Other News

Levels of heat-trapping greenhouse gases (GHGs) in the atmosphere have reached a new record high, according to the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO). According to the WMO, this trend means future generations will be facing 'increasingly severe impacts' of climate change, such as rising temperatures, extreme weather, water stress, sea-level rise and disruption to marine and land…
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The UK Labour party has outlined its plan to deliver a net zero energy sector by 2030. The party launched its future energy plan detailing how a net benefit of £800bn could be achieved in the UK by fast-tracking the nation’s energy sector to net zero emissions by 2030. However, its plan does not appear to incorporate bioenergy. Labour’s 187-page 30 by 2030 report explains how 1.9% of GDP…
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Shell Energy has announced plans to buy UK company Green Star Energy in a £10.5 million (€11.6 million) deal. Under the agreement, Shell Energy will acquire Hudson Energy Supply UK, which supplies 200,000 homes in the UK through the Green Star Energy brand, as well as 2,000 commercial properties. Shell Energy is one of the biggest brands outside of the ‘Big Six’ - British Gas, EDF…
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The UK Anaerobic Digestion and Bioresources Association (ADBA) has celebrated its 10th anniversary of supporting the anaerobic digestion (AD) industry. The organisation was set up by Lord Redesdale and 10 founding members to ‘remove barriers’ to the expansion of the AD sector and to help develop industry best practice. Within weeks of its launch, ADBA hosted its first national conference…
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A new £2,500 (€2,800) prize fund aimed at attracting new talent in the anaerobic digestion (AD) and energy-from-waste (EfW) industries has been launched at the RWM exhibition in Birmingham, UK. The Energy from Waste Innovation Fund is open to undergraduate and postgraduate university students in the UK completing a dissertation related to EfW or renewable energy technology and…
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A Teesside, UK-based business which uses non-food biomass to generate biofuels has received a £2.3 million (€2.55 million) investment. Nova Pangaea Technologies completed a funding round led by NPIF – Mercia Equity Finance, which is managed by Merica and forms part of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund (funded by the European Union), with extra funds from existing investors including…
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Operations at the UK’s first municipal waste gasification plant, which can produce clean electricity, heat, hydrogen and liquid fuels from waste, are well underway. Aldridge-based Kew Technology and the Energy Technologies Institute (ETI) claims the plant is cleaner, more efficient and more compact than other energy from waste designs and could work to provide heat and power to small towns,…
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The world’s first project to turn biogas from sewage into hydrogen and graphite has received substantial financial backing from the Australian government. The venture forms part of Australia’s efforts to develop hydrogen as a clean alternative fuel source. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) has approved up to $9.41 million (€5.78 million) in funding to Hazer Group for the…
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Tata Steel is hoping to convert waste gases from steel making into aviation fuel. The plan involves using gases from Tata’s Port Talbot plant in Wales, which developers have suggested could be used for thousands of flights a year. A joint venture between Neath Port Talbot Council and American bioengineering firm LanzaTech is researching a potential biofuel production facility at the Port…
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Finnish technology firm Wärtsilä is to install a waste gasification system onboard the Regal Princess, one of the ships in Princess Cruises’ fleet. The system will enable the safe disposal of waste onboard the ship through a self-fuelling thermal decomposition unit which is designed to reduce greenhouse gases. It will also help to lessen the requirement to offload waste at shore…
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The US Department of Energy (DOE) has committed $64 million (€57.4 million) in funding for 25 university-led genomics research projects for bioenergy and bioproducts. The plant research will focus on expanding knowledge of gene function in plants which are grown for bioenergy and bioproducts. The aim is to pinpoint the connection between specific regions of plant genomes and specific plant…
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A Belfast, Ireland-based company which aims to convert coal waste into fuel has secured a £2 million (€2.19 million) investment to set up a pilot plant. The company, Silform, has developed a patented process to transform quality coal waste into special pellets which can be used in an industrial setting. A pilot plant is being built in County Tyrone to carry out further tests on the…
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Spanish sustainable infrastructure and renewable energy firm Acciona has won a major contract to operate a waste to energy plant in Aberdeen, Scotland. The Ness Energy Project will have the capacity to treat 150,000 tonnes of waste per year. Acciona will be responsible for the design and turnkey construction, commissioning and operation and maintenance of the plant for 20 years. The total…
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Global resource management company Veolia has called for a ban on peat use in compost, to help reach net-zero carbon targets. Peat is made from partly decomposed plant material and forms in waterlogged areas. Peat harvesting (and burning) has long been a major industry in Ireland. The organic material is also attractive for compost use, as it retains water without soaking plant roots and is…
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