“Rural Organic Wastes to New Resources ” The N. Ireland Experience Dr John Gilliland OBE Chairman, Rural Generation Ltd April 2012
“Rural Organic Wastes to New Resources” Improving Water Quality Energy Profitability A Sustainable & Food & Resource Rural Catchment Security Efficiency C. Change Mitigation & Biodiversity The Prize - One Innovative Solution to Deliver New Resources!!
N. Ireland’s current Water Quality & EU Water Frameworks Directive in 2015 Improving N. Ireland Water Quality is Essential
Understanding the Consequences of Compliance Water Quality Legislative Compliance has Accelerated Energy Consumption & Green House Gas Emissions, till now!! Eg. Upgrade at Ballyclare Waste Water Treatment Works – prior to upgrade, Consumed £4k p.a. of Electricity - post upgrade, Consumed £180k p.a. of Electricity N. Ireland Water is largest consumer of electricity & largest emitter of Green House Gases in N.I. 80% above its 1990 GHG emissions Target of 35% below 1990 emissions, by 2020!!!!
Engaging with the Farming Community Its Role is Essential!! Scotland’s Pilot, preparing for the EU Water Frameworks Dir.
Importance of Other Issues - % of National GHGs from Farming Ireland 26% Lithuania 18% Latvia 18% France 17% Denmark 15% Romania 13% Sweden 13% Hungary 11% Spain 10% 10% Slovenia Portugal 10% EU-27 9% Poland 9% Netherlands 9% Austria 8% Greece 8% Finland 8% 8% Belgium Slovakia 8% Nitrogen, doesn’t just impact water Bulgaria 7% UK 7% quality, Nitrous Oxide from wet soils is 7% Cyprus Italy 6% 296 times more potent than Carbon Germany 6% Estonia 6% Dioxide, as a GHG!!!! Czech Republic 5% Malta 3% Luxembourg 3% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% Source: AEE
The Multiple Wins - Benefits & Costs of Reducing GHGs, while improving Water Quality!! 250 AD Crops and Soil Livestock 150 100 50 0 MtCO 2 e 0 5 -50 Probiotics Nitrification Inhibitors Avoid N-Excess -100 Species Intro 2020 Central Breeding (N Efficiency) Feasible Improved Drainage -150 Potential Breeding (Fertility) Manure N Use Source: CCC analysis Timing (Mineral N) Timing (Organic N) Why aren’t Farmers Delivering the Win Wins??!!
Importance of Other Issues - Decline in UK Farmland Birds Source: DEFRA
The Importance of Other Issues - Food Security John Beddington (Feb 11) UK Government, Chief Scientist “ In Next 40 Years , Agriculture Needs to Double its Output while Halving its Environmental Footprint” How??!! Sustainable Intensification!?
Importance of Other Issues - EU Energy Security N. Ireland imports 98% of its energy & 50% of house holds in fuel poverty Source: IEA 2008
Rural Generation’s “Holistic Approach” Nutrient Organic Recycling Fertiliser Biofiltration of Tertiary Water Bioremediation of Sludges Society Willows Non Renewable Fossil Fuel Energy Biomass Boiler or CHP
Why Willows? Short Rotation Willow trees, trialled in Ireland since 1977 The Willow Crop The Willow Crop, July, Year 1, After Cut Back July, Year 3, Year of Harvesting Indigenous , found in most parts of the World Quick Growing , 3 year harvest, then re grows Woody species , no problems in combustion High Yielding , up to 12 dry tonnes/ha/yr Copes with large quantities of water , great for treating Dirty Water Non Food Crop , no risk to Food Chain
Investigating using Willow as a Biological Filter Trialled at City of Derry Sewage Works, since 1996
Investigating using Willow as a Biological Filter Essential that Technology is based on Sound Science Credible Research Partners:- - Agri Food & Bioscience Institute, N. Ireland - Swedish University of Agriculture Science - UK Water Research Council Credible Research Projects:- - EU 5 th Framework, Fair 5, 5 Countries - EU 6 th Framework, BIOPROS, 9 Countries - EU Life, Water RENEW Project, UK
Commercialisation of Willow Biofiltration The ANSWER Project – EU Support for Commercialisation, 2011 A gricultural N eed for S ustainable W illow E ffluent R ecycling £1.6m for five commercial Projects with four County Councils and N. Ireland Water, Overseen by AFBI NI & Teagasc
Commercialisation of Willow Biofiltration Private Sector – Linwoods Creamery 2009 UK Rush light Award for “Best Innovative Waste Water Treatment”
Commercialisation of Willow Biofiltration 2012 - 15 Year Contract with N. Ireland Water Drumkee Waste Water Treatment Works Delivering Compliance, 30% Cost & 1,500% GHG Reductions N. Ireland issues first ever Variable Discharge Consent
Commercialisation of Willow Bioremediation Municipal & Dairy Sludges injected in Willow as Organic Fertiliser since 1998
Commercialisation of Wood to Heat Heat Cost Comparison for different fuels SDC “Wood Fuel for Warmth” - Wood prices @ 35% Moisture Content Oil @ 55p/l = £210/t of Woodchip @ 20% Moisture Without Cost of Boiler, Maintenance & Delivery
Commercialisation of Wood to Heat E.g. Omagh Council Leisure Centre 400kW Boiler Run 1,700,000 kWh/yr (50% load) Oil Displaced = 160,500 Litres Oil Cost pa = £86,670 (£0.54/l) Wood Chip Cost pa = £51,944 Saving pa = £34,726 Payback without Grant or Cost of Carbon = 3.5 years
Examples of Heat Installations 140 Installed to date Public Sector e.g. Stormont Castle, Belfast SW Regional College, Omagh Omagh Council Leisure Centre Ballyclare Council Leisure Centre College of Agric. Enniskillen Udaras na Gaeltachta Dobbies Aberdeen, Ashford, Braehead, Carlisle, Liverpool, Livingstone, Peterborough National Trust Ardress House, Florencecourt Crom Estate, Mountstewart, Inishfree Private Sector e.g. Brander, East Lothian Sangster, Wiltshire Gurteen, Tipperary Fane Valley Co Op, Armagh
Growing Willows as a Multifunctional Tool Willow as a Riparian Strip, Catching Defuse Pollution Improving Biological Water Quality Source: AFBI NI
Reduction of Nitrates in Ground Water using Willows Source: Hansen 2004
Reduction of GHGs using Willows SAC Source: EU Commission
Sequestering GHGs in Soils using Willows Sequestering 2 to 5t/ha of GHGs per Year In the Soil & not removed when harvested Source: Teagasc 2010
Sequestering GHGs in Soils using Willows From the injection of Biosolids (sludge) as organic fertiliser 2000 1500 kg/ha/yr CO 2 -C 1000 500 0 Zero tillage Reduced FYM Biosolids Compost Paper tillage Crumble -500 N O change SOC change Energy change 2 Source: ADAS
Increasing Biodiversity using Willows Bird numbers per Hectare Source: Rothamsted 2010
The Alberta Capability Considerable knowledge already exists!!
Other North American Experience Indian Head, Saskatchewan SUNY, New York State
The Role of the Private Sector A N. Ireland Alliance, “Working together to deliver Joined – Up, Clean Technology Solutions.” Delivering – Compliance, Cost Reduction, Collaboration, Carbon Reduction on a Catchment Basis Supported by Invest Northern Ireland
Our Experience Innovative Solutions can Deliver new Resources But – There are many Barriers!! Culture – Farmers, Policy Makers & Regulators, all react negatively to being pushed out of Comfort Zone Finance – Banks will not take risks with new technologies Education System – Behind Curve due to speed of change Silo Structures - With in Policy Development, Regulation & Public Procurement thwarts lateral thinking & delivering Innovation Without Vision, Leadership and Collaboration, the Prize of innovatively turning Organic Wastes into new Resources will never be achieved !!!
Thank You 67 Culmore Road Londonderry, N. Ireland, BT48 8JE +442871358215 www.ruralgeneration.com
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