Gasification and Pyrolysis What are gasification and pyrolysis? Advanced Thermal Technology (ATT) processes Two different processes for turning biomass and residual wastes into an energy resource With options for turning waste and biomass into power, fuels, or chemicals Gasification - A process in which biomass or waste is heated in a vessel to produce a gas (syngas) that can then be used as a fuel to produce electricity or as an intermediate for chemicals or fuels production Pyrolysis - A process in which biomass or waste is heated in a vessel to form a char and a gas and/or liquid that can be used to produce electricity or other fuels How do they work? FAQ: What are Advanced Thermal Technologies (ATTs)? A classification of processes that can provide an efficient and effective way of converting biomass and residual wastes to power, heat and/or fuels Biomass and/or Waste ATT (Gasification / Pyrolysis) Gas processing Power Now Heat Fuels Upgrading Chemicals Future
What are the benefits? Waste or biomass transformation into useful products Contributes to meeting renewable targets Highly flexible technology Enables production of renewable heat and power, fuels, gases such as hydrogen, and/or chemical intermediates Processes a wide range of feedstocks Deployable in a wide range of scales, footprints, or throughputs Potential for high conversion efficiency Environmental benefits Potential for more power generation per tonne waste Potential for lower greenhouse gas emissions Reduces the amount of waste going to landfill Low potential for dioxin formation By-products which can potentially be used for beneficial purposes Security of supply FAQ: How much electricity could this technology generate? At least 60 projects are being built, have planning permission, or have submitted planning permission, with the potential to deliver at least 0.5MWe capacity and divert at least 5milion tonnes per annum waste from landfills Gasification and pyrolysis, energy from waste and the waste hierarchy The waste hierarchy has been fundamental in designing national strategies and policies that move the UK away from its dependence on landfilling. After minimising the amount of waste that is produced in the first place through waste prevention and reuse, the next priority is to recycle as much useful material as possible from the waste that is unavoidably generated. Respecting the waste hierarchy means that energy is recovered from waste after secondary materials have been removed for recycling. Only after extracting the maximum value from waste (both materials and energy) should the remaining waste be disposed of safely. Gasification and pyrolysis do not act as a disincentive to materials recovery and recycling. Evidence from Europe indicates that high recycling (including composting) rates can be sustained alongside high energy recovery rates.
The fact that Sweden, Denmark and the Netherlands have the highest contributions from energy from waste (EfW) technologies (including gasification and pyrolysis) in Europe, but also show the highest recycling rates is proof that both recycling and gasification and pyrolysis can co-exist without the latter crowding out the former. In the UK, EfW technologies currently makes one of the lowest contributions to the total waste management solution, but this contribution could be much higher with the introduction and support of gasification and pyrolysis technologies. Is there enough waste resource for use in energy production in the UK? FAQ: Is there enough waste resources for use in energy production in the UK? Yes! There is an ample amount of residue waste available in the UK for use in gasification and pyrolysis technologies. An industry assessment estimates these resources to be roughly 22-35 million tonnes in the UK.
The gasification and pyrolysis future is bright! 60 projects with planning permission submitted that have planning permission, or are being built that will o have a capacity of 0.5GWe o divert 5 million tonnes waste from landfill These projects could also supply 0.5GWth if heat grids were available in the same way as they are in other parts of Europe FAQ: Where can I learn more about gasification and pyrolysis? Gasification & Pyrolysis Project Developer Web-sites: http://www.energ.co.uk/energos http://www.chinooksciences.com/uniquetechnology/#.vo5wnbalrd9 http://www.airproducts.co.uk/teesva lley/technology.htm http://www.advancedplasmapower.c om/technology.aspx About the REA The REA was established in 2001, as a not-for-profit trade association, representing British renewable energy producers and promoting the use of renewable energy in the UK. The REA endeavours to achieve the right regulatory framework for renewables to deliver an increasing contribution to the UK's electricity, heat and transport needs. Information was supplied by the Gasification and Pyrolysis Industry subgroup of the REA. For more information please contact: Frank Gordon Policy Analyst, REA Email: fgordon@r-e-a.net Phone: 0207 981 0860