Advanced Conversion Technology
New and developing thermal processes, such as gasification and pyrolysis, which can be utilised to dispose of MSW
Anaerobic Digestion
Anaerobic digestion is a biological process that produces a gas principally composed of methane (CH4) and carbon dioxide (CO2) otherwise known as biogas. These gases are produced from organic wastes such as livestock manure, food processing waste, etc.
BAT
See Best Available Technology
Best Available Technology
Best Available Technology - which is economically achievable
Biogas
Biogas is generated when bacteria degrades biological material in the absence of oxygen, in a process known as anaerobic digestion. Since biogas is a mixture of methane (also known as marsh gas or natural gas) and carbon dioxide it is a renewable fuel produced from waste treatment.
Biomass
Biomass, also known as biofuels or bioenergy, is obtained from organic matter either directly from plants or indirectly from industrial, commercial, domestic or agricultural products. The use of biomass is classed as a 'carbon neutral' process because the carbon dioxide released during the generation of energy from biomass is balanced by that absorbed by plants during their growth.
Bottom Ash
An inert ash produced from the treatment of MSW
Calorific value
Amount of heat generated by a given mass of fuel when it is completely burned. It is measured in joules per kilogram.
Carbon Credits
Carbon credits are created when a project reduces or avoids the emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4). The carbon credits are measured against a baseline.
Carbon Trading
The UK Emissions Trading Scheme, launched in April 2002, is the world's first economy-wide national-level greenhouse gas trading scheme. Emissions trading is designed to allow businesses to reduce their emissions of greenhouse gases in the most economically efficient way. The EU-wide non-voluntary scheme should start in 2005
Catalyst
A catalyst provides a means to further reduce exhaust emissions for NOx and CO.
CCL
See Climate Change Levy
Climate Change Levy
The Climate Change Levy is a tax on energy use in industry, commerce, agriculture and the public sector.
CO
Carbon Monoxide
CO2
Carbon Dioxide - odourless gas which is harmful to the environment
Coal Bed Methane
Methane which is still locked into the vast reserves of coal and coal measures strata that remain unworked. The concept of this is referred to as Coal Bed Methane (CBM) since it involves directly drilling into unworked coal and coal measures strata to release the methane locked within it rather than utilising methane released as a result of mining activities.
Coal Mine Methane
Methane continues to emit from the coal mine after closure, and recently the concept of collecting the gas from abandoned mines to provide an energy source which would otherwise be waste has been developed.
DNO
District Network Operator
ECA
See Enhanced Capital Allowances
Electrical efficiency
Electrical output in relation to fuel input
Energy From waste
Energy recovery of post recycling waste residue - an alternative to landfill.
Environment Agency
The leading public body for protecting and improving the environment in England and Wales
Fossil Fuels
Coal, Oil and Gas are called "fossil fuels" because they have been formed from the fossilised remains of prehistoric plants and animals. They provide around 66% of the world's electrical power, and 95% of the world's total energy demands (including heating, transport, electricity generation and other uses).
G59
Recommendations for the connection of embedded generating plant to the DNO's distribution systems and the provision of standby generators
Gasification
Breakdown of hydrocarbons into a syngas by carefully controlling the amount of oxygen present.
Global warming
A rise in global temperatures threatening wildlife and its habitat, often attributed to the burning of fossil fuels
Green Certificates
Customers can buy green certificates whether or not they have access to green power through their local utility or a competitive electricity marketer. And they can purchase green certificates without having to switch electricity suppliers. See also Renewable Energy Certificates.
GWh
Giga Watt Hour
Heat Rate
Energy input per unit of time, usually expressed in kWh\h or BTU\h
IPPC / Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control
IPPC Directive is about minimising pollution from various point sources throughout the European Union. Based on the concept of Best Available Techniques (or BAT),
kWh
Kilo Watt Hour
Kyoto Accord
Agreed in Japan 1997 targets 'carbon-rich' gases and commits 38 industrialised countries to emissions cut of 5.2% by 2010
Landfill Gas
Municipal solid waste contains significant portions of organic materials that produce a variety of gaseous products when dumped, compacted, and covered in landfills. Anaerobic bacteria thrives in the oxygen-free environment, resulting in the decomposition of the organic materials and the production of primarily carbon dioxide and methane. Landfill gas consists of 50-60% methane and 35-40% carbon dioxide
Landfill Gas Generators
Utilising landfill gas to fuel a generator
Landfill Sites
A landfill is a carefully designed structure built into or on top of the ground in which rubbish is isolated from the surrounding environment (groundwater, air, soil). Landfills are not designed to break down waste, merely to bury it. The modern landfill offers much more protection for the environment and for local people than traditional dumps did. Problems with odours, litter, vermin, etc., are greatly reduced by the careful management of the site.
Lean burn
Lean-burn is the ability to ignite air and fuel mixtures that contain higher amounts of air than normally used.
LECs (UK)
See Levy Exemption Certificates
Levy Exemption Certificates (UK)
Organisations that pay the CCL can enter into agreements with suppliers to purchase renewable electricity. The Levy Exemption Certificates (LECs) are evidence of CCL exempt electricity supply generated from qualifying renewable sources. LECs will be redeemed by suppliers to HM Customs and Excise to demonstrate the amount of non-climate change electricity able to be levied that had been supplied to non-domestic customers in the given period.
MSW (Municipal Solid Waste)
The EPA (1998c) defined municipal solid waste as "a subset of solid waste and as durable goods (e.g., appliances, tyres, batteries), non-durable goods (e.g., newspapers, books, magazines), containers and packaging, food wastes, yard trimmings, and miscellaneous organic wastes from residential, commercial and industrial non-process sources (p. II-2)
MWh
Mega Watt Hour
NOx
Nitrogen oxides (NOx) act as indirect greenhouse gases by producing the tropospheric greenhouse gas 'ozone' during their breakdown in the atmosphere.
Parallel grid mode
This is where the Cogeneration unit runs in parallel with the grid
Pyrolysis
Thermal degradation of waste in the absence of air to produce char, pyrolysis oil and syngas.
REC's
Regional Electricity Companies
Renewable Energy Certificates (REC's)
Renewable energy certificates (RECs), also known as green certificates, green tags, or tradable renewable certificates, represent the environmental attributes of the power produced from renewable energy projects and are sold separate from commodity electricity.
Renewable Obligation Certificates
Renewable Obligation Certificates or ROCs for short is the name given to the digital certificates which holds details of exactly how a unit of electricity was made, by whom and finally who bought and used it. These ROCs are traded separately to the actual electricity itself and work as a bonus premium on top of the price paid for the unit.
Renewable Power Association (RPA)
The Renewable Power Association is a trade association open to all companies supportive of the UK renewable energy industry.
Renewables Obligation (UK)
The new Renewables Obligation and associated Renewables (Scotland) Obligation came into force in April 2002 as part of the Utilities Act ( 2000 ). It requires power suppliers to derive from renewables a specified proportion of the electricity they supply to their customers. This starts at 3% in 2003, rising gradually to 10% by 2010. The cost to consumers
ROCs (UK)
See Renewable Obligation Certificates
Sound pressure level (dB(A))
A-weighted sound pressure level at a certain distance from the source
Standard reference conditions
Standard conditions for ambient air, ambient air pressure, relative humidity, cooling water temperature referred to when defining engine output, fuel consumption etc.
Stoichiometric
Stoichiometric is often used in thermodynamics to refer to the "perfect mixture" of a fuel and air.
Syn gas
A mixture of light, combustible gases produced by the advanced conversion technology ( gasification or pyrolysis )
TA LUFT
German air quality standard
Thermal efficiency
Quantity of heat produced in relation to fuel input
Total efficiency
Sum of the electrical and thermal efficiency in relation to the fuel consumed
UK Emissions trading Scheme
Based on the international Kyoto Summit on Climate Change agreement, this describes the U.Ks National Emissions Trading scheme designed to reduce a range of greenhouse gases, 80% of which is carbon dioxide.
Waste residue
The portion of the waste stream ( domestic and commercial ) which cannot currently be recovered or recycled.
