The Renewable Energy Association (REA) revealed this week that it is working with energy regulator Ofgem to help make it easier for pyrolysis and gasification operators to gain ROCs accreditation.
There are currently very few sites using pyrolysis or gasification and have ROCs accreditation because the operators of both technologies have to prove how much biomass is contained in their feedstock. ROCs, or Renewables Obligation Certificates, are a government subsidy which aims to encourage the take-up of certain renewables technologies.
We have to make sure all these projects are getting ROCs as there are real benefits to these technologies
Tricia Wiley, REA
Tricia Wiley, policy analyst at the REA, explained that it is very costly and time-consuming for these operators to test their feedstock to prove they meet ROCs requirements.
She told letsrecycle.com: “The issue with energy-from-waste obtaining ROCs is that they have to prove biomass content. This involves taking lots of samples and breaking down and separating the feedstock content to learn its exact compositions, which is costly and time-consuming.”
To make it cheaper to test for biomass content in feedstock, and in turn make it easier to obtain ROCs, the REA has developed a new analysis technique called Carbon 14.
The new test looks for the carbon 14 isotope, which proves the presence of organic compounds. This particular testing method is quicker and cheaper than other methods and the REA is now waiting to see if Ofgem will accept the technique and allow it to be used when testing to see if sites can meet ROCs criteria.
Ms Wiley said she hoped that Ofgem would decide early next year whether they would officially recognise the new testing methods.
She said it was important that many types of renewable technology, particularly those which divert waste from landfill, received money back from the ROCs system. She added: “We have to make sure all these projects are getting ROCs as there are real benefits to these technologies.”
Working group
In addition to its work with Ofgem, the REA has also organised a working group to allow pyrolysis and gasification practitioners to develop the technology. The group is a spin-off from the organisation's bioenergy group.
Ms Wiley commented: “The point is for the industry to work together, build a high standard, share knowledge and work to get accreditation.”
Ms Wiley explained that the group had met four times already and was due to meet again in January 2011. She said it had already has some success and three REA members which run gasification sites were on the cusp of receiving ROCs accreditation.
She said New Earth Solutions, Energos and ITI Energy had all achieved preliminary or full accreditation.
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