Fact
Every year in the UK, we throw away over 28 million tonnes of rubbish from our homes. This weighs the same as three and a half million double-decker buses. A queue of buses that would go around the world one and a half times.
Biomethane
Since April 2009, anaerobic digestion has qualified for double Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs). This is one of several government incentives to promote the uptake of renewable energy. So our plants enjoy a premium of roughly 9p per kWh over the normal wholesale price for electricity supplied to the grid. A new Renewable Electricity Tariff was introduced in April 2010, to complement ROCs, and a Renewable Heat Tariff is expected in 2011. These new tariffs provide more pricing certainty.
The biogas produced by anaerobic digesters is mostly methane. Because it comes from renewable natural materials this methane is often referred to as biomethane. Following purification, biomethane can be injected into the natural gas grid. This will be supported by the introduction of a Biomethane Tariff, expected in 2011. Biomethane from AD plants can also be upgraded to be used as a road transport fuel. This is supported by the government’s Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation.
All in all, the future for AD plants looks good.
