Skip to content

Renewable Energy

Investing green: Clear potential for waste-to-energy technologies

by Simon Kent 11 Jan 2011
Investing green: Clear potential for waste-to-energy technologies

A report into the waste management and recovery industry has identified clear potential for waste-to-energy technologies within the UK and energy-hungry developing countries. But while the scarcity of metals and energy is driving the sector forward, legislation, regulations and lack of finance are still posing challenges to the sector.

Published at the end of 2010, the report from the London Environment Investment Forum, Investor Perspectives on Waste and Resource Recovery, is based on interviews with directors from international investment companies. In it they give their opinions on investing in the sector, the opportunities presented and the possible contribution these businesses make to the reduction of global warming.

According to CÃ ©driane de Boucaud, director of Curzon Park Captial which was established specifically to invest in the clean-tech sector, municipal and personal waste-to-energy processing is still not yet an efficient enough business. "However," she says, "this is where big money is if we can get it right in the medium to long term."

Nigel Taunt, managing director of Impax Asset Management agrees with this assessment of waste-to-energy's potential: "waste-to-energy will increasingly be the story," he says. "Every non-incineration waste treatment will need an energy solution as part of the package."

The clean-tech businesses attracting investments are diverse and leading edge. They range from Secure Energy Services who specialise in the processing of oilfield waste to Ensyn, a company that uses breakthrough technology to convert biomass into pyoil, a substitute for oil in heating, power production and transport fuels.

However, investor's enthusiasm is tempered by the ongoing challenges faced by the sector as Peter van Gelderen, a general partner at ICOS Capital, explains: "There are three main risks connected to companies that are active in this area," he says. "The availability and ownership of waste and resources, consistency of government policies and the impact of strong price fluctuations – both up and down – resulting from worries over resource scarcity, which can be driven by reality and by hype."

Despite this there is no doubt that each of these organisations are making their contribution to slowing down climate change. As Nigel Taunt says: "Diversion from landfill reduces GHG [green house gas] emissions and energy recovery reduces the use of fossil fuels."

He concludes: "Small local facilities – new technologies are more suited to this than big landfill or incineration projects – will help reduce transport costs and resulting emissions."


Trending Eco-Friendly Clothing

Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Love My Planet Women's Relaxed Fit Hoodie
Love My Planet women's eco-friendly relaxed fit hoodieSize Guide Centimeters 8 10 12 14 16 18 Bust 84 88 92 97 103 108 Waist 66 70 75 80 85 91 Hips 91 95 99 104 109 116 Bust: Measure around the fullest part of...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Penguins Hate Push-Ups Men's Pullover Hoodie
Penguins Hate Push-Ups men's eco-friendly pullover HoodieSize Guide Centimeters XS S M L XL XXL Height 171 175 179 183 189 195 Chest 86 93 99 104 116 129 Waist 71 76 81 89 99 112 Chest: Measure all round your chest just below...
£38.00
£38.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Lightning Bolt Kids Long Sleeve T-Shirt
Lightning Bolt kids eco-friendly long sleeve t-shirtSize Guide Centimeters 3-4yrs 5-6yrs 7-8yrs 9-10yrs 11-12yrs Height 98 112 125 136 147 Chest 60 66 70 75 84 Chest: Measure all around your chest just below your armpits. Height: Your natural height If you fall between...
£18.00
£18.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Earth
Quick Add
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Union Jack Tote Bag
Union Jack eco-friendly colour tote bagProduct Specification Organic Cotton Tote Bag. Twill Weave (170gsm). 37 x 42 cm (7cm gusset.) Made in India / Designed on the Isle of Wight. Wash Cool, Hang Dry.
£16.00
£16.00
Close
Notify me
Notify me
Prev Post
Next Post

Eco-Friendly Shop

Women's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Women Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable women’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Men's Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothing for Men Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable men’s clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies, vests, sweaters, shorts, and...
Shop Now

Kids Clothing

Eco-Friendly Clothes for Kids Our online shop offers a wide range of sustainable kids clothing products, including t-shirts, hoodies and jumpers. Our garments...
Shop Now
Someone recently bought a
[time] ago, from [location]

Thanks for subscribing!

This email has been registered!

Shop the look

Choose Options

Earth Times
Sign up for exclusive updates, new arrivals & insider only discounts

Recently Viewed

Edit Option
Back In Stock Notification
this is just a warning
Login
Shopping Cart
0 items

Before you leave...

Take 20% off your first order

20% off

Enter the code below at checkout to get 20% off your first order

CODESALE20

Continue Shopping