Challenge

Energy from waste has an important contribution to make in tackling climate change.  It can mitigate climate change, not only by displacing fossil fuels, but also by reducing emissions of methane from landfill.  Energy from waste can also contribute to renewable energy targets, improve our energy security and create new business and job opportunities.  

The aim of this competition is the development of methods to measure the energy output from the biobased fraction of mixed wastes, as accurately as possible, on a basis acceptable to Ofgem.

While the practice of deeming allows project developers to base their pre-investment financial models on a fixed, albeit declining, financial assumption concerning the level of ROC income this is only an interim solution and it is widely recognised that cost effective measurement may bring a number of advantages, namely:-

• The UK will be able to count all renewable energy derived from biobased waste towards its renewable target.
• Biomass measurement techniques and supporting methodologies approved by Ofgem will strengthen the industry as they will be able to claim ROC s
• Measurement methods can be built into projects and included as part of the initial investment cost
• Allow operators to claim ROCs on actual biomass content, rather than  the deemed level of biomass, where appropriate