Influence of UK energy policy on the deployment of anaerobic digestion

Zglobisz, Natalia; Castillo, Arturo Castillo; Grimes, Sue; Jones, Peter Murray

doi:10.1016/j.enpol.2010.05.054

Cited by 31 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…It is therefore important to address the problem of 'cost' of AD development identified by participants of this study and also in the literature (e.g. Zglobisz et al 2010;Bywater 2011) as it affects the development of AD at all scales.…”

Section: Small Ad Plants and Awareness Of Admentioning

confidence: 99%

“…AD plants have been applied in different sectors such as industrial power generation, electricity generation, community waste treatment, and for agricultural purposes across the globe Bywater 2011;Wilkinson 2011). Traditionally, AD application in the UK has been mainly in the area of wastewater (sewage sludge) treatment, notwithstanding its widespread use in electricity generation in other parts of Europe like Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Sweden (Lukehurst 2007; cited in Zglobisz et al 2010). There is also a general increase in interest in AD for agricultural application owing to the large amount of biodegradable waste from this sector, and the need for its effective management (Alburquerque et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Raising Awareness of Anaerobic Digestion in the UK- Views of Key Stakeholders

Duruiheoma

Burek

Bonwick

et al. 2014

JEE

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Meeting rising energy demand and sustainable development goals at the same time is a major challenge for policy makers in the 21 st century. The situation is further stressed by a rising world population, climate change, natural disasters and food security concerns. Renewable energy technologies such as anaerobic digestion (AD) proffer one solution for policy makers to overcome some of the challenges to sustainable development. The technology has been widely adopted in some parts of Europe (e.g. Germany, Denmark, Austria and Sweden), the United States and also parts of Asia and Africa. However in the United Kingdom (UK), the technology is under-developed, as was recognised in its anaerobic digestion strategy and action plan of 2011. This study focused on identifying options for raising awareness of AD technology in the UK. 21 key stakeholders divided into groups according to their expertise, were interviewed to explore their views on the areas of focus in the UK strategy and action plan regarding raising awareness of the technology. The results revealed that aligning AD with sustainable development goals, community AD and localism, small AD plants, provision of an available market for AD products, building UK skills and diversifying biogas use from AD are positive options for raising awareness of AD in the UK. Challenges to these options and possible solutions to the challenges were also identified and discussed.

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Section: Small Ad Plants and Awareness Of Admentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raising Awareness of Anaerobic Digestion in the UK- Views of Key Stakeholders

Duruiheoma

Burek

Bonwick

et al. 2014

JEE

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The ideal policy and regulatory guide should promote the use of the technology with incentives that will support small, medium and large scale plants for the overall goal of boosting UK energy and sustainable development portfolio. Another suggestion made by Zglobisz et al (2010) is that policy and regulations should acknowledge the localised nature of AD as a renewable energy option and remain rigidly structured. Gap analysis of AD in the UK shows that, these suggestions are being considered by DEFRA as contained in the reports of Frith and Gilberth (2011).…”

Section: Ad Technology In the Ukmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The problem is more dominant with small and medium scale commercial farmers that often require the financing of slurry tanks (Bywater 2011). The problem is further compounded by the relatively low awareness of the importance of small AD plants and their place in UK energy portfolio (Zglobisz et al 2010;Bywater 2011). In the past, around the late 1980s and 1990s AD plant owners took advantage of the pollution abatement award which was between 30%-60% and this initiative supported approximately 30 digesters (Bywater 2011).…”

Section: Ad Technology In the Ukmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Role of Anaerobic Digestion in Achieving Soil Conservation and Sustainable Agricultural Development in the UK

Duruiheoma

Burek²,

Bonwick³

et al. 2015

JEE

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Anaerobic digestion represents one form of renewable energy technology but has many wider benefits. This paper reviews the processes involved in anaerobic digestion, the type of systems in place and the use of digestate to improve soil quality. A case is made for the technology in the UK in the context of soil conservation and sustainable agricultural production. Its broader contribution to sustainable development in the United Kingdom is also considered. Low levels of awareness of the benefits of anaerobic digestion, poor access to funds, inadequate incentives, an unfavourable legislative and policy framework for the technology, limited application of digestate for agricultural purposes and the need for further research on digestate use are identified as key factors hindering uptake of the technology. Anaerobic digestion is presented as a technology that can support soil conservation and sustainable agricultural development while also generating both energy and income, enhancing waste and nutrient recycling and promoting environmental protection.

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“…Macro algae form multi cellular thallus whereas microalgae are microscopic of size 5-50 µm which grow in salt or fresh water [3]. AD technology which has been deployed in the wastewater industry in the UK for many decades has the potential to reduce greenhouse gases emissions from the integrated processes, improve energy security, produce clean bio-methane gas, fertilizer, and decentralized electrical and thermal energy and thereby achieve self-sufficiency in waste treatment, energy generation and resource use [9]. Environment Agency (UK) reports that AD is very well established in the UK as a waste treatment technology for sewage sludge and is also supported as one of the ways of diverting biodegradable wastes from landfill.…”

Section: Algae Biomass Utilization For Ad -Review Of Prospects Anmentioning

confidence: 99%

Anaerobic Digestion of Micro and Macro Algae, Pre-treatment and Co-Digestion-Biomass — A Review for a Better Practice

Paul¹,

Melville²,

Sulu³

2016

IJESD

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Abstract-Anaerobic digestion (AD) of algae biomass has been investigated since long. However to enhance full scale commercial future prospects of algal bio technology, it is important to develop methods for better utilisation of the algae biomass. For effective AD involving algae biomass, there is still a need for intensifying algae biomass digestion. Pre-treatment practices on micro and macro algae improve the digestibility of the algae biomass and an increase in biogas yield. Co-digestion of algae biomass with BWW, sewage sludge and agricultural waste is a promising sustainable strategy as it enhances AD and helps in the safe disposal of different wastes. Combining pre-treatment and co-digestion provides a better practice of the AD process. Utilisation of AD of algae biomass, and the potential of AD of algae biomass with three co-digestion feedstock -Sewage sludge, spent grain and agricultural waste are further discussed. This paper concludes that AD can act as a better 'connecting link' in the algae bio technology providing economic viability and sustainable practice.Index Terms-Anaerobic digestion, algae biomass, co-digestion, pre-treatment. I. INTRODUCTIONConversion of biomass into renewable energy has been one of the key areas of research for the past few decades. A large body of research has been published on renewable energy from algae -micro and macro, which have become a representative of biomass resources with great bio diversity and variability in their biochemical composition [1]. It becomes a sustainable option for AD due to its high presence of starch, proteins and lipids and lack of lignin [2], [3]. Developing research on algae biomass has both economic and environmental sustainability concerns which involve operational efficiency, minimization of environmental impact and socio-economic considerations [4]. To enhance full scale commercial future prospects for algal bio technology, it is then important to develop methods to enhance the valorisation of the algae biomass. AD, a spontaneous process mediated by the micro-organisms does not require cost intensive advanced dewatering or further chemical extraction processes for energy generation from the digested algae biomass. However to increase the utilization of AD involving algae biomass, current research suggests that there is still a need for optimizing algae biomass digestion [5]. Since AD involves the biological degradation of organic matter, adequate pre-treatments favouring disintegration and solubilisation of high molecular compounds can improve biomass degradability [6]. With increased biomass digestion, research reports increased methane production by digesting other organic feedstock with algae biomass by process called as co-digestion [7]. Therefore, AD can act as a ‗connecting link' in the algae biotechnology providing economic viability and sustainable practice by incorporating effective substrate pre-treatment and co-digestion practices. II. ALGAE BIOMASS UTILIZATION FOR AD -REVIEW OF PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGESBiomass as a renewable ene...

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Influence of UK energy policy on the deployment of anaerobic digestion

Cited by 31 publications

References 25 publications

Raising Awareness of Anaerobic Digestion in the UK- Views of Key Stakeholders

Raising Awareness of Anaerobic Digestion in the UK- Views of Key Stakeholders

The Role of Anaerobic Digestion in Achieving Soil Conservation and Sustainable Agricultural Development in the UK

Anaerobic Digestion of Micro and Macro Algae, Pre-treatment and Co-Digestion-Biomass — A Review for a Better Practice

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