Processing domestic waste into fuel is a new and emerging industry. In 2010, it didn’t really exist in the UK, but this year, around two million tonnes is expected to be exported to Europe, which has the technology to utilise it.
Sweden, the Netherlands and Germany – some of the most sustainable countries in Europe – have all invested in refuse derived fuel (RDF) combined heat and power (CHP) plants, because they believe they provide far more sustainable solutions for our future energy needs than relying on carbon-emitting fossil fuels.
At Boomeco, we have been recovering waste for 14 years, processing wood waste for use as fuel in biomass plants, and exporting this for almost a decade.
However, for the past two years, we have also been exporting non-recyclable waste materials to a CHP plants in Belgium, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Holland with multiple benefits: reduced landfill tax bills for the local authorities we work with; an extra useful purpose for materials that would otherwise have been obsolete; and, crucially, affordable, renewable energy and heat for residents local to the CHP plant.
Market
We recognise the potential for growth in this emerging market and have invested heavily in keeping up with the latest innovative technologies, meaning we can stay at the forefront of the waste-to-energy sector. Currently this is mainly for export to Europe, but we are optimistic that the UK will increase its number of plants before the end of the decade.
It’s not simply a question of developing our services to keep up with demand – we firmly believe that with the new technology we can drive the sector forward and help create demand for RDF materials
We’ve spent £2.5m on the latest technology and equipment to allow us to take wood and household black bag waste and turn it into fuel, something that saves the local authority in North Somerset and its taxpayers over £400,000, and repurposes over 7,000 tonnes of black bag waste.
Investment
Our major investment focusses on optimising the shred-bale-tie procedure which is key to the efficiency of any waste processing plant. Efficiency and automation are vital to be able to provide a future-proof service that will be able to cope with ever-increasing demand, and our investment in the latest technology helps us meet both these objectives.
After being shredded by one of the most powerful, heaviest and robust hook shredders on the market, which creates uniform-sized pieces that reduces waste; the fully-automated baling press uses 200 tonnes of pressing force to guarantee the maximum bale weights required, tying them in 1.2 m³ rectangular bales.
The patented telescopic tunnel guarantees higher production than a standard two-ram baler and because compaction and tying are separate processes, disturbances due to contamination are eliminated. The tying process uses PET strapping which is extremely economical, driving down operating costs when compared with either black or galvanized baling wire. A further major benefit being that the PET strapping can be completely utilised in the incineration process.
We’ve also improved our stretch film wrapping to make it a more cost-effective and safe way to store the fuel while it is waiting for further use as a source of energy in waste-to-energy-plants, as well as investment in logistics and handling machines that allow Boomeco to be at the top of its game.
With further investments in logistics, handling and site improvements, we believe we’re ready to help lead the UK in its bid to generate – and crucially meet – demand for more waste-for-fuel energy, both here and abroad.
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