Bioenergy in the Public Sector

An article provided by Simon Hartley, Energy Manager & Project Lead Worcestershire County Council Carbon Management Programme.

The interest of the Public Sector in bioenergy, although originating out of concern to reduce harmful environmental impacts, has been considerably broadened and now informs decision making related to:

1. The best use of public money (in terms of investment opportunities, capital spending and reducing the ongoing energy and maintenance costs of the councils operations);
2. Stimulating the economy through the development of new environmental technologies and associated industry leading to the creation of jobs;
3. Greater opportunities for enhancing public, private and community cooperation and pooling all types of resources; and
4. Providing innovative cost-effective solutions to some of the problems experienced by Local Authorities today that, without solutions, will become greater problems for future communities.

When we talk about bioenergy we are talking about sustainability in it's broadest sense, the need for energy sources to renewable enough to meet demand, to achieve greater efficiencies from energy sources, and to protect and enhance our environment whilst utilising the energy source. There are currently no statutory targets relating to the reduction of greenhouse gases, the generation of renewable electricity, reducing energy and water consumption, or reducing the amount of waste produced by the Local Authorities themselves.

Where statutory targets do exist, reducing the amount of county municipal waste that is sent to landfill for example, action is being taken and new plant facilities are planned. There is no legislation or statutory target to reduce the harmful environmental impact (in terms of Carbon Dioxide emissions) from council or county transport though there are targets that relate to air quality and congestion.

The introduction of bio-diesel may well contribute to better air quality and reduced carbon emissions as well as deliver cheaper fuel, stimulate economic regeneration through agricultural diversity and the necessary support services, or increase the re-use of waste oil (diversion away from landfill). The synergy between statutory targets and carbon management is that the same projects can deliver many of the aims that are of importance to communities.

For instance, the establishment of a biogas plant may contribute to delivering statutory obligations such as new regulations relating to slurry management, remediation of contaminated land, reducing landfill waste, capping lanfill sites, and increasing amounts recycled whilst also generating renewable energy, and perhaps, reducing waste management costs in the process. Utilizing biomass boilers for heating can provide new opportunities for agriculture in terms of growing energy crops, create jobs, possibly through new social enterprises, through the development of new support services and encourage growth in the 'technology belts' focused on low carbon solutions.

The introduction of these innovative solutions will require much cooperation and collaboration, which , in itself, encourages further efficiencies and potential to deliver government aims.

Site by PerfectArc 2006