New Technologies Demonstrator Programme
Encyclopedia
The New Technologies Demonstrator Programme is a scheme part of Defra's Waste Implementation Programme
, New Technologies Workstream, to demonstrate advanced waste processing technologies in England. A pot of £30million was allocated to fund 10 demonstrator projects with the project being headed by Dave Brooks at Defra. The scheme is not on schedule for the ambitious targets that were initially set out by Defra, however 9 projects out of the initial 10 are now projected to be operational by April 2009, over 2 years behind schedule.
Their project had a huge response for the first round, with 71 pre-qualification questionnaire submissions being filed from interested parties. The quality of some of the initial bids were criticised by Martin Brockelhurst, Head of Waste Strategy, at the Environment Agency
who remarked some of the applications were poor and came from a "young industry".
, in-vessel composting
, anaerobic digestion
and mechanical heat treatment
. From the original target dates for operational demonstrator plants outlined in the initial assessment criteria only 2 projects are now operational (true as of 27 November 2006). On 24 November 2006, Dave Brooks announced that the new target for all plants being operational is April 2009.
Novera withdrew from the DEFRA scheme in 2007.
Waste Implementation Programme
The Waste Implementation Programme is the UK Government's response to the package of strategic measures recommended by the Strategy Unit "Waste Not, Want Not" report published in 2002...
, New Technologies Workstream, to demonstrate advanced waste processing technologies in England. A pot of £30million was allocated to fund 10 demonstrator projects with the project being headed by Dave Brooks at Defra. The scheme is not on schedule for the ambitious targets that were initially set out by Defra, however 9 projects out of the initial 10 are now projected to be operational by April 2009, over 2 years behind schedule.
The scheme
The scheme initially was allocated £32 million, of which £2 million was to help fund research and development into waste technology. The scheme for the distribution of the main £30 million pot commenced in 2004 and was originally split into two rounds:- ROUND 1: 5 demonstrator projects in operation by 31 December 2005
- ROUND 2: 5 demonstrator projects in operation by 31 December 2006
Their project had a huge response for the first round, with 71 pre-qualification questionnaire submissions being filed from interested parties. The quality of some of the initial bids were criticised by Martin Brockelhurst, Head of Waste Strategy, at the Environment Agency
Environment Agency
The Environment Agency is a British non-departmental public body of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and an Assembly Government Sponsored Body of the Welsh Assembly Government that serves England and Wales.-Purpose:...
who remarked some of the applications were poor and came from a "young industry".
Controversy
There have been concerns that the project is taking too long and some participants threatened to walk out. On 11 April 2006, Defra declared that its initial timescales were ambitious and projects were not on target. Of the 10 original projects planned a total of 9 have now been signed and includes gasificationGasification
Gasification is a process that converts organic or fossil based carbonaceous materials into carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide and methane. This is achieved by reacting the material at high temperatures , without combustion, with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam...
, in-vessel composting
In-vessel composting
In-vessel composting is an industrial form of composting biodegradable waste that occurs in enclosed reactors. These generally consist of metal tanks or concrete bunkers in which air flow and temperature can be controlled, using the principles of a "bioreactor"...
, anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic digestion
Anaerobic digestion is a series of processes in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. It is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste and/or to release energy....
and mechanical heat treatment
Mechanical heat treatment
Mechanical heat treatment is an alternative waste treatment technology. This technology is also commonly termed Autoclaving. MHT involves a mechanical sorting or pre-processing stage with technology often found in a material recovery facility. The mechanical sorting stage is followed by a form of...
. From the original target dates for operational demonstrator plants outlined in the initial assessment criteria only 2 projects are now operational (true as of 27 November 2006). On 24 November 2006, Dave Brooks announced that the new target for all plants being operational is April 2009.
Operational
- Greenfinch anaerobic digesters, LudlowLudlowLudlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
, Shropshire - Bioganix in-vessel composting plant, LeominsterLeominsterLeominster is a market town in Herefordshire, England, located approximately north of the city of Hereford and south of Ludlow, at...
- Fairport Engineering, mechanical heat treatment, MerseysideMerseysideMerseyside is a metropolitan county in North West England, with a population of 1,365,900. It encompasses the metropolitan area centred on both banks of the lower reaches of the Mersey Estuary, and comprises five metropolitan boroughs: Knowsley, St Helens, Sefton, Wirral, and the city of Liverpool...
- Energos gasification plant, Isle of WightIsle of Wight gasification facilityThe Isle of Wight gasification facility is a municipal waste treatment plant in southern England. It entered the commissioning phase in autumn 2008...
Contracts signed
- ADAS/Envar in-vessel composing plant, St Ives, CambridgeshireSt Ives, CambridgeshireSt Ives is a market town in Cambridgeshire, England, around north-west of the city of Cambridge and north of London. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Huntingdonshire.-History:...
- Yorwaste gasification plant, Seamer Carr, Scarborough
- Premier Waste aerobic digestion plant, DurhamDurhamDurham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
- Compact Power gasification plant, AvonmouthAvonmouthAvonmouth is a port and suburb of Bristol, England, located on the Severn Estuary, at the mouth of the River Avon.The council ward of Avonmouth also includes Shirehampton and the western end of Lawrence Weston.- Geography :...
Abandoned or Cancelled
- Novera gasification plant, DagenhamDagenhamDagenham is a large suburb in East London, forming the eastern part of the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham and located east of Charing Cross. It was historically an agrarian village in the county of Essex and remained mostly undeveloped until 1921 when the London County Council began...
Novera withdrew from the DEFRA scheme in 2007.