AD facilities are at their best when they work with the local community, economy and businesses. At ENGIE UK, we call this interaction with key partners our “Circular Economy”.
Over the last decade, ENGIE has worked with multiple different initiatives and has committed to strengthening our Circular Economy by recycling as much of our waste as possible and offering carbon free solutions. By 2022, ENGIE achieved an 80% recovery rate for non-hazardous waste and a 21% recovery rate for hazardous waste.
The basic principle behind our Circular Economy at ENGIE UK is:
- Food companies provide waste to AD;
- AD provides energy to businesses and homes;
- Households buy food – and so the circle is created.
There are also several other links that a well-run AD facility can provide, including supporting the rural economy, supporting the food industry, and boosting community success.
In addition to renewable energy generation, the AD process also avoids methane being released into the atmosphere by diverting waste from landfill or spread to land where methane would usually be released.
The circular economy is at the core of all our operations. We work in harmony with local agriculture and the communities surrounding our AD plants.
Supporting the Rural Economy
- Farmers are paid fair, guaranteed and consistent prices for the feedstock they supply to AD plants, allowing them to diversify. It also offers some protection from the fluctuations in commodity markets.
- The high-quality renewable fertilisers that AD facilities supply across agriculture, breaks the link with fossil fuel derived artificial fertiliser. In turn, this drives down the agricultural carbon foot print.
- Renewable energy can be supplied directly to rural businesses, providing a cost effective and fully traceable alternative to fossil fuels.
- AD plants work in partnership with feedstock providers to ensure best practice land management for a better environment.
Supporting the Food Industry
- AD plants can convert waste from food manufacturers into renewable energy, rather than making less environmentally friendly disposal.
- Innovative food production centres such as vertical and urban farms are ideally suited to AD plants, because they can take advantage of the energy and heat that is produced.
Boosting Community Success
- The AD sector provides jobs both at the facilities and within local communities (including managing feedstock production, fertiliser management and maintenance services).
- AD facilities provide educational opportunities for all age groups. Partnerships with local communities and education providers generate genuine “buy-in” from local communities. This provides a platform to inspire future innovation.
- Innovative projects are generated, including the development of new and exciting uses for AD outputs. These range from artificial fertiliser replacement, to CO2-based animal feeds – and even alcohol.