scholarly journals Opportunities to decarbonize heat in the UK using Urban Wastewater Heat Recovery

Author(s):  
Shazia Farman Ali ◽  
Aaron Gillich

By 2050, the UK government plans to create ‘Net zero society’. 1 To meet this ambitious target, the deployment of low carbon technologies is an urgent priority. The low carbon heat recovery technologies such as heat recovery from sewage via heat pump can play an important role. It is based on recovering heat from the sewage that is added by the consumer, used and flushed in the sewer. This technology is currently successfully operating in many cities around the world. In the UK, there is also a rising interest to explore this technology after successful sewage heat recovery demonstration project at Borders College, Galashiels, Scotland. 2 However, further experimental research is needed to build the evidence base, replicate, and de-risk the concept elsewhere in the UK. The Home Energy 4 Tomorrow (HE4T) project at London South Bank University was created to address this evidence gap. This is the fourth article in the series of outputs on sewage heat recovery and presents some results using sewage data from the UK’s capital London. These data are scarce and provide useful information on the variation of flows and temperatures encountered in the sewers of the UK’s capital. Lastly, we discuss the recoverable heat potential along with policy implications for the UK heat strategy. Practical application This work focuses and accentuate that in order to meet climate change targets, substantial improvements can come by heat recovery from the raw (influent) and treated wastewater (effluent from wastewater treatment plant) that is still unexploited in the UK. The estimation presented indicates that there is much theoretical potential in the UK with significant opportunity for future energy and revenue retrieval along with GHGs emission reduction in the longer term to fulfil the ‘net zero’ objective. This work aims to raise awareness and seek support to promote pilot scale studies to help demonstrate technical and economic feasibility in the building industry.

2019 ◽  
pp. 28-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Александр Константинович Чередниченко

The research’s subject is the processes of energy transformation of fuel in the ship gas turbine plant with thermochemical regeneration. Modern approaches to assessing the energy efficiency of ship power plants were considered. The characteristics of traditional and alternative marine fuels were analyzed. The use of methanol as a low-carbon marine fuel is discussed. It is proposed to increase the efficiency of methanol use by using synthesis gas obtained through thermochemical heat recovery of secondary energy resources of ship engines. The main objective of the study is to analyze the effects on the energy efficiency of steam thermochemical transformation of methanol of the limitations associated with the system of supplying gaseous fuel to the engine. The influence of pressure in the thermochemical reactor on the steam’s efficiency of reforming of methanol was analyzed. The design schemes of two variants of the ship gas turbine installation with thermochemical heat recovery by steam conversion of methanol are presented. The methanol conversion efficiency was determined by the heat potential of the exhaust gases and was calculated based on the thermal balance of the thermochemical reactor. The reactor’s model is two- component. The mathematical model of the turbocompressor unit is based on an enlarged calculation taking into account the total pressure loss in all elements of the gas-air duct. The results of mathematical modeling of processes in plants based on gas turbine engines of simple and regenerative cycles under conditions of fixed methanol’s consumption, the fixed temperature of the gas in the turbine’s front for environmental parameters according to ISO 19859: 2016 are presented. The efficiency of the scheme which used steam conversion of methanol at pressures corresponding to the working pressure in the combustion chamber was revealed. The increase in the energy efficiency of the installation is 3 ... 5 % with basic parameters and 10 ... 11 % for higher conduction temperatures or for catalytic reactors. The research results can be used in the promising power plants designing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 662
Author(s):  
Steven R. Smith ◽  
Ian Christie

The types of political and policy knowledge required to guide rapid transition to low-carbon economies remain largely disconnected in the fields of political science, psychology, and sociology. The composition and key features of the main actors involved, and their relationships have also not been systematically described. This paper attempts to address these knowledge gaps by proposing a new, integrative typology of actors involved in climate change mitigation policy in the United Kingdom (UK) and a method for mapping these actors and selecting their typological descriptors onto a 2D space. The mapping method enables stakeholders to visualise and evaluate the strength of support for the UK government’s net-zero-by-2050 “green growth” strategy and the tensions, challenges, and strategic opportunities potentially facing more radical alternatives. The methodology could be replicated for climate actors in other countries and, in principle, for any geographical scale or level of governance.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (5) ◽  
pp. 1229
Author(s):  
William Bodel ◽  
Kevin Hesketh ◽  
Grace McGlynn ◽  
Juan Matthews ◽  
Gregg Butler

The United Kingdom has declared a climate change policy of 100% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Efforts thus far have been limited solely to electricity generation methods. While progress has been admirable, effort now must be directed at the nation’s non-electrical energy use. Nuclear energy is an essential part of any energy future, since it is low-carbon, firm and supplies synchronous electricity; however the nation’s nuclear strategy to date has been erratic, costly and lacking in strategic oversight. A multitude of reactor designs are on offer for potential uptake, and decision-makers must have clarity of vision on what these systems must deliver before forming a strategy. Choosing between these systems, given the uncharted energy future faced by the UK is a daunting prospect. Generic feasibility assessment offers a tool for decision-makers to assist them in selecting the most suitable nuclear system for chosen future conditions. Generic feasibility assessment offers an alternative to traditional multi-attribute decision analyses, which can be confusing to even committed stakeholders when large numbers of attributes are weighted and compiled. Generic feasibility assessment forms part of a toolkit which will be of utility in achieving net zero by 2050, given the short time that remains.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan Aines ◽  
Zeynep Clulow ◽  
Alasdair Neilson ◽  
Emily Shuckburgh ◽  
Steve Evans

This regional profile for the UK was developed in the context of the BEIS COP26 Futures We Want project. It has been developed with input from in-country academic experts Dr Emily Shuckburgh (University of Cambridge, UK) and Professor Steve Evans (University of Cambridge, UK). It sets out a synthesis of the available evidence base on regional challenges and opportunities for mitigation, adaptation, and resilience measures for the UK associated with climate change and a global transition to an inclusive, desirable, and resilient net-zero future.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ethan Aines ◽  
Zeynep Clulow ◽  
Alasdair Neilson ◽  
Emily Shuckburgh ◽  
Steve Evans

This regional profile for the UK was developed in the context of the BEIS COP26 Futures We Want project. It has been developed with input from in-country academic experts Dr Emily Shuckburgh (University of Cambridge, UK) and Professor Steve Evans (University of Cambridge, UK). It sets out a synthesis of the available evidence base on regional challenges and opportunities for mitigation, adaptation, and resilience measures for India associated with climate change and a global transition to an inclusive, desirable, and resilient net-zero future.


2017 ◽  
Vol 38 (6) ◽  
pp. 650-662
Author(s):  
Phil Draper

This case study paper describes the advantages of how heat pumps with heat recovery worked to contribute to improving energy performance and reducing the carbon footprint of buildings, with a short payback, thus showing it is a viable technology for energy cost reduction and for improving the environmental impact of buildings within the UK. All actions were taken based on performance for both the current and the future expected needs of the building and are measured against a baseline. The research and results confirm that heat pumps with heat recovery are a viable solution for London office buildings offering an integrated approach to building heating and cooling. The project resulted in a final reduction of 62% on the base building controlled utilities (total building less occupier power). The added benefits will be around the carbon benefits that the resultant 86% reduction in gas will bring due to the gradual de-carbonisation of the electric energy production in the UK. Practical application: This paper illustrates how to utilise an existing building’s energy use data to determine how relatively simple technology can optimise the provision of simultaneous heating and cooling for comfort. It also details how modelled data can be used to allow the correct sizing of equipment to deliver both good internal comfort and low carbon emissions.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 23
Author(s):  
Megan E. Tresise ◽  
Mark S. Reed ◽  
Pippa J. Chapman

In order to mitigate the effects of climate change, the UK government has set a target of achieving net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. Agricultural GHG emissions in 2017 were 45.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e; 10% of UK total GHG emissions). Farmland hedgerows are a carbon sink, storing carbon in the vegetation and soils beneath them, and thus increasing hedgerow length by 40% has been proposed in the UK to help meet net zero targets. However, the full impact of this expansion on farm biodiversity is yet to be evaluated in a net zero context. This paper critically synthesises the literature on the biodiversity implications of hedgerow planting and management on arable farms in the UK as a rapid review with policy recommendations. Eight peer-reviewed articles were reviewed, with the overall scientific evidence suggesting a positive influence of hedgerow management on farmland biodiversity, particularly coppicing and hedgelaying, although other boundary features, e.g. field margins and green lanes, may be additive to net zero hedgerow policy as they often supported higher abundances and richness of species. Only one paper found hedgerow age effects on biodiversity, with no significant effects found. Key policy implications are that further research is required, particularly on the effect of hedgerow age on biodiversity, as well as mammalian and avian responses to hedgerow planting and management, in order to fully evaluate hedgerow expansion impacts on biodiversity.


Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 5123
Author(s):  
Mauro Lafratta ◽  
Matthew Leach ◽  
Rex B. Thorpe ◽  
Mark Willcocks ◽  
Eve Germain ◽  
...  

The electricity sector aims to achieve a balanced progress in all three dimensions of the energy trilemma: affordability, decarbonisation and security of supply. Separate strategies for decarbonisation and security of supply have been pursued; each with close attention to minimising costs, thus consistent with the affordability aspect of the trilemma. However, while it is evident that the pathway for decarbonisation increases pressure on security of supply, the pressures that cost-minimising security of supply measures are putting on decarbonisation goes unaddressed. The United Kingdom (UK) is a global leader in the transition towards a decarbonised economy and aims to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. As a major part of the UK, Great Britain (GB) has achieved greater than 50% of low-carbon electricity generation and the grid’s carbon intensity has dropped by 36% over the period 2015–2019. However, balancing services that provide security of supply uses only 8% of low-carbon generation. Their carbon intensity is double the grid’s average and this gap is widening. This is an effect of a systemic reliance on carbon-intensive fuels. Financial support for capital investment for flexible low-carbon technologies is much needed. The GB context suggests that an integrated strategy covering all three dimensions of the trilemma might achieve an improved balance between them and unlock an affordable, net-zero emissions and secure power system.


2017 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 46-55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Athar Hussain ◽  
Manjeeta Priyadarshi ◽  
Saif Said ◽  
Suraj Negi

Most of the industrial sewage effluents used for irrigation contains heavy metals which cause toxicity to crop plants as the soils are able to accumulate heavy metal for many years. The vegetables grown for the present study were irrigated with treated wastewater brought from a nearby full-scale sewage treatment plant at different compositions along with tap water as a control. The concentration levels of the Cd, Co, Cu, Mn and Zn in the soil were found to below the toxic limits as prescribed in literature. Daily Intake Metals (DIM) values suggest that the consumption of plants grown in treated wastewater and tap water is nearly free of risks, as the dietary intake limits of Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn. The Enrichment Factor for the treated wastewater irrigated soil was found in order Zn> Ni> Pb> Cr> Cu> Co> Mn> Cd. Thus, treated wastewater can be effectively used for irrigation. This will have twofold significant environmental advantages: (1) helpful to reduce the groundwater usage for irrigation and (2) helpful to reduce the stress on surface water resources.


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