It is currently predicted that the global mean temperature will increase by 2C by 2100, which is based on a 450ppm prediction of CO2 levels in the atmosphere (van Vuuren et al., 2011). The 450ppm prediction is based on the assumption that climate change mitigation efforts are put in place. If no such mitigation efforts are taken, the global mean ambient temperature will display a 4OC increase by 2100 (van Vuuren et al., 2011). This highlights the importance of putting efforts into mitigating climate change effects which is done through reduction of Greenhouse Gases (GHGs). European Union efforts for mitigation of climate change effects date back to the late 1980s (Biesbroel et al., 2010). The current European commission goal is to reduce the total GHG emissions by 20% compared to 1990 levels by 2020 (European Commission , 2013). The UK has an additional target of 80% reductions by 2050, according to the UK Climate Change Act of 2008 (Houses of Parliament, 2011). Some countries, or local governments, set even more ambitious goals in certain GHG reduction areas, such as Scotland’s target of achieving 100% of electricity from renewable resources by 2020 (O'Keeffe & Haggett, 2012). European Union CO2 trading guidelines gives biogas an emission factor of 0 tonnes of carbon bioxide per terajoules of energy [t CO2/TJ] (Pesta, 2007). This is compared to 78 and 56 t CO2/TJ, for fuel oil and natural gas respectively which emphasises the opportunity of using biogas as a renewable source of energy.

 

 

 

Financial Incentives

In an effort to encourage anaerobic digestion and renewable energy in general, the UK government set several financial incentives to help meet its climate change targets (Houses of Parliament, 2011).

 

• The Renewables Obligation (RO) was introduced in 2002 which required energy suppliers to supply a certain portion of their energy from renewable sources. Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) where introduced and they were tradable. A modification was introduced in 2009 were different technologies are banded in order to encourage use of certain renewables. Sewage sludge AD receives 0.5 ROCs per MWh, whereas other AD receive 2 ROCs. This could be justified as sewage sludge was used in AD much longer than other types of feedstock and therefore it would be more beneficial to encourage the use of other feedstock types, in order to develop the technology further.

 

• Feed-in Tarrifs (FiTs) were introduced in 2010, where providers are paid for producing renewable electricity. In this scheme smaller producers are encouraged with more incentives.

 

• The Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) was introduced in 2011, where similar to FiT, producers of heat from renewable sources receive payments.  There are plans to expand this to domestic RHI.

 

• The Renewable Transport Fuels Obligation (RTFO) was introduced in 2008. It has a requirement for suppliers to source 5% of their transport fuel from renewable sources by 2014. Th EU also has a target for tramsport sector to use 10% renewable energy by 2020 (Banks et al., 2009).

 

 

Continuity of Incentives

David Cameron, while being pressured during PM question time about energy prices, promised to ‘toll back’ some ‘green’ regulations that are already in place (BBC, 2013). Currently the average household in the UK pays £112 (Fig.1) to account for energy and climate change policies accounting for 9% of the total bills, 2% of which are carbon taxes (Department of Energy and Climate Change, 2013). Governments however often commit themselves over a period of time, for example ROC rates are set until 2017 which reassures energy producers to a certain extent.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Works Cited

Banks, C., Swinbank, A. & Poppy, G., 2009. Anaerobic Digestion and Its Implications for Land Use. London: Earthscan. pp.101-34.

 

BBC, 2013. Cameron 'Panicking' over Energy Taxes, Say Lib Dems. [Online] BBC Available at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24637499 [Accessed 30 October 2013].

 

Biesbroel, R.G. et al., 2010. Europe Adapts to Climate Change: Comparing National Adaptation Strategies. Global Environmental Change, 20, pp.440-50.

 

Department of Energy and Climate Change, 2013. Estimate Impacts of Energy and Climate Change Policies on Energy Prices and Bills. London: Crown Copyright.

 

Houses of Parliament, 2011. Anaerobic Digestion. POSTNOTE 387. Parliamentary Copyright.

 

European Commission , 2013. EU Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Targets. [Online] Available at: http://ec.europa.eu/clima/policies/g-gas/index_en.htm [Accessed 23 July 2013].

 

O'Keeffe, A. & Haggett, C., 2012. An Investigation into the Potential Barriers Facing the Development of Offshore Wind Energy in Scotland: Case Study – Firth of Forth Offshore Wind Farm. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 16, pp.3711-21.

 

Pesta, G., 2007. Anaerobic Digestion of Organic Residues and Wastes. In V. Oreopoulou & W. Russ, eds. Utilization of By-Products and Treatment of Waste in the Food Industry. New York: Springer. pp.53-72.

 

van Vuuren, D. et al., 2011. The Use of Scenarios as the Basis for Combined Assessment of Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation. Global Environmental Change, 21, pp.575-91.