Your guide to low carbon energy

At CO2Sense we have lots of practical experience of low carbon technologies. We work closely with businesses across many sectors in this field, and we understand the benefits of energy efficiency.

The most common forms of low carbon energy include biomass energy, wind power, hydro, wave and tidal energy, renewable combined heat and power, and projects generating energy from waste streams.

Biomass

Biomass is biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms. This could be from crops, forestry and woodland co-products, consumer wood waste, animal and food waste, industrial waste or sewerage waste. With three biomass co-firing coal power stations, an established biomass infrastructure and England’s largest wood pellet mill, the region offers organisations a wealth of biomass opportunities.

Biomass can provide local businesses with a sustainable and reliable supply of energy and can make use of readily available waste materials including:

Clean non-energy wood
Energy crops
Post-consumer wood
Sewage waste
Animal and food wastes
Organic fraction of municipal and industrial solid waste.

Anaerobic digestion

Anaerobic digestion (AD) is the breakdown of organic waste by bacteria in the absence of oxygen. This process produces a gas which can be purified and used to replace natural gas in engines which produce electricity or which power vehicles.

AD can be used to dispose of organic wastes such as domestic and commercial food waste, agricultural slurries and energy crops. The biogas from the process is usually used in a combined heat and power plant to produce a renewable source of heat and electricity. Alternatively, the biogas can be cleaned up and used as a biogas in vehicles.

Anaerobic digestion is classed as an advanced conversion technology; as such, CO2Sense can offer support to developers looking to establish AD plants. For more information, either use our Anaerobic Digestion sizing tool, Contact Us, or visit England's Official Information Portal on Anaerobic Digestion here.

Gasification and pyrolysis

This is an advanced conversion technology which produces a syngas from a variety of feedstocks such as biomass and domestic refuse. The raw material is heated to high temperatures with a controlled amount of oxygen and/or steam to produce the syngas, which can then be used in gas engines for electricity or CHP generation.

Hydro

Hydro power harnesses the flow of water to drive a turbine and generate electricity. Typically in the Yorkshire and Humber region these are small scale run of river schemes which make use of existing weirs without the need for dams or barrages.

Heat networks

Heat networks replace individual home or office based boilers with a centralised heating plant or energy centre. Hot water is then distributed from this central facility via a network of highly insulated pipes and pumped to homes and other buildings.

This flexible technology can make use of any fuel, including energy from waste and industrial waste heat, to provide sustainable, low cost heating for neighbouring businesses and residents via a Community Heat Network.

The benefits to businesses sourcing heat via a heat network or a community heat network include:

reduced energy costs
improved energy efficiency
reduced carbon emissions
increased energy security
energy savings
reduced space requirements.

Read more about Community Heating >
Read more about the waste incineration directive and heat networks >

Solid recovered fuel

Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) is a fuel derived from the treatment and processing of commercial or municipal waste which can be combusted to generate energy. SRF is classified by a technical specification which sets the thermal value, chlorine content and mercury content of the fuel. This ensures that a consistent fuel is produced – a key requirement for industrial and power generation users.

By using SRF, organisations can reduce the amount of waste going to landfill and drive down overall emissions. SRF also provides a standardised, sustainable and low-cost alternative to traditional fossil fuels. You can read more in our report on SRF in the region or read more about reducing waste.

Solar heat and power

Solar heat and power captures the energy found in sunlight to produce electricity or heat. Electricity is produced from sunlight using photovoltaic cells, often referred to as Solar PV. Solar heat uses the heat from the sun to warm domestic hot water. A conventional boiler or immersion heater is then used to make the water hotter, or to provide hot water when solar energy is unavailable.

Wind

Wind is set to make a large contribution to national installed renewable energy targets, and is already one of the most widely used renewable technologies. Wind is also a proven technology and has been developed by the private sector. As a result, direct support from us cannot always be justified.

However, community-owned wind projects, where the community invests directly into the initiative, are becoming more widespread. CO2Sense can support these developments through our Grid Connected Renewable funding programme.

Wave and tidal

Wave power harnesses the energy of waves to generate electricity, whilst tidal power harnesses the energy of tidal surges.

Already generate your own energy?

If you are already an energy generator based in the region, CO2Sense can help you source new customers and market your energy.

Want to be included on our energy generator map? Contact us.