The Burning Issue

The Burning Issue

By ENDS Waste & BioenergyBusinessGovernmentInvesting
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The Burning Issue episodes

  • Gavin Anderson of Veolia on the UK Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)

    For the fourth episode of the fifth series, the Burning Issue talks to Gavin Anderson, head of policy and stakeholder engagement at Veolia about the UK government’s plans to include energy-from-waste (EfW) plants under the scope of the emissions trading scheme


    This episode discusses: 

    • Whether the expansion of the UK emissions trading scheme is the right solution for decarbonising the waste sector
    • The advantages and disadvantages of the ETS for for EfW operators
    • Possible alignment with the EU ETS 
    • Voluntary Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) 
    • Impact of the ETS on local authorities


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    25 min
  • Micheal Geary of Indaver on the new Rivenhall Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) in Essex

    For the third episode of the fifth series, the Burning Issue talks to Micheal Geary, commercial and business development director at Indaver Ireland and UK, about progress on the company's new Rivenhall Integrated Waste Management Facility (IWMF) in Essex.


    This episode discusses: 

    • How work is progressing on the Rivenhall plant 
    • Some of the challenges faced during the project and how they have been overcome
    • Partnerships with other businesses including the use of electricity, heat and CO2 produced by the energy-from-waste to grow fresh produce adjacent to the site
    • The long-term goals for Rivenhall in terms of contributing to the circular economy and decarbonisation


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    15 min
  • Andy Bedford of Encyclis on the development of the UK's first full scale carbon capture project for energy-from-waste at the Protos plant

    For the second episode of the fifth series, the Burning Issue talks to Andy Bedford, low carbon development director at Encyclis, about the development of the UK's first full scale carbon capture facility for the energy-from-waste (EfW) sector.

     

    This episode discusses: 


    • Andy's role in leading the Protos carbon capture project and the story behind the development
    • The challenges faced and how they were overcome
    • How carbon capture works alongside an EfW facility
    • What does Protos mean for the potential future roll-out of carbon capture in the Encyclis fleet and the wider UK EfW sector
    • Scepticism about achieving commercial-scale carbon capture deployment in the UK EfW sector



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    26 min
  • Enfinium’s Mike Maudsley on Resource Recovery UK and on how Enfinium is delivering homegrown energy and decarbonisation powered by waste

    For the first episode of the fifth series, the Burning Issue talks to Enfinium’s Mike Maudsley on his role as chair of Resource Recovery UK and on how Enfinium is taking major steps forward in delivering homegrown energy and decarbonisation powered by waste.

     

    This episode discusses: 


    • How industry alliance Resource Recovery UK (RRUK) is advocating on behalf of the energy-from-waste (EfW) sector to promote its role in the pathway to green growth, net zero and a circular economy.
    • What’s been keeping Mike busy since he took over as RRUK chair from Owen Michaelson in March this year
    • Current areas of focus for the alliance and the challenges ahead.
    • Enfinium’s newly opened Skelton Grange EfW facility and progress so far
    • Carbon capture plans
    • How work is going on Enfinium’s under-construction Kelvin EfW plant


    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    21 min
  • Shoal’s Sean Austin and Charlie Grayson talk balancing speed and safety, how accident are ‘catalysts’ for change and why building an EfW plant is like Formula one

    For the fifth episode of the fourth series, the Burning Issue looks at health and safety in the EfW sector.

    This episode focuses on: 

    What happens when something does go wrong at an EfW build

    “Accidents are tragic, but they can be powerful catalysts for change”

    What are businesses doing to support social sustainability

    Will the spread of AI support H&S and what problem could it bring

    Company is currently “facilitating and supporting” around 90% of UK EfWs 

    How to balance speed and safety when deadlines are looming 



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    35 min
  • Green Giraffe's Micheal Ware on why funding is hard for EfWs, how investors are loving AD, and turning Wotsits into biogas

    For the fourth episode of the fourth series, the Burning Issue looks at the state of the market for investors in EfW and bioenergy


    This episode focuses on:


    • Why the company is called Green Giraffe 
    • How it’s raised £35bn 
    • Why heating prisons with EfW is a captivating concept 
    • SAF is a hugely growing sector
    • Could failed gasification plants be converted to waste-to-X projects 
    • How to get over grid connection woes 
    • Turning Wotsits into biogas 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min
  • 7CO2 directors on non-pipeline carbon capture and making energy recovery the ‘net in Net Zero’

    Severnside Carbon Capture and Shipping Hub (7CO2) directors Paul Davies and Keith Birch tell the Burning Issue of the advantage of non-pipeline carbon capture and how it is developing.

    This episode focuses on:

    Advantages of flexible non-pipeline carbon capture 

    As the EfW becomes “saturated, CCS is the big area for growth”

    Why energy recovery can put the ‘Net in Net Zero’

    Track 2 could see “some uptake of new emerging technologies”

    How EfW plants could become mini-hubs for CCS

    Combining SAF production with carbon capture

    Government needs to extend existing Track 1 provisions to Track 2 projects 



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    28 min
  • Encylis director of policy and sustainability Victoria Merton on carbon capture at Protos, building more facilities

    Encylis director of policy and sustainability Victoria Merton on carbon capture at Protos, building more facilities and banning recyclets and biogenics from landfill by 2028

    This episode focuses on:

    How a team of skilled engineers are looking to build CCS across Encyclis’ portfolio 

    Being a year ahead of nearest rival on full-scale EfW carbon capture project 

    Development of the Protos plants has hit some “speed bumps”

    A ban on all recyclets and biogenics going to landfill by 2028 

    Preparing for EfW’s inclusion in the UK ETS  

    Building more capacity in tougher market conditions

    Delivering heat from EfW in Dublin and elsewhere 

    New trade body Resource Recovery UK (RRUK) 

    A graduate of the University of Birmingham, Victoria Merton joined Encyclis when it was called Covanta in 2021 having held senior roles at The Peel Group. 

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    31 min
  • Hitachi Zosen Inova CEO Bruno-Frédéric Baudouin on the end of EfW, the start of waste-to-X, and building the facilities of the future

    Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) chief executive Bruno-Frédéric Baudouin tells EWB editor Luke Walsh talks about how the business is developing a new generation of waste processing plants.


    This episode focuses on:


    • HZI evolving progressively into the leading EfW builder globally
    • How the business has, mostly, avoided the financial issues plaguing other EPC builders 
    • Moving into the O&M market
    • Fixing plants left unfinished by others  
    • Developing a CCS pilot in the UK with Enfinium 
    • Why waste-to-X is the future of the sector 


    Now based in Zürich, French national Bruno-Frédéric Baudouin, joined HZI in 2018. He previously held senior roles at GE Power and Alstom Power. A former student at the Ecole Polytechnique of Paris in the 1990s he also achieved a Master of Business Administration from leading business school the Institut Européen d'Administration des Affaires (INSEAD) in 2004.

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    30 min
  • Enfinium's Karl Smyth on carbon capture, EfW's inclusion in the UK ETS, and how big a tonne of CO2 really is

    EWB editor Luke Walsh talks to Enfinium's director of external affairs and strategic policy Karl Smyth about building carbon capture at the UK’s largest EfW site 


    This episode focuses on:


    • Developing a CCS pilot at the Ferrybridge EfW site next month 
    • What comes next after the permitting pause and expected strategic review of EfW capacity 
    • With a general election due will a change of government increase focus on the waste sector
    • UK ETS will “encourage innovation around contracting” 
    • Two more EfW plants expected operational next year 
    • How a total of six EfW facilities is “probably” enough for the company
    • Why carbon capture is like squeezing a double decker bus through a small pipe network

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    24 min

About The Burning Issue

From the publisher's feed

Every fortnight the Burning Issue looks at different elements of the energy recovery sector.

Presented by Sarah Byrne, the editor of endswasteandbioenergy.com, the show interviews leading figures in the energy recovery sector and aims to investigate where the sector is now and where does it go from here.