The Burning Issue

The Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here? In the final episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Christopher Philpot, senior associate at Trowers & Hamlins LLP.Philpot shines a light on the legal action that has followed several high-profile failures involving gasification-equipped energy-from-waste plants mainly designed to process refuse-derived fuel.  This episode focuses on: Why a higher percentage of EfW deals have ended up in court when compared with similar industries  Challenges waste-gasification plants have faced in getting through commissioning and then meeting contractual outputs.Major problems with the systems designed to move fuel through plants into the gasifier How to avoid the pitfalls other in the sector have fallen into And why you should “love your contracts”   

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here?In this eighth episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Hattie Parke as she takes on a new role as director of climate at the government-owned public-private partnership unit known as Local Partnerships. Parke has experienced the EfW sector before at consultancy Eunomia, which is the secretariat of the RDF Industry Group and is still active in it now. The episode focuses on:Opportunities and problems for the EfW sector as long term PFI deals endWhy 25 year contracts are “probably” a thing of the pastWhat local authorities need to do now to get the best value for taxpayersStaying on top of a changing policy environment 

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here?In this sixth episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Andy Jones, chair of the RDF Industry Group and managing director of Totus Environmental. The episode focuses on:Why there is no reason to ban the legitimate export of wasteWaste exporters “sympathetic” to the EA’s current plight, but improvements to the TFS process are needed “quickly”Could the UK start to import waste?Is the UK already over capacity in terms of EfW plants?

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here?In this fifth episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Tim Rotheray, director of ESG and external affairs at Viridor. The episode focuses on:Forecasting a ban on nitrous oxide and Runcorn’s CCS bid getting backingWhat else the company could be interested in buying after several EfW projects and Norway-based Quantafuel Why the Beddington EfW needs to expand as “there's not enough capacity to treat the residual waste generated in the area”How interest around in the circular economy, waste, and recycling is “really growing in a very positive way”Potential impact of the UK’s Electricity Generator Levy (EGL) on ViridorRamping up Viridor’s first plastic-recycling facility in Avonmouth 

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here?In this fourth episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Selin Murat of Carbon8 on the developing market for carbon capture. The episode focuses on:The UK’s expanding EfW network currently emits about 11Mt/yr of CO2, which is “huge problem to deal with”A drive towards utilising residues from EfW is coming both for economic reasons and to reduce the environmental burden on landfill A slower economy is an “opportunity rather than a concern” as pushing more funding towards new technologies and clean energy solutions can create “thousands of new jobs and significantly lift economic growth”Carbon8 uses a recognized method that sequesters CO2 permanently.

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here?In this third episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to John Ahern of Indaver with a focus on the company’s work in Ireland and its relatively recent expansion into the UK. The episode focuses on:The Rivenhall EfW’s ongoing planning workGetting the company’s first UK-based facility operational Plans for carbon capture Biogas-production remains on the cards if food-waste policies back it And why the UK is one of the “good place” to operate in term of planning policies 

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here?In this second episode of series two, the Burning Issue speaks to Dr Ella Stengler, the managing director of the Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP). The trade body is the umbrella association of the operators of energy-from-waste plants, representing about 410 plants from 23 countries. In total, these plants make up more than 80% of Europe’s overall energy recovery capacity. The episode focuses on:Why development of the EU’s Taxonomy and ETS revisions are of concern to EfW plant owners The EU landfill directive’s implementation “is very poor in many regions” and needs more ambition from policymakers NGOs opposed to CCUS are like NIMBYs against EfW plants Why high power prices make EfW-to-hydrogen production less attractive And what is was like starting out and being the only woman in high-level meetings 

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector, taking the starting point that while energy recovery has moved some waste out of landfill, where does the sector go from here?This episode also focuses on:Scotland was heading for “massive over capacity” by the end of this decadeNo more EfW plants to should be built in the UK after this decade Peel should have waited before pulling plans for its plastics-to-hydrogen plant EfW plants should be shut or have carbon capture by the 2040s And why the EU and UK are right to start moving EfW plant into ETS schemes