Fuel from waste — or even algae

The aim is to have 15 per cent of the UK’s energy derived from renewable sources by 2020
David Binning

The Government has said that by 2020 it wants 15 per cent of the UK’s energy to be derived from renewable sources. Things are not going quite to plan, however — the figure now stands at about 2 per cent.
Along with the large-scale proposals for wind and tidal power — and the highly controversial nuclear option — a number of other alternatives for power generation are being explored both in the UK and globally. One of the more advanced is biomass, the conversion of plant and other biological material into power, which generates no carbon emissions. Biomass has made a start in the UK with two 300-megawatt plants in Teesside and Port Talbot in development.
Around the world, much faith has been placed in solar energy, with China one of the world leaders in developing cheap and lightweight solar cell technology.
Another possibility is the conversion of waste into energy. About 100 million tonnes of waste produced each year could be converted to energy, with the potential to supply up to 4 per cent of the UK’s electricity and heating requirements, according to the Energy Technologies Institute.
When it comes to transport, there is no doubt that we need a real alternative to fossil fuels. And while there has been strong interest in electric and hybrid cars, it will be some time before they make any real impact.
Biofuels have long been touted as a panacea but enthusiasm has waned somewhat.
The Carbon Trust recently launched a programme to commercialise the use of biofuel produced from algae by 2030. It is estimated that algae-based fuels could replace some 70 billion litres a year of fossil fuel by 2030 — equivalent to 12 per cent of global jet fuel consumption