Colin Robertson

Edinburgh Napier UniversityEnvironmental Sustainability Conference

11 November 2015

Objective:“At the heart of the Programme is the simple yet

potent concept of creating bio-energy and sustainable biofuels from low value organic

waste and by-products.”

Technology Experts Industry

ResearchScottish

Businesses

Also…• 42% reduction in GHG cf 1990 by 2020 (UK 34%)• 500 MW community and locally-owned renewable energy by 2020

Energy Demand (TWh) and renewables target 2020

Total Heat Transport Electricity

Scotland TWh 183 90 55 38

renewables 2020 target

30% 11% 11% 100%

2013 3% 46%

UK TWh 1695 710 598 387

renewables 2020 target

15% 10%

Landscape - resources

• Waste has become a transitional state — a phase — rather than an end-product.

• Zero waste legislation and policy• Biofuel is a highly relevant issue in the promotion of waste-management• Landfill impact on business costs – and environment• Responsible use of carbon• Management of business costs

Waste (Scotland) Regulations 2012

Ambitious target of 70% recycling of all waste by 2025

Key points :

• Businesses & organisations to present key recyclable material for collection

• Separate collection of food waste - businesses and households

• A ban on the use of macerators to discharge food waste into the public sewer

• A ban on municipal biodegradable waste going to landfill by 1 January

2021

Process: to support potential action Increase awareness & understanding build expertise among different actors provide new or supporting evidence pull together data facilitate knowledge-exchange

Motivation:

Circular Economy

New services

Reduce business costs

New products

Legislation

New income Customer demand

Environmental concern Carbon

management

Regulation

Resource management

How SMEs work with the Programme1. Awareness

− Case studies – conversations, print, web, events

2. Initial Advice & Support– Identify economic & environmental benefits– Identify potential opportunities

3. Feasibility– Technical feasibility/lab analysis of feedstock– Commercial feasibility & economic modelling

4. Development– Specification & tender writing– Demonstrate production process viability– Optimisation and scale-up– Facilitate research & commercial partnerships

Free to SMEs

Biofuel Development FundAwards from £3K-£30K

External Funding

Creating bio-energy & sustainable biofuels from low value organic waste or by-products

Address disposal problem

+ Produce

renewable energy

Biomass

Waste

Residues

By-product

Co-product

Biofuel

Bioenergy

Generate new revenue

Reduce costs

Meet environmental goals

Comply with legislation

Lo

w V

alu

eH

igh

Val

ue

Fermentation

feedstock

butanol

ethanol

acetone

fermentation

Liquid fuels

Commodity chemicals

Anaerobic Digestion

FertiliserHeat and electricity

feedstock

anaerobic digestion

biogasdigestate

Biomethane Fuel

Pyrolysis/ Biochar

feedstock

pyrolysis

oil & gas

biochar

Soil Improver

Carbon Capture

Heat and electricity

On-site conversion of by-productWider biofuel opportunity/ technology development

Analysis of Projects by Technology/Feedstock

FEED PROCESS BIOFUEL PRODUCT

Co-product

AgricultureHarvestCollectionLogistics

DesignConstruction - civilsInnovation - engineering - technologyAnalytics

Users - grid(s) - local - self - transportLogisticsWholesaler/retailer

AgricultureLogistics

Professional services

Biofuels Supply Chain

Your Waste/Co-product

Your product

Your Co.

Past ProjectsAD

Fermentation

Pyrolysis

Algae

Current Projects• Angus Growers and partners- joined project application for interface food

and drink competition to develop new solutions that can utilise waste and losses from the supply chain more efficiently. Awarded £42k (Nov2015).

• Williams Bros Brewing/Six Degrees North -investigating the viability of microAD installation using brewery waste as a feedstock.

• Errington Cheese Co.- investigating the key considerations and risks in support of an on-site anaerobic digestion plant centre on the opportunity for whey co-product from the cheese-making process as a feedstock.

• Matthew Algie-The project’s aim is to develop a viable way of diverging spent coffee grounds from the waste stream and landfills and upcycle it using pyrolysis process to a useful horticultural product.

• Arbikie- investigating the key considerations and risks in support of an on-site anaerobic digestion plant centre on the opportunity for craft distilling and potato by products as a feedstock.

Sectoral Opportunities

• Craft breweries, craft distilleries• Farms (micro scale AD) and processing

plants e.g. soft fruit, vegetables• Bakeries, Confectionery• Cheese Makers • Food waste • Fish Farms • Rural/ Closed-Loop Communities

Challenges & Opportunities

• FIT (incentive)Review– Commercial case– Productivity improvements– New markets

• Industrial Biotechnology– Higher value products

• Circular Economy– Competition for materials

Impacts - April 2012 – March 2015

• Supported 250 SMEs to do 50 Projects• Identified:

• 110,000 tonnes material to process• 4.2 MWe renewable electricity

• 15,700 tonnes CO2e savings

• New net turnover of £9.1m• GVA of £3.3m• 35 jobs supported or safeguarded

Contact

• Colin Robertson Project Manager

• T. 0131 455 3234• M. 07557 458740• E. c.robertson@napier.ac.uk • W. www.biofuels-scotland.co.uk