Energy from waste sector calls for policy change 27 June 2013

Leaders from the 'energy from waste' sector are calling for a sea change in government policy, with a long term strategy to address the need for a greater mix of renewable energy sources, focused on maximising the use of energy from waste facilities.

Businesses from across the sector made the request at an energy from waste conference – 'Planning for Tomorrow', held at the Siemens sustainable cities building, the Crystal, in London.

Attendees were addressed by leaders from across industry, including: Juergen Maier managing director of Siemens Industry (pictured); Charlotte Morton, chief executive of ADBA (the Anaerobic Digestion and Biogas Association), and energy policy campaigner Lord Redesdale.

"We know that the biogas industry has the potential to support more than 35,000 jobs in the UK, and the sector is growing at a rapid rate – 46% last year alone," commented Morton.

"Anaerobic digestion plants provide a triple win for our economy, dealing with food waste, generating a flexible form of baseload renewable energy and supporting sustainable farming and food production," she continued.

"But we are only at the beginning of that journey. We need a clear, long term strategy for the sector, which makes the most of these resources for the UK, real investment in R&D and a clear blueprint for sustainable energy policy in the UK– reinforced by support from the European Union."

George Giles, head of renewable power at Siemens Industry, added: "Energy from waste has the real potential to help the UK meet its energy requirements, which is becoming an ever more pressing issue. By way of example, the anaerobic digestion market has the potential to grow by a substantial 800% by 2020."

And he continued: "So while the sector grows in terms of investment and research, this is happening in spite of a lack of coherent strategy from Government for how we best deal with waste.

"We urgently need a strategy for how biogas should best be used in Britain. If we get this missing piece of the jigsaw in place, we can head in terms of a truly sustainable energy mix."

Brian Tinham

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