The ‘Net Zero Transition Plan’, backed by an investment programme worth over £1.7 billion, sets out enfinium’s pathway to achieve net zero across its Scope 1 and 2 emissions by 2033.
Driven by the installation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology at enfinium’s sites across the UK, these plans will enable enfinium to generate hundreds of thousands of tonnes of durable carbon removals from 2030, rising to 1.2 million tonnes per year by 2039.
The UK is said to currently generate around 27 million tonnes of waste every year that cannot be recycled. According to the government’s figures, by 2042, even if the UK hits its recycling targets, there will still be over 17 million tonnes of unrecyclable waste produced each year.
‘Captured and stored’
Around half of the unrecyclable waste produced by the UK is made up of biogenic content – organic material such as food waste, plants and soiled paper or card – which has already naturally absorbed CO2 from the atmosphere. enfinium said installing the CCS technology at its energy from waste facilities will enable this CO2 to be” permanently captured and stored” rather than released back into the atmosphere, resulting in a net carbon removal.
Mike Maudsley, CEO of enfinium, said: “Today, enfinium uses waste that cannot be recycled, which would otherwise go to climate damaging landfill, to generate low carbon homegrown energy. Installing carbon capture technology will allow us to go further and remove more than one million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere every year.
“Carbon removals is a once in a generation opportunity for the waste sector globally. With bold leadership and in partnership with governments we can pioneer a credible and affordable pathway to zero emissions and green growth.”
The Net Zero Transition Plan also details how enfinium plans to support its local communities to achieve net zero for their operations. Through the development of heat networks, the production of electrolytic hydrogen and the direct supply of carbon negative electricity via private wires, enfinium’s plants will aim to provide home-grown, baseload power to nearby users and sit at the heart of localised ‘decarbonisation hubs’.
The Net Zero Transition Plan has been independently verified by independent engineering consultancy Arup.
‘Homegrown energy’
Ben Glover, director and UK resources business leader at Arup, said: “Energy from waste has a demonstrable role in delivering vital carbon removals for the UK economy, which are needed imminently.
“The actionable pathway and timeline of enfinium’s Net Zero Transition Plan demonstrates how their ambition to deliver carbon removals at scale becomes a reality. Our work with enfinium has shown that there is a sound business case and pathway to carbon removals, generating sustainable homegrown energy and creating green jobs to power the UK’s net zero economy.”
To find out more about changes in the sector, visit the National Letsrecycle.com Conference on 6 June at QEII Centre in London. To book tickets to attend or for more information please click here.
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