But timetables for the projects to get underway remain unclear as Defra still needs to secure state aid approval for the projects from the European Commission.
Preferred bids in this first round span a range of technologies including anaerobic digestion, aerobic digestion, mechanical biological treatment (MBT), pyrolysis, gasification, and in-vessel composting. The seven are:
- WasteGen UK Ltd – pyrolysis and/or gasification
-
Devon County Council and Compact Power Ltd – pyrolysis and/or gasification
- Premier Waste Management Ltd – MBT/in-vessel composting
- Greenfinch Ltd – anaerobic digestion
- Golder Associates – MBT/anaerobic digestion
- ADAS Consulting – MBT/in-vessel composting
- Fairport – material separation/complex material recycling facility/gasification
The pilot schemes, which will be run in partnership with local authorities and industry, will help to establish the technical and commercial viability of emerging and near-market waste technologies. The aim of Defra is to “provide more confidence for industry and local authorities on the economic and environmental feasibility of these 'new' technologies.”
Diversion
The New Technologies Demonstrator Programme (NTDP) is one of two funding programmes which have been designed to help encourage the take up of new technologies in the treatment and diversion of BMW. In total, over 30 million funding will be delivered through the programme to encourage innovation in waste management technology to reduce and divert biological municipal waste.
Five operational demonstration plants are planned for the end of 2005, with a further five by the end of 2006. All of the pilots will be regulated to strict environmental standards and are likely to run over two years. Ultimately, the facilities will be made available to local authorities and industry to help inform waste management decision making.
Confident
Environment Minister Elliot Morley congratulated the preferred bidders last week and said: “I fully expect, once the initial demonstration plants are up and running, that the schemes will receive a steady stream of local authority decision makers, waste management companies and other stakeholders, including overseas visitors. We need to make sure they come away more informed and more confident about the types of technology that could help to address their waste management needs.”
The second round of bidding has opened and runs to 30 November 2004.
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