Euro Decisions Could Impact UKs Renewable Energy Options, Warns Covanta Energy
6 June 2011
With recent announcements that both Switzerland and Germany are to turn away from nuclear in favour of renewables, Covanta Energy impresses the urgency with which the UK must clarify its renewable energy strategy and address the remaining barriers to development if it is to remain in the sightlines of those global companies that are planning to invest in this sector
With a target of 30 percent of electricity to be produced from renewable sources by 2020, from a current position of 6.6 percent*, planning, developing and delivering a network of renewable energy infrastructure is a big UK challenge for the UK.
Energy from Waste (EfW) provider, Covanta Energy, has warned that the new European developments, together with question marks over the finances associated with indigenous ageing gas fields, make it more critical than ever that the UK's policy and decision makers recognise the need to exploit the full potential of all renewable technologies, especially those like EfW that contribute base-load capacity.
As wind and solar power take the lion's share of headlines, Covanta's UK Managing Director Malcolm Chilton points out that these two technologies alone cannot meet future requirements in full.
"The UK requires a mix of renewable technologies to get anywhere close to our target of 30 percent by 2020," he said. "Energy-from-Waste is a tried and tested solution which is widely used across the world to divert waste that cannot sensibly be recycled away from landfill and instead use it as a fuel to create renewable electricity.
"Importantly, unlike some other newer renewable solutions, the EfW process is tried and tested. We have 44 plants worldwide diverting 18m tonnes of waste from landfill each year, producing 9m megawatt hours of electricity. Equally important is the fact that this technology provides a continuous energy source which, unlike wind or solar, is not restricted by weather conditions."
Chilton says that it is important that the UK refocuses its renewable energy debate to encompass more than wind, solar and the raft of other technologies that offer unproven or smaller scale solutions.
"Energy-from-Waste is an important and growing part of the UK's renewable solution and this must be communicated widely to ensure that those making infrastructure decisions both nationally and locally, and those who plan to invest in the delivery of the infrastructure, are on the same page.
"As other European countries extend their renewable programmes to move away from both nuclear and fossil fuels, it's more important than ever that the UK clarifies its plans to support the development of renewable energy infrastructure. If not we could see the inward investment that we require moving elsewhere."
*6.6% figure from Department for Energy and Climate Change.
Darrel Moore
