Existing power stations using fossil fuels are inline for replacement. Solutions for substituting the capacity of these fossil fuel plants are varied but inference is that renewable systems and resource recovery will play an increasing role in the overall energy need. Resources for generating electricity and heat that previously had little value and were categorised as Waste are now seen as an important part in the make up of energy generation and attract Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC’s). Achieving ‘End of Waste’ status, whilst challenging, will yield significant benefits in the energy generation market.
ACT are experienced in successfully gaining planning permissions and permits for energy generating facilities, supported by Environmental Impact Assessments. We can help with technology selection and revenue sources for your building and/or plant needs. ACT advise on site identification through to emissions mitigation and our environmental support services provide compliance monitoring once developments are operational.
Renewable energy is seen as a huge resource for the production of zero or low carbon electricity and heat. There are various types of resources that can be harnessed to produce energy on both national and local scale.
- Ground source heat pumps
Financial incentives are available for appropriate technologies with a scaled approach to long term payments linked with the size and type of equipment installed.
Generating electricity receives various levels of financial rewards under the Feed in Tariff (FiT) scheme for suitably selected technology. These are primarily seen as biomass, wind and solar technology, installed as Combined Heat & Power (CHP), wind turbines and photo voltaic panels (PV), although hydro can be applied at specific sites such as rivers, streams and old mill races.
The generation of heat will also be financial rewarded by the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) but delays have stalled this process. The biggest constrain on the uptake of the RHI scheme seems to be that of time limits placed on the number of hours per year that payments are made. The figure of 1,315 operational hours probably restricts incentivised heat production to 10 hours per day for about 4½ months of the year. Whereas wind and solar for electricity generation have greater availability.
Biomass energy generation is classed as a low carbon fuel source. Replacement feed stocks can be grown though wood from current waste streams is also identified to satisfy the needs of a power station and has the added benefit of assisting to meet landfill diversion targets.
Waste food and farm slurry are used in anaerobic digestion systems to produce combustible gas that, like gases captured from other sources such as landfill, can feasibly be injected into the gas grid or connected to generating sets to produce electricity. Whilst biodiesel can be produced to an EN standard for use as a fuel in engines, an increasing number of smaller electricity generation and CHP units are starting to use waste, filtered cooking oils.
Wind turbines receive subsidies encouraging the development of both nationally important facilities and small turbines for micro generation. Wind harvesting is emission free and only limited by vagaries of the weather. One drawback of wind energy is - no wind, no production, another is attaining planning permission.
ACT’s planning, permitting and environmental team includes chartered practitioners, some with more than 25 years experience gained in both the public and private sectors.
Completed project examples:
- Site identifications
- Proposal evaluations and development opinions
- Planning permissions for 100,000 + tpa Energy from Waste facilities
- Biomass power station permits
- Waste oil fuelled electricity generation plants
- Fuel production plants
- Compliance audits
A member of our team would be pleased to discuss your requirements and happy to answer any questions on previous works undertaken.
In the first instance please call; T: ++44(0)1661 886 067 or email Anthea@actprojects.co.uk