable of operating on renewable biomethane – which can come from sources including AD – as opposed to diesel.
One of Waitrose’s new CNG-fuelled lorries Picture: Matthew Howell
The lorries use carbon fibre tanks which store the gas at 250 bar of pressure – increasing the range of the vehicles from 300 to up to 500 miles.
Each of the trucks costs 50% more than one which runs on diesel, but will repay the extra costs ‘within two to three years’ with fuel savings of £15,000 to £20,000 depending on mileage.
The alternative fuel is also attracting interest from other retailers such as Argos.
Philip Fjeld, chief executive of CNG Fuels, said: “High pressure carbon-fibre fuel tanks demolish the ‘range anxiety’ concerns that have made many hauliers reluctant to move away from diesel to CNG.
“Renewable biomethane is far cheaper and cleaner than diesel, and, with a range of up to 500 miles, it is a game-changer for road transport operators.”
‘Recyclability by Design’ guidelines revised
Plastics recycling association Recoup has delivered a revised version of its ‘Recyclability by Design’ guidance, supported by the Plastic Industry Recycling Action Plan (PIRAP).
The sixth version of the 76-page guide, which mark 10 years since the release, provides information about various sectors of the plastics recycling chain and to make packaging more recyclable.
The edition includes contributions from BPI, INCPEN, Axion and Renmar.
With increasing awareness of resource efficiency, there is a growing requirement for manufacturers, brands and retailers to show they are incorporating recycling into packaging design.
As with previous versions, the most important pages of the document are the Material Specific Guidelines; tables for all forms of rigid plastic packaging which show, in detail, how improvements to recyclability can be made.
Recoup chief executive, Stuart Foster, said: “This document is very timely with recyclability of plastic packaging receiving a lot of coverage in recent weeks. I urge everyone involved in the plastic packaging chain to use the guide and support the work of Recoup in this area.”
Ward Recycling director cuts ribbon on community project
Ward Recycling commercial director Dennis Bell has cut the ribbon on a Derbyshire community project following renovation work and donations undertaken by the waste business.
(l-r): Arena Church community manager Lisa Harrison and Ward Recycling’s Dennis Bell
Mr Bell was invited to the opening of The Project in Bath Street, Ilkeston, following the refurbishment of the former Woolworths building.
The Project is a scheme of local support group The Arena Church to develop the building into a retail unit in the building with all profits going back into the community.
The unit will include ‘retro furniture sales and repairs and a quality coffee shop’ according to the Church.
Ward Recycling has been involved with the Church and its food bank since being approached by Erewash borough council in 2011. Since then it has carried out an asbestos survey, renovation work and donated skips to make the project a reality.
Mr Bell said: “The Project is set to be an important part of the Ilkeston community and will go towards helping many people. That’s why Ward were happy to help in any way we could and we will continue to give our support as it grows over the coming years. I was delighted to be asked to cut the ribbon at the official opening.”
The post News in Brief (09/02/2017) appeared first on letsrecycle.com.
Source: letsrecycle.com Plastic
