Biomass is a general term for material derived from plants or from animal waste. Bio-energy refers to the systems through which biomass is produced or collected, converted and used as an energy source. A wide variety of conversion routes exist that produce a variety of fuels in either in a solid, liquid or gaseous form.
The sources for the biomass can be:
- Industrial (i.e. waste wood, sawdust, vegetable waste)
- Waste (i.e. construction and demolition waste wood, organic municipal waste, biodegradable land filled waste, landfill gas, sewage sludge)
- Forestry (i.e. short rotation crops, wood chips etc.)
- Agriculture (i.e. manure, herbaceous crops, wood, oil/sugar/starch energy crops etc.)
Under the Renewable Obligation all licensed electricity suppliers are required to source a proportion of all electricity supplied from eligible renewable sources. These sources include both dedicated biomass generation and biomass co-firing. The proportion of electricity to be supplied via renewables increases each year and for 2013/14 it is 0.206 ROCs per MWh.
For each MWh of renewable electricity generated a Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC) is issued. These are used to demonstrate compliance with the Renewables Obligation (RO). If a company has not been issued with a sufficient number of ROCs to cover its obligation from its own production, it may either buy more ROCs from companies that have a surplus, or pay a buy out price of £42.02 (2013/14).
EAME is able to offer a range of consulting services to organisations wishing to develop renewable energy schemes and install plant. These include, but are not limited to:
- Site selection appraisals
- Due-diligence
- EIA co-ordination and Environmental Statement (ES) preparation
- Environmental Permitting
- Ecological surveys & biodiversity assessments
- Air quality monitoring
- Land quality (Phase I/II and remediation services)
- Waste management (construction & operational)
- Development constraints evaluation
- Energy options appraisals
Key Project Experience
Recent key project experience has included:
- Combined Heat & Power (CHP) system and Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES), Major City Centre Development, Birmingham – EAME staff were commissioned to compile an initial Scoping Report, undertake various Environmental Baseline Studies and prepare an Environmental Statement in relation to a £150 million development proposal to create a high quality city centre mixed use development.
- Biodiesel Production Plant, Liverpool – EAME recently assisted Agri Energy with the development of its new biodiesel plant in Liverpool.
- Anaerobic Digestion Plant, Liverpool – EAME are currently undertaking technical studies to support a planning application for a new anaerobic digestion plant at an industrial site in Liverpool.
- Biomass Site, Widnes – EAME undertook technical studies to assess baseline conditions and to assess the potential impact of a proposed wood biomass plant in Widnes in relation to air emissions, noise, waste, water quality, land contamination and ecology.
- Eastern European Biomass Project – EAME staff are involved in the development of biomass production and supply projects from Russia into European renewable markets for Russian forest owners.
- Anaerobic Digestion (AD) Energy from Waste Advanced Conversion Technology(ACT) plants – EAME staff are currently involved with the assessment of numerous proposed AD/ACT plants throughout the UK.
EAME Key Contact
If you require further information or you want to enquire about our range of services please contact Michael Sylvester.