Roger T. Garland
Ceist:105 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Energy if any consideration is being given to the use of unsorted domestic and/or industrial refuse as a source of energy; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Energy Sources.
While unsorted domestic and industrial refuse is a potential source of energy, any proposal to harness energy from this source would require the most careful consideration on both environmental and commercial grounds.
The burning of unsorted refuse can contribute to environmental problems due to smoke emissions and, possibly, the emission of toxins. The latter can result from the burning of such items as plastic and metals. The installation of fuel gas cleaning equipment can reduce these emissions but the costs of such equipment could render such a project uneconomic.
There are other considerations that pose problems for such a development. Unsorted waste has a low heat value and it can be difficult to extract this heat due to the mixture of materials involved e.g. vegetable matter, wet materials, etc. On the demand side, there could be difficulty in using the heat on a continuous basis given that heat demand is generally seasonal in nature whereas refuse is produced continually throughout the year.
Roger T. Garland
Ceist:106 Mr. Garland asked the Minister for Energy if he has considered the possibility of sewage biodigestion as a source of energy in the form of methane gas; and if he will make a statement on the matter, including whether any research has been conducted.
The technology involved in sewage biodigestion yielding methane gas is not new and a digestion plant was installed by the local authority in Tullamore. I understand that a further plant will be installed in Buncrana by the local authority there and that Cork County Council have a small pilot plant in operation since the end of last year.
It is a matter for local authorities to consider, within the statutory framework in which they operate, the relative merits and disadvantages of installing sewage biodigestion facilities. Obviously, my Department is fully in favour of such development which has attractions from the point of view of protecting the environment as well as alternative energy generation.
No research is being carried out on sewage biodigestion under the auspices of my Department.