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Urban AD: Context & Challenges. "Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.". Sustainability Live, Apr 14. UK Storms: “We have no heating, no power, no hot food”. www.methanogen.co.uk
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Urban AD: Context & Challenges "Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Sustainability Live, Apr 14
UK Storms: “We have no heating, no power, no hot food” www.methanogen.co.uk info@methanogen.co.uk
www.methanogen.co.uk info@methanogen.co.uk An ‘energy divorce’
A “MAD IDEA”? Heating? Vehicle fuel? Cooking? Lighting?
www.methanogen.co.uk info@methanogen.co.uk Vision: “Future Proofing” A robust, decentralised, flexible, integrated waste, energy, transport, food & data management system -Camden Council TSB Future Cities
www.methanogen.co.uk info@methanogen.co.uk What might urban AD look like? -Biomethane-powered pasteurisation/pre-treatment vehicles collecting organics such as food waste, shredded paper, non-woody green waste -Network of micro-AD units in housing blocks, urban growing spaces, parks, golf courses, hotels, food/drink manufacturers and processors -Varied biogas uses: micro-CHP, micro-biomethane upgrading, cooking heating INTEGRATED as necessary with PV, solar thermal, H fuel cell -Digestate used on food growing, urban greening, in gardens and households
www.methanogen.co.uk info@methanogen.co.uk Drivers for Urban AD • Landfill tax rises / waste management savings / waste minimisation • Pressure on LA’s: financial / sustainability eg London Plan • “Quality of Life”: clean vehicles (air quality), urban greening, health • Food security / local food production • Smart management of energy / resources • ‘Green’ employment • Energy security
www.methanogen.co.uk info@methanogen.co.uk Benefits • Divert organics from landfill • Dealing with waste at source • Ability to access local wastes too diffuse or small in quantity to transport • Accessible by communities • Can support waste reduction element of the waste hierarchy: move them or access further local wastes • Support urban greening using organic fertiliser • Reduce waste transport & emissions: air quality
www.methanogen.co.uk info@methanogen.co.uk Challenges & Opportunities Equipmentat this scale: collection; pre-processing; handling; upgrading Cost:but volume scale economies are possible Regulation: eg PAS110 did not consider community micro-AD networks; a regulatory crack? Digestatescan vary in odour, so handling & use are considerations Awareness: Really? We can do this?
ALL AD systems need a certain amount of landfrom whence its feedstock comes. Theyalso needa certain amount of landto return nutrients onto. Micro-AD systems are no exception
www.methanogen.co.uk info@methanogen.co.uk Digestate Use: Closing the Circle
www.methanogen.co.uk info@methanogen.co.uk The RealChallenge We must reduce wasted organic materials We must economically access and recycle remaining organics in a ‘carbon smart’ and sustainable fashion, utilising the volatile carbon as energy, as well as the sequestered C Integrated Demand-Led Micro-Anaerobic Digestion
Angie Bywater Methanogen (UK) Ltd info@methanogen.co.uk www.methanogen.co.uk M: 07753 571371 Twitter: BiogasUK Blog: anaerobicdigest.tumblr.com