Methane is produced naturally over several decades when organic materials are buried in landfills, making it a significant issue even with planned policies to ban biodegradable materials from landfills.

The landfill gas to energy (LFGTE) industry generates close to 3 TWh of consistent firm renewable electricity per year from abstracting and combusting methane. Over 100 years, methane is 28 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2. By converting methane to CO2 during the combustion process, the LFGTE industry also provides an important environmental service by reducing GHG emissions from landfills which currently account for approximately 75% of total emissions from the UK waste management sector.

Electricity generation from landfill gas is currently supported under the Renewables Obligation (RO). However, this support is being phased out: almost 90% of current LFGTE capacity will lose RO support in April 2027 with the remainder ceasing in April 2031.

The REA and WSP have worked together to assess how the end of RO will impact the LFGTE industry and associated methane capture rates. Current uncertainty is already beginning to drive real world decisions in the LFGTE industry. This includes stopping apprenticeship schemes training a new generation of LFGTE specialists to decommissioning of landfill gas engines and scaling back of investment into infrastructure.

WSP’s impact analysis concluded that after RO support ceases, generation of renewable energy from landfill methane is no longer viable solely based on power sales income. Without alternative support for LFGTE, the industry will soon see a fast and irreversible decline leading to:

• The loss of a significant renewable electricity source in the UK; and

• An increase in methane emissions due to reduced capture rates.

At present, there are no alternative support or income streams available to replace the RO. The REA and WSP are working with the LFGTE industry, DEFRA and DESNZ to investigate and quantify future support options with the aim to best manage methane emissions from landfill.

Action for an interim extension of support is needed urgently – although some companies have already cut back, most are delaying major decisions in the hope that something will be put in place. An interim solution will buy time for industry and the government to work together on a long-term policy to maximise the capture and oxidation of landfill gas, making use of the energy for as long as possible.

For more information please contact Samantha Arnold at WSP (samantha.arnold@wsp.com) and Paul Thompson at the REA (pthompson@r-e-a.net)

 

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Join the REA and WSP at the Energy, Fuels & Decarbonisation Expo (EFD Expo) for a deep dive into pivotal topics in the Energy Sector.

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