Green Light For Renewable Energy Growth

May 18, 2011 - PRLog -- Lincolnshire County Council (www.lincolnshire.gov.uk) has given the green light for Organic Recycling (www.organicrecycling.co.uk) to increase the technology options available at its recycling site in Crowland. The £16 million project at the Energy and Recycling Park has now been granted planning permission. The site will provide opportunities for utilities companies looking for long-term suppliers of renewable energy.

In 2007 the company was granted permission to build an in-vessel composting facility and a dry recycling transfer station. Now, Organic Recycling plans to extend its operations to include anaerobic digestion and a 1,800 kw biomass boiler. This will give energy companies a unique opportunity to invest in clean energy production with potential revenue of £1.5 million.

Anaerobic digestion (AD) has been heavily promoted by the UK government as a method of recycling biodegradable waste and turning it into a valuable soil enhancement product as well as a way of producing electricity.

Andrew Riddington of Organic Recycling said: “We are delighted that the county council has granted permission. It means that we will be able to produce enough power from a renewable resource for over 1,400 homes.

“The digestion process is simple and robust and occurs in sealed tunnels that are airtight.

“Naturally produced methane is drawn from the tunnel and converted into electricity through a combined heat and power unit. Once the site is online and connected to the central network there will be significant opportunities for utility companies seeking to increase the clean energy capacity of their businesses.”

Organic Recycling’s technology partners have considerable experience in building and operating these technologies both in the UK and in Europe. They will bring these skills to the business in a joint venture operation.

Organic Recycling is extending its operation in order to help meet European legislation which limits the amount of waste that can be sent to landfill and answer the call from the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs to increase the uptake of anaerobic digestion in the UK. A significant growth in the use of anaerobic digestion has great potential to contribute to combating climate change and meeting wider environmental objectives.

Andrew Riddington said: “These technologies can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by capturing methane released by the decomposition of organic materials. The biogas can be used to generate heat and power, or potentially as a transport fuel. The treated material can be used as a fertiliser and soil conditioner.”

For more information visit www.orlplans.co.uk.