Comment and Analysis

Biogas plants winning the battle against grit

Taking digesters offline to remove the debris that inevitably builds up over time is anathema to many operators. One company tackled the problem by combining a powerful degritter with a chopper pump. Christopher French reports

EWB Insight report: March 2020

This month: Coronavirus outbreak and subsequent lockdown hits the waste and bioenergy sector, Viridor is due to have new owners and a coal-to-waste conversion develops. Read also our full facilities roundup

EWB Insight report: February 2020

This month: Another developer fails to crack planning consent for an EfW plant in south-east UK, Drax could be coal-free in a year, wood pellets push up EU renewables, and a full facilities round-up

EWB Insight report: January 2020

This month: Dutch waste tax hits UK exports, Brexit will hit EU’s bioenergy production, AEB is up for sale and there are several EFW facilities developments

EWB Insight report: December 2019

This month: Dutch waste tax confirmed, another EfW plant builder in administration, WI BAT published, Drax to be “carbon neutral” by 2030, plus a full facilities round-up

EWB Insight report: November 2019

This month: RRS insolvency details revealed, UK exports of waste to drop, Viridor takes legal action and two legal actions against UK-based EfW plant build fail

EWB Insight report: October 2019

This month: Is rail the future for waste transport, landfill will take the brunt of a no-deal Brexit, planning snubs for Nu-Energy EfW plant, but go ahead for Verus Energy Oak and Veolia facilities

How optimising EfW plants can help industry's image

EfW facilities will play an increasing role as fossil fuels are phased out. Making them more efficient by using new technology and data monitoring can boost their renewables credentials and public perception, argues Tim McNeilly

Why Scotland chose to delay its controversial landfill ban

Plan to bring in ban in 2021 would have left about a million tonnes of waste with “nowhere to go”

EWB Insight report: September 2019

This month: Only two EfW projects gain CfD support, developments at the delayed Renaissance and Port Clarence facilities, as well as the liquidation of a biomass plant operator and the usual facilities roundup

EWB Insight report: August 2019

This month: Three major new EfW plants progress, waste exports from England drop, UK waste wood market to import feedstock and a full facilities update

EWB Insight report: July 2019

This month: Waste fires a burning issue for energy recovery sector, Dutch government proposes a waste import tax, Veolia gets another no from the government for a Hertfordshire-based EfW plant and a full facilities round up

What does Biffa’s China dumping conviction mean for the waste sector?

The waste sector is reeling from the conviction of one of the industry's largest companies for illegally sending waste abroad. It has led to questions over which other firms the EA has in its sights and whether or not export laws are clear enough. Conor McGlone reports.

Gate fees will push EfW growth

As support is phased out for other renewable-energy projects and gasification technology matures, the energy-from-waste sector will play an increasing role in the UK's energy mix, argue Matthew Williams and Yohanna Weber

EWB Insight report: Jun 2019

This month: Government call-ins impact on two EfW plant developments, WI BAT signed off, Ørsted ditches biogas but will keep working on delayed Renescience plant, and a full facilities round-up

Future-proofing energy recovery

As the energy-from-waste sector continues to grow and evolve in the UK, Roberto Vogel and Timothy Byrne review the fate of the UK's first generation of plants, what we can learn from their demise and what has changed

EWB Insight report: May 2019

This month: More woes for the waste gasification sector, new EfW facilities being developed by FCC and Veolia, the world’s largest biogas plant is opened and a full facilities roundup

Andusia warns of waste treatment cap

Over the next five years we'll only see more of a shortage in vital waste treatment facilities being built in the UK, says waste exporter Andusia director Steve Burton

EWB Insight report: Apr 2019

This month; Scotland faces infrastructure capacity gap as 2021 landfill band looms, EC does not sign green gas pledge, new EfW plant becomes operational in Scotland and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: Mar 2019

This month: Another mixed month for gasification-equipped projects, legal challenge over RED II biomass support causes concerns, call for progress on UK introducing E10 and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: Feb 2019

This month: Is the UK halfway through building a portfolio of EfW plants, facilites progress in Corby, Darwen and the Rookery South EfW faces yet another day in court

EWB Insight report: Dec/Jan 2019

This month: Another EfW is "called in", another project drops out of the UK's CfD process, Brexit causes issues for waste exporters and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: November 2018

This month: Interserve's woes continued, could the plug be pulled on the Port Clarence biomass-fired plant, the UK throws a lifeline to ACT-equipped waste processing plants and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: October 2018

This month: Tough time for the biofuel sector, UK-based projects drop out of CfD process, Ireland's lack of landfill capacity an emergency and a full round facilities round up

EWB Insight report: September 2018

This month: More problems for waste gasification plants, DG Environment gives "early warning reports" to 14 member states, UK makes it tougher for wood-fired builds and a full facilities round up for the month

EWB Insight report: August 2018

This month: Could the UK bring in an "incineration tax", EC launches bioethanol investigation, exports of RDF from the UK drop again as well as a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: June 2018

This month: Is small the future for EfW plants, policy progress on RED II and the circular economy package as well as a full round up of waste and bioenergy facilities

EWB Insight report: May 2018

This month: Legal action over a UK EfW plant has prompted calls for a change in the law, an RDF "loophole", biomass plants face feedstock shortages and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: April 2018

This month: WI Bref talks near finishing line, the EU's circular economy package progresses, new owners for Clearfleau and a full biogas, biomass and EfW facilities round up

EWB Insight report: March 2018

This month: UK AD sector faces tough economic outlook, hope for crop-based biofuels, cement sector calls for financial support to use biomass and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: February 2018

This month: Falling subsides and feedstock issues driving biogas consolidation, UK starts RHI work, Ireland pledges more support for 'home grown' biomass and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: January 2018

This month: Straw-fired power starts 2018 strongly, RED II goes the way of bioenergy, Drax to convert a fourth unit and a full facilities round up

Comment: Circular Economy - tremendous slow down

Energy-from-waste trade association CEWEP's secretary general, Dr Ella Stengler, appeals to Member States not to see landfill diversion as a burden, but as an opportunity to improve their waste management systems

EWB Insight report: December 2017

This month: IBA pushes up recycling levels, the end for coal, waste wood legislation in the UK and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: November 2017

This month: The ESA takes on Eunomia in the on-going row over a looming UK waste-capacity gap, Autumn Budget is badly received by waste and bioenergy sectors and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight report: October 2017

This month: Developing RED II looks good for the waste and bioenergy sectors while crop-based biofuels face a tough future. Plus a full round up of October's waste and bioenergy facilities

EWB Insight: September 2017

This month: Indian EfW market ripe for investment, biofuel market woes, several waste supply deals and the latest developments at waste, biomass and biogas facilities across Europe

EWB Insight: August 2017

This month: UK EfW capacity row reignites, RHI confusion continues, newly privatised GIB sell off waste and bioenergy investments and a full facilities round up

EWB Insight: July 2017

This month: Biofuel to come of age, boost for gasification, falling gate fees for biogas and EfW plants as well as a full round of waste and bioenergy facility news

EWB Insight: June 2017

This month: RED draft revealed, issues at the Poolbeg EfW development, Biffa to develop two energy recovery plants and Sweden loses imported biogas legal argument

EWB Insight: May 2017

This month: CEWEP gives some early thoughts on the first draft of the waste incineration BREF, German biogas businesses reveal mixed fortunes and several waste and biomass-fired projects reach crucial stages

EWB Insight: April 2017

This month: Gasification back on the agenda, biomass supports CO2 emission cuts as coal phase out begins and more boosts for the biogas sector

Rise of energy recovery?

Concerns around Brexit, incineration capacity and the impact on recycling rates are clouding the energy-from waste landscape in the UK

EWB Insight: March 2017

This month: The end of EfW catchment areas, European Commission backs biomass and a senior member of power station Drax's staff joins UK government advisory body

EWB Insight: January 2017

This month: Northern Ireland's government collapses over biomass subsidies, a stronger circular economy, plus new deals in the biomass and energy-from-waste sector.

EWB Insight: December 2016

This month: All eyes on Drax, new deals for Suez and a turn of fortunes predicted for waste processing ACT technologies

EWB Insight: February 2017

This month: The UK urged to ditch "ill defined" circular economy package, Commission debates over recycling type and volumes and is the EfW sector facing a "transitional" period

EWB Insight: November 2016

This month: The Winter Package launches a new chapter for waste and bioenergy, EfW growth led by Asia and a full facilities round up

Why 'right touch' not 'light touch' biomass regulation is what we need in Europe

Drax Group director of corporate affairs, Matthew Rivers, examines the role biomass could have in the upcoming Winter Package

EWB Insight: October 2016

This month: Bioenergy battle lines drawn up as sustainability policy due to be announced, UK bioenergy outstrips other renewables, a takeover deal for Rusforest and Biffa returns to the stock exchange

EWB Insight: August 2016

This month: UK passes peak EfW development, German biogas woes continue and a full facilities update

EWB Insight: September 2016

This month: Falling price of Danish waste hitting investments, Germany's waste imports fall but the amount of UK waste it takes rises and Lietuvos Energija gets EU state aid clearance for a vast multi-fuel plant

EWB Insight: July 2016

This month: UK's waste gasification sector takes a knock, ADBA conference round up and the end to subsidies for first generation biofuels post 2020

Nearly final combustion plant BREF raises standards

Gasification, plasma gasification and multi-fuel combustion added to the final draft LCP BREF

EWB Insight: June 2016

This month: UK looks to the positives for energy-from-waste after Brexit vote, EfW’s developing role in the circular economy and positive developments on coal-to-biomass conversion projects in Denmark and Belgium.

EWB Insight: May 2016

This month: Covanta returns to the UK, US imports of biomass up again and could we reach waste processing capacity by 2030?

Bioplant points to efficient future

Renescience Northwhich will be the world's first commercial full-scale bioplant of its kind when it opens next year in Cheshire. Thomas Dalsgaard reports on how enzymes and warm water will help turn household waste into energy

EWB Insight: April 2016

This month: Bioenergy businesses set out their positions ahead of the EU's sustainability consultation closing, English RDF exports rocket, Air Product's EfW business collapses and a major wood pellet producer cuts production.

EWB Insight: March 2016

This month: Could waste processing CfD projects be under threat of losing funding, pellet prices close in on oil and all the latest policy, market and facilities updates from the waste and bioenergy sector

EWB Insight: February 2016

This month: Europe's waste and bioenergy sector has experienced unprecedented investment from China. Could UK waste businesses such as Biffa be next on the Asian giant's shopping list?

EWB Insight: January 2016

This month: Bioenergy investors and operators urged to ride out the low oil price storm, Abengoa up for grabs, and EfW scores a first for carbon capture

EWB Insight: December 2015

The December insight finds the European EWB sectors ending the year in relatively good health, with technological and market development continuing apace.

EWB Insight: November 2015

The UK's decision to dump coal in November, could open the door to bioenergy

EWB Insight: October 2015

Scandinavian EfW sector will start to feel the pressure as other countries bring capacity into operation

EWB Insight: September 2015

Bioenergy industries brace for the EU circular economy package as rows over renewable energy subsidy changes sour the mood

EWB Insight: August 2015

The latest EWB Insight report covers biogas subsidy changes, Austria's plan to cut waste wood incineration as well as the latest facility and market news

EWB Insight: July 2015

The latest EWB Insight report covers Irish biomass updates, UK biogas reaching a milestone and the closure of a major German EfW plant

EWB Insight: June 2015

EWB Insight: May 2015

EWB Insight: April 2015

EWB Insight: March 2015

EWB Insight: February 2015

EWB Insight: January 2015

EWB Insight: December 2014

EWB Insight: October 2014

EWB Insight: November 2014