Energy Bill

Memorandum submitted by Energy from Waste UK (EN 16)

1. SUMMARY

1.1 Energy from Waste UK is a newly formed coalition of academics, trade associations and waste companies who have come together to promote energy from waste in the UK.

1.2 The EfW UK coalition believes that energy from waste technology provides the UK with an opportunity for a cost effective waste solution that complements recycling while simultaneously helping the country become less dependent on imported sources of energy. This can help meet the desire for consumer prices to be held down as outlined in several clauses included in Part 1 of the Bill.

1.3 In relation to the security of energy supplies under Clauses 77 and 78 in Part 2 of the Bill, we would call for a more specific and formal assessment to be made of the capacity for energy from waste to provide generating capacity, along with heat and cooling.

2. ABOUT ENERGY FROM WASTE UK

2.1 Energy from Waste UK is a newly formed coalition of academics, trade associations and waste companies who have come together to promote energy from waste in the UK. The coalition believes that energy from waste technology provides the UK with an opportunity for a cost effective waste solution that complements recycling while simultaneously helping the country become less dependent on foreign sources of energy.

2.2 As of June 2011, the membership of the coalition included the following organizations: The British Plastics Federation; CEWEP; Combined Heat and Power Association; Covanta; Imperial College London; Institution of Mechanical Engineers; MVV; Renewable Energy Association; Packaging and Film Association; Plastics Europe; Ramboll; SITA UK; University of Northampton; Veolia Environmental Services; Waste Recycling Group; and Wheelabrator Technologies Inc.

2.3 On 15 February 2011, Energy from Waste UK launched its Joint Statement, which outlined in detail the coalition’s five founding principles and illustrates the role that energy from waste can play in the UK going forward. The Joint Statement can be viewed on the Energy from Waste UK website at http://www.energy-from-waste-uk.co.uk.

3. ENERGY FROM WASTE & UK ENERGY POLICY

3.1 Energy from Waste can help prevent a UK energy deficit and address security of supply. Our energy infrastructure is ageing, and its urgent renewal is now a real priority. The recession temporarily relieved pressure on energy prices, but as the economy grows demand will return, and must be met with supply from a full range of sources.

Energy from waste is well positioned to plug this deficit in many ways:

• Scale – EfW could provide for over 10% of future electricity generating capacity as well as large quantities of heat energy

• Reliability – it is a 24/7 all year round source of "base load" generation (unlike many other renewables)

• Security – it is not dependent on imports from other countries that may be controlled by varied and changeable political regimes

• Sustainable – increasing energy from waste will contribute to reaching the UK’s renewable and CO2 reduction targets

• Flexibility – it can provide for cooling as well as heat and power, with the demand for cooling likely to increase in the UK.

3.2 Energy from Waste is a cost effective solution in challenging economic times. Growing our energy from waste capacity will help keep energy price rises down.

It will also help councils and businesses avoid paying the rising rates of landfill tax, which otherwise would be passed onto taxpayers and consumers. Energy from waste can provide low cost access to heat and power for homes and result in significant savings for both commercial and public sector bodies.

3.3 Energy from Waste is not harmful to the environment or public health. Today’s modern energy from waste treatment plants must not be confused with the old incineration facilities of the 1970s, which would not meet today’s stringent regulatory standards prescribed by European legislation and monitored by the Environment Agency. After a detailed review of all the evidence, the Health Protection Agency stated that "modern, well-managed energy from waste plant will only make a very small contribution to background levels of air pollution" – a conclusion supported by similar bodies across Europe and beyond.

Any public concern about pollutant levels in the everyday environment should focus on the major causes of pollution and paths of exposure, such as road transport and indoor air pollution. Energy from waste reduces greenhouse gas emissions by diverting waste from harmful landfill, and by displacing CO2 emitted from our fossil-fuelled energy infrastructure.

4. CONCLUSIONS

4.1 UK energy infrastructure is ageing, and its urgent renewal is now a real priority. The recession temporarily relieved pressure on energy prices, but as the economy grows demand will return, and must be met with supply from a full range of sources. Energy from Waste can help prevent a UK energy deficit and address security of supply.

4.2 Growing our energy from waste capacity will help keep energy price rises down and aid consumers directly in meeting their needs, the aspiration outlined in Part 1 of the Bill.

4.3 In relation to the security of energy supplies under Part 2 of the Bill and the provisions in clauses 77 & 78, we would call for a more specific and formal assessment to be required for the capacity of energy from waste to provide generating capacity, along with heat and cooling. We believe that based on past estimates, energy from waste could quickly come to provide 10% of UK energy needs.

June 2011