This group covers:

• Landfill gas
• Sewage gas
• Anaerobic digestion
• Other thermal energy recovery techniques from fuels covered by the Waste Incineration Directive.

Main policy areas:

• Technologies for conversion of bioenergy
• Waste Framework Directive
• Pollution Prevention and Control and Waste Incineration Directive

Participation and personnel

Subject to the bye-laws, any REA member is able to participate in any sector group. 

There are currently over 100 individuals from more than 70 companies on the circulation list.
There is also a small sub-committee of the bio-energy group focussing on Anaerobic Digestion.

Elected Group Chairman

Dick Turner of Viridor Waste Management Ltd.

Nominated Director

Andrew MacLellan of ENER-G Natural Power Ltd

Biodigestion specialist

David Collins

Responsible REA policy director

Gaynor Hartnell

Activities

Although biogas applications and thermal waste techniques are distinctly different technologies, there are many synergies.  The input fuels typically arise from waste management activities so operations are covered by the Waste Framework Directive and PPC (Pollution Prevention and Control) legislation. 

We have to reduce the amount of the UK's waste which goes to landfill, as we strive to meet the targets in the Landfill Directive.  This will require other waste management options to play a greater role.  Municipal Solid Waste is typically around 68% biomass, and clearly the more energy we recover from this source, the more we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels.  The REA and Institution of Civil Engineers produced a report showing that residual waste could provide 20% of the UK's electricity demand.  Residual waste is the material left after recycling targets have been met.

One of the other implications of the Landfill Directive is that it will eventually lead to a reduction in the production of landfill gas.  Landfill gas is currently the major source of the UK's renewable electricity (along with large hydro).

Many companies are active across the whole spectrum of energy recovery options from waste and there are many overlaps of technology.  For example reciprocating and other internal combustion engines are commonly used in biogas fuelled power generation and such technology may be readily utilised in energy recovery from other waste derived gases or indeed liquid biofuels such as tallow.

Projects and ongoing work:

Members of the Bio-energy group sit on the Environment Agency Landfill Gas Implementation Group, and have initiated two key R&D studies on engine emissions.  The REA has developed a product standard for digestate from Anaerobic Digestion with funding from Scottish Enterprise.  This standard is only applicable to Scotland, although we are lobbying for it to be made applicable to the rest of the UK.  The absence of a standard acts as a barrier to the development of AD, as instead of the digestate having a value as a marketable fertilizer, it is deemed to be a waste, and subject to waste management regulation.

Another project being undertaken by members of the Bio-energy group is a pilot trial testing an alternative means of determining the biomass content of fuels for the purposes of claiming ROCs.  Several energy from waste technologies are eligible to earn Renewable Obligation Certificates, but have not been able to claim them due to inappropriate fuel measurement and sampling requirements.  For information about this project contact Gaynor Hartnell.

Meetings and events

Meetings of the Bio-energy group are generally held twice yearly, in September and March.

The annual event relevant to this sector group is the Bio-Energy conference.  This two day event brings together all sectors of the industry.