Efforts to turn waste into energy are increasing around world, and booming in the United Kingdom. Supermarkets especially are investing in biogas technologies, or at least shipping their waste to renewable energy plants, according to a Bloomberg report.
Government subsidies and requirements play a part in encouraging the purchase of clean energy, but so do the hefty landfill taxes. The U.K. garbage tax, which was £64 (about US $100) per ton in April, increases by £8 every year. For the large supermarket chains, that fee adds up, as do their heavy energy bills. Executives agree that reducing energy costs is just good business, and that means renewable energy—and the government energy credits that go with it.
The Renewable Obligation program requires utilities to buy a certain amount of electricity from clean sources. The program issues certificates for each megawatt-hour produced from renewable sources. If a utility company doesn’t get enough Renewable Obligation Certificates, it must pay a penalty. Different techs get different credits, with anaerobic digestion getting two.
Anaerobic digestion turns organic material into biogas by breaking down the substance in an oxygen-free environment. For supermarkets burdened with food waste, it’s an irresistible option. Experiments with leftovers—fish heads, rotisserie chicken fats, lamb chops, rotting vegetables, sandwich breads—are taking place across the U.K. Market chains are also exploring and using solar panels, wood chips, and geothermal power. And the demonstrated financial benefits are spurring the construction of new power plants.
