Supporting Sustainable Energy in Wales

Auteur: Andy BULL, ENNEREG Pioneer Region - Wales, UK, Severn-Wye Energy Agency - Email

Pour plus d'informations concernant le projet ENNEREG, n'hésitez pas à contacter Pierrick Yalamas de Rhônalpénergie-Environnement. Vous trouverez plus d'information sur les activités des projets de la "Communauté d'Energie Durable" dans le premier numéro de la lettre d'information.

Find out more about Sustainable Energy Actions in Wales »

A major drive to help the planet, Carmarthenshire is Greener Every Day, 12-15 April 2011 as part of the EU Sustainable Energy Week, has been hailed a huge success. A special programme of events and activities was held to educate people of all ages about climate change. 

More than 350 pupils from primary and secondary schools took part in energy efficiency and renewable energy workshops. Workshops were held in schools to educate young people about energy efficiency, and staff received a free energy monitor to loan to pupils to measure their energy consumption at home.

Image: The public are given the chance to inspect an electric car at Camarthenshire Energy Week

In addition, an energy roadshow was held with businesses giving information about renewable energy and expert advice on ways to save energy and money. Information stalls were set up in leisure centres with feedback on what is being done to reduce energy use. The event was very successful; in a single day 108 members of the public were given advice and energy saving devices by the SWEA stand alone.  Other renewable installers were present and had displays.  West Wales European Centre staffed a display and ran a quiz relating to the EU and sustainable energy.

Free training on the benefits of Anaerobic Digestion

Councils across Wales either have, or will soon be implementing food waste collection from most homes.  Residents will be asked to keep separate all food waste - as well as material like vegetable peelings, fatty off-cuts from meat and other cooking wastes.  Severn Wye Energy Agency is concerned that householders often do not understand why they are being asked to do so and may not, as a result cooperate fully.  We know that Councils are providing information but this is often ignored or lost in the flurry of junk mail.

Here are a few reasons why we would encourage cooperation:

• Bio-degradable waste is the top priority for diverting away from landfill.  When it decomposes underground, methane is produced.  This powerful greenhouse gas harms our environment and so it should not be released to the atmosphere.
• The most likely eventual destination for your food waste is an anaerobic digestion plant where the methane can be produced under controlled conditions and productively utilised (mains gas is almost entirely methane).
• Whether the food waste is processed using aerobic composting or anaerobic digestion, a valuable compost and/or fertiliser product is produced – a replacement for peat and/or mineral fertilisers.

Under the Intelligent Energy for Europe project ENNEREG, Severn Wye Energy Agency is seeking to undertake training for groups that are happy to take the message out to their communities.  We would provide notes and power-point slides and plain language training in the advantages of anaerobic digestion, and the multiple uses for biogas.  If you are interested in receiving this entirely free resource then please contact Andy Bull on 01982 551006 or andy@swea.co.uk

Severn Wye Energy Agency has also just commenced another EU funded project to support the development of anaerobic digestion (AD) plants and is able to provide assistance to potential AD plant developers across Wales.  The support can take on a variety of forms e.g. initial feasibility advice or assistance further down the line in dealing with land use planning issues or providing impartial advice to third parties.  If you are interested in the technology and would like to discuss what we can offer then contact Andy (details as above).