“First green gas” from AD supplied to UK homeowners
The initial biogas supplies are made in Holland through the anaerobic digestion of sugar beets and then connected to the UK gas grid. According to the firm, which is heavily involved in renewable energy, it is planning to supply up to 10% biogas in its mix by the end of 2010, growing this figure year-on-year by investing the money from its customers' bill back into building more AD plants.
In January 2010, the government published a guide on injecting biogas into Britain's gas grid as a means of informing operators of AD plants the technical, legal and regulatory requirements to carry out the practice (see letsrecycle.com story).
Pembrokeshire takes order of two new waste compactors
The firm, which is a member of waste compactor specialists, the Skip Units Group, has now delivered seven of the compactors to the West Wales local authority in recent years, with four high-capacity Simpak PP25H portable compactors delivered to sites at St Davids, Fishguard, Crymych and Tenby. The new compactors delivered to Pembrokeshire replace two aging versions of the same model. The Simpak design features a main control panel together with the main isolator at the rear of the machine. The emergency stop, start, pump running and other warning indicators are mounted on a separate panel close to the loading area.
Servicing the area of Milford Haven and Haverfordwest, Winsel is one of six civic amenity and recycling centres in Pembrokeshire. The site is primarily dedicated to domestic waste and recycles a variety of items, including glass, cans, newspapers and magazines, white goods and green waste.
Valpak launches community recycling centre in Preston
Recycling firm Valpak Recycling (North West) has opened a community recycling centre for householders and trades people at Grimsargh near Preston.
The company, which operates a materials recycling facility at the Grimsargh site, has opened out the facility to provide a recycling point for residents and local businesses to dispose of household and trade waste. Valpak hopes to reduce the costs for traders in disposing of waste and is accepting paper, card, plastic bottles, plastic film, glass and batteries. To coincide with the opening of the facility to the community, Valpak has launched a dedicated ‘fan page' on Facebook.
Commenting on the site, Duncan Simpson, director of sales and marketing at Valpak, said: “Valpak Recycling is delighted to be supporting the local community through this recycling centre. We wish to make it as easy as possible for householders and trades people to recycle their unwanted items and waste while simultaneously helping the community to do their bit for the environment.”
Scotland's “largest” AD plant given go-ahead
West Lothian council consented the proposal for Scotland's “largest” anaerobic digestion (AD) facility, near Livingstone, south-west of Bathgate, last month (May 5). The plant will form part of the Pond Green Energy Park development and will be capable of handling around 105,000 tonnes of waste every year. According to Banks Developments, the facility will have a total generating capacity of 4MWe of electricity and 6MWth of heat. Detailed assessment will now commence regarding a potential community heating system for local homes and businesses which Banks claims has been made possible by this decision.
Commenting on the consent, Colin Anderson, managing director of Banks Property Development Limited, said: “This decision is a landmark in the drive to deliver Scotland's Zero Waste Strategy. Pond Green Energy Park provides West Lothian and the wider Central Belt with a local solution to its own waste, as well as delivering renewable energy to fuel businesses and homes, thereby supporting economic growth. We hope to commence construction during 2011, with the facility coming on line in 2012.”
Organics firm TEG completes licensing agreement with UTS
Organics recycling specialist TEG Group has completed an agreement with German firm UTS Biogastechnik for the supply of its anaerobic digestion technology into the UK market.
The five-year licensing agreement means that Chorley-based TEG encompasses the provision by UTS of technical support, design, data and training and will see UTS supply all proprietary plant and equipment. This is while TEG will project-manage all installations and also source standard equipment in the UK. And, the agreement is exclusive in the local authority and waste markets, with TEG paying UTS an annual fee for professional services and a royalty on acute plant sales. The five-year deal comes off the back of an arrangement being announced by the two firms in March 2009 (see letsrecycle.com story).
Commenting for TEG, chief executive Mick Fishwick said: “We are delighted to have developed our relationship with UTS and to have secured a licensing agreement and long term commitment between the parties. TEG has made considerable progress in the development of its AD business and we look forward to building and operating our first plants. The announcement by the new government of a specific commitment to AD has reinforced the importance of TEG and UTS securing its relationship and we are confident the market will continue to develop rapidly.”
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