When the renewable and low carbon industries are discussed solar panels, wind farms and Feed-in Tariffs are the first to make an appearance. But last month Encraft Project Engineer Kate Ashworth attended a RESCO workshop in which bio-methane took the centre stage.
Bio-methane energy is generated by the decomposition of organic wastes, most frequently through the process of Anaerobic Digestion (AD). If upgraded, bio-methane can then be injected into the national grid.
The workshop, however, dealt with one significant element of the industry and that is the supply chain. This is the area by which bio-methane can be upgraded for use in the national grid, and it is also the area most likely to generate jobs. RESCO note that the engineering supply can include:
· Fabrication & machining
· Pipework
· Valves, pumps & ducting
· Electronics & process monitoring systems
· Process control systems
· Chemical treatment technologies
· Chemical sensors & data analysis
· Mixing & processing equipment
· Construction & building
Kate commented that ‘the market conditions are now conducive for a rapid expansion of this technology with the imminent, if somewhat delayed, introduction of the RHI tariff for gas injection, as well as other regulatory incentives, such as green gas certificates.’
Thus the lack of widespread knowledge in this area of the industry should not be considered a disadvantage. Perversely it should be regarded as an asset; an area into which those in the engineering supply chain, as well as specialist technical services providers, can grow.
The emerging bio-energy market in the UK is estimated to be worth £5 billion, and it is further suggested that bio-methane could provide up to 50% of the UK’s domestic gas in the future. Don’t be dissuaded by talk of gas, wind and methane; this area of the bio-energy market looks set to go far.
No comments:
Post a Comment