Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology

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The Association For Renewable Energy and Clean Technology
AbbreviationREA
Formation26 June 2001
TypeTrade association
Legal statusNon-profit company (No. 04241430)
Purpose Renewable energy industry in the UK
HeadquartersLondon
Region served
UK
Membership
c. 500 companies
Chief Executive
 Nina Skorupska
Main organ
REA Board
Staff
20-30

The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology, previously known as Renewable Energy Association (REA), is a renewable energy and clean technology trade association in the UK encompassing all of renewables industry in the United Kingdom. REA covers renewable power & flexibility, heat and cooling, circular bioresources and transport. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] The REA is a not-for-profit company. [7]

Contents

History

The Renewable Power Association was established in 2001 [8] as a not-for-profit trade association, representing British renewable energy producers and promoting the use of renewable energy in the UK. The company changed its name in November 2005 to Renewable Energy Association [8] . Renewable Energy Association was merged with the Association for Organics Recycling (AfOR) in September 2012, [7] the latter becoming the "Organics Recycling Group" under REA. [7] The Company name was officially changed again to The Association for Renewable Energy and Clean Technology in October 2019. [8]

Activities

Lobbying and Regulation

All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Energy Storage, for which the REA was the secretariat between its founding in July 2015 and its last registration in November 2019. [9]

All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Electric Vehicles, for which the REA is the secretariat since November 2017. [10]

The campaign for net-zero aviation in the UK, led by the Jet Zero Council, which is a partnership between industry and the UK Government with the aim of delivering zero-emission transatlantic flight within a generation. Dr Nina Skorupska CBE is a member of this council in her capacity as the CEO of the REA. [11]

REA has reported significant reduction in greenhouse gases can be obtained by use of biofuels rather than fossil fuels. [12]

Government Criticism

REA has been critical of the UK Governments' lack of funding for the production of electricity from organic waste, [13] a failure to define policies to meet the European-wide energy targets, [14] reductions to the Feed-in tariff and the lack of a robust framework for renewables. [15]

REA supported the environmental audit committee in calling for the government to cut VAT on repairs fort electrical goods and green home improvements. [16]

On 21 September 2021 REA published its report Energy Transition Readiness Index 2021 and warned that urgent action was needed make the UK Electricity grid more flexible to cate for more variable types of energy coming online, one of the points raised that as electricity storage facilities were treated as generators and charge both for transmission of electricity to and from the storage over the grid which was a disincentive for investment in the technology. [17]

Safety

The REA provides guidance on health and safety at operational sites. [18]

During the Covid-19 pandemic, the REA aimed to support its members and others by making the UK Government aware of the impact of the pandemic and lockdown restrictions on industry, networking between members to dispose of additional food and drinks waste caused by the closure of restaurants, and providing details to members of financial support available. [19] [20] [21]

Standards

The British Standard’s Institute (BSI) Publicly Available Specifications (PAS) 100 & 110, concerning compost quality and anaerobic digestate quality. [22] [23]

REA, through its subsidiary, launched the UK's first Electric Vehicle Consumer Code (EVCC) in 2020, a voluntary scheme for domestic charge point installers. [24]

Conventions

Green Gas Day, which is the UK’s largest green gas industry gathering, organised in collaboration with CNG Services Ltd, and hosted since 2012 at the National Motorcycle Museum in Birmingham, UK. [25] [26] [27]

Biofuels

Biofuels are one area within REA's scope and some elements have proved controversial. [28] In 2014 REA was criticised for encouraging reliance on large non renewable energy company members including the operators of Drax power station and Eggborough power station and lobbying to expand the use of food crops as biofuels including palm oil and soya. [28] [ disputed (for: This criticism may misrepresent some REA's position on food biofuels) – discuss ]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy</span> Energy collected from renewable resources

Renewable energy is energy from renewable natural resources that are replenished on a human timescale. The most widely used renewable energy types are solar energy, wind power, and hydropower. Bioenergy and geothermal power are also significant in some countries. Some also consider nuclear power a renewable power source, although this is controversial. Renewable energy installations can be large or small and are suited for both urban and rural areas. Renewable energy is often deployed together with further electrification. This has several benefits: electricity can move heat and vehicles efficiently and is clean at the point of consumption. Variable renewable energy sources are those that have a fluctuating nature, such as wind power and solar power. In contrast, controllable renewable energy sources include dammed hydroelectricity, bioenergy, or geothermal power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biogas</span> Gases produced by decomposing organic matter

Biogas is a gaseous renewable energy source produced from raw materials such as agricultural waste, manure, municipal waste, plant material, sewage, green waste, wastewater, and food waste. Biogas is produced by anaerobic digestion with anaerobic organisms or methanogens inside an anaerobic digester, biodigester or a bioreactor. The gas composition is primarily methane and carbon dioxide and may have small amounts of hydrogen sulfide, moisture and siloxanes. The methane can be combusted or oxidized with oxygen. This energy release allows biogas to be used as a fuel; it can be used in fuel cells and for heating purpose, such as in cooking. It can also be used in a gas engine to convert the energy in the gas into electricity and heat.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biofuel</span> Type of biological fuel

Biofuel is a fuel that is produced over a short time span from biomass, rather than by the very slow natural processes involved in the formation of fossil fuels such as oil. Biofuel can be produced from plants or from agricultural, domestic or industrial biowaste. Biofuels are mostly used for transportation, but can also be used for heating and electricity. Biofuels are regarded as a renewable energy source. The use of biofuel has been subject to criticism regarding the "food vs fuel" debate, varied assessments of their sustainability, and possible deforestation and biodiversity loss as a result of biofuel production.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable energy</span> Energy that responsibly meets social, economic, and environmental needs

Energy is sustainable if it "meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs." Definitions of sustainable energy usually look at its effects on the environment, the economy, and society. These impacts range from greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution to energy poverty and toxic waste. Renewable energy sources such as wind, hydro, solar, and geothermal energy can cause environmental damage but are generally far more sustainable than fossil fuel sources.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anaerobic digestion</span> Processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen

Anaerobic digestion is a sequence of processes by which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The process is used for industrial or domestic purposes to manage waste or to produce fuels. Much of the fermentation used industrially to produce food and drink products, as well as home fermentation, uses anaerobic digestion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bioenergy</span> Renewable energy made from biomass

Bioenergy is a type of renewable energy that is derived from plants and animal waste. The biomass that is used as input materials consists of recently living organisms, mainly plants. Thus, fossil fuels are not regarded as biomass under this definition. Types of biomass commonly used for bioenergy include wood, food crops such as corn, energy crops and waste from forests, yards, or farms.

Renewable heat is an application of renewable energy referring to the generation of heat from renewable sources; for example, feeding radiators with water warmed by focused solar radiation rather than by a fossil fuel boiler. Renewable heat technologies include renewable biofuels, solar heating, geothermal heating, heat pumps and heat exchangers. Insulation is almost always an important factor in how renewable heating is implemented.

Renewable natural gas (RNG), also known as biomethane, is a renewable fuel and biogas which has been upgraded to a quality similar to fossil natural gas and has a methane concentration of 90% or greater. By removing CO2 and other impurities from biogas, and increasing the concentration of methane to a level similar to fossil natural gas, it becomes possible to distribute RNG via existing gas pipeline infrastructure. RNG can be used in existing appliances, including vehicles with natural gas burning engines (natural gas vehicles).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waste-to-energy</span> Process of generating energy from the primary treatment of waste

Waste-to-energy (WtE) or energy-from-waste (EfW) refers to a series of processes designed to convert waste materials into usable forms of energy, typically electricity or heat. As a form of energy recovery, WtE plays a crucial role in both waste management and sustainable energy production by reducing the volume of waste in landfills and providing an alternative energy source.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in the United Kingdom</span>

Energy in the United Kingdom came mostly from fossil fuels in 2021. Total energy consumption in the United Kingdom was 142.0 million tonnes of oil equivalent in 2019. In 2014, the UK had an energy consumption per capita of 2.78 tonnes of oil equivalent compared to a world average of 1.92 tonnes of oil equivalent. Demand for electricity in 2023 was 29.6 GW on average, supplied through 235 TWh of UK-based generation and 24 TWh of energy imports.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Scotland</span>

The production of renewable energy in Scotland is a topic that came to the fore in technical, economic, and political terms during the opening years of the 21st century. The natural resource base for renewable energy is high by European, and even global standards, with the most important potential sources being wind, wave, and tide. Renewables generate almost all of Scotland's electricity, mostly from the country's wind power.

On April 25, 2006, Executive Order S-06-06, the Bioenergy Action Plan was issued by the then governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, outlining a set of target goals which would establish the increasing use and production of biofuels and biopower for both electricity generation and substitution of natural gas and petroleum within the state of California. The plan asked multiple state agencies to work towards the advancement of biomass programs in California. The order would also help provide statewide environmental protection, mitigation and economic advancement. The plan was passed on July 7, 2006, with progress reports issued in 2007 and 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in Canada</span>

Renewable energy in Canada represented 17.3% of the Total Energy Supply (TES) in 2020, following natural gas at 39.1% and oil at 32.7% of the TES.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Ireland</span>

Ireland is a net energy importer. Ireland's import dependency decreased to 85% in 2014. The cost of all energy imports to Ireland was approximately €5.7 billion, down from €6.5 billion (revised) in 2013 due mainly to falling oil and, to a lesser extent, gas import prices. Consumption of all fuels fell in 2014 with the exception of peat, renewables and non-renewable wastes.

Enerkem is a clean technology company based in Montreal. Founded in 2000, Enerkem uses its patented technology to convert residual biomass and non-recyclable municipal solid waste (MSW) into biofuels and renewable chemicals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in New Zealand</span>

Approximately 44% of primary energy is from renewable energy sources in New Zealand. Approximately 87% of electricity comes from renewable energy, primarily hydropower and geothermal power.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Hawaii</span> Overview of energy resources in Hawaii, US

Energy in the U.S. state of Hawaii is produced from a mixture of fossil fuel and renewable resources. Producing energy is complicated by the state's isolated location and lack of fossil fuel resources. The state relies heavily on imports of petroleum; Hawaii has the highest share of petroleum use in the United States, with 67% of electricity generation in the state coming from petroleum in 2023, compared to less than 1% nationally.

Renewable energy in Thailand is a developing sector that addresses the country’s present high rate of carbon emissions. Several policies, such as the Thirteenth Plan or the Alternative Energy Development Plan, set future goals for increasing the capacity of renewable energy and reduce the reliance of nonrenewable energy. The major sources of renewable energy in Thailand are hydro power, solar power, wind power, and biomass, with biomass currently accounting for the majority of production. Thailand’s growth is hoped to lead to renewable energy cost reduction and increased investment.

Bioenergy forms a small part of the Turkish energy sector. There is unrealised potential to generate bioenergy using waste from the country's vast agricultural sector and forest resources. The possibility of expanding biogas, biofuel and bioethanol production and use has been suggested to supplement Turkey's energy needs, reduce dependency on fossil fuel imports and cut greenhouse gas emissions.

Denmark is a leading country in renewable energy production and usage. Renewable energy sources collectively produced 81% of Denmark's electricity generation in 2022, and are expected to provide 100% of national electric power production from 2030. Including energy use in the heating/cooling and transport sectors, Denmark is expected to reach 100% renewable energy in 2050, up from the 34% recorded in 2021.

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". REA. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  2. ↑ "Biomass Barriers | Biomassmagazine.com". biomassmagazine.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  3. ↑ "Calculating the Renewable Fraction of Energy from Waste | Biomassmagazine.com". biomassmagazine.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  4. ↑ "Powerful Crops | Biomassmagazine.com". biomassmagazine.com. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  5. ↑ "£365k battery system could save Bristol Council £16k a year". BBC News. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  6. ↑ "New regulations to double the use of sustainable renewable fuels by 2020". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 "AfOR members approve merger with REA". letsrecycle.com. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  8. 1 2 3 "THE ASSOCIATION FOR RENEWABLE ENERGY AND CLEAN TECHNOLOGY overview - Find and update company information - GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 31 March 2022.
  9. ↑ "House of Commons Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 11 September 2019: Energy Storage".
  10. ↑ "House of Commons: Register Of All-Party Parliamentary Groups as at 25 August 2021: Electric Vehicles".
  11. ↑ "Jet Zero Council". GOV.UK. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  12. ↑ Xiyan, Li (2020). Kær, Søren Knudsen; Condra, Thomas Joseph (eds.). CFD modeling of biomass thermo-chemical conversion and its experimental study (PDF) (PhD thesis). Aalborg University. ISBN   978-87-7210-676-2.
  13. ↑ "Waste not... Britain is lagging behind other countries in renewable". The Independent. 21 February 2010. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  14. ↑ "UK pressure groups laud new climate change ministry". Reuters. 3 October 2008. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  15. ↑ "Clean technology sector suffering crisis of confidence". the Guardian. 1 June 2011. Retrieved 6 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "Cut VAT for green home improvements and repairs, MPs urge". the Guardian. 17 February 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  17. ↑ "Urgent action needed on grid flexibility, says REA". GridBeyond. 1 October 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  18. ↑ "UK Health and Safety Executive - Composting - Recycling biodegradable waste".
  19. ↑ "[Withdrawn] Coronavirus support from Business Representative Organisations and Trade Associations". GOV.UK. April 2022. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  20. ↑ "Destroying spoilt beer, cider, wine or made-wine during coronavirus (COVID-19)". GOV.UK. 14 July 2020. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  21. ↑ "COVID-19 - GREEN RECOVERY - BUSINESS CONTINUITY". REA. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  22. ↑ "Pas100 - Standards - CCS". www.qualitycompost.org.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  23. ↑ "BSI PAS 110: Producing Quality Anaerobic Digestate | WRAP". wrap.org.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  24. ↑ "UK's first EV Consumer Code launched".
  25. ↑ "Green Gas Day". CNG Services. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  26. ↑ "UK Green Gas Day 2021". www.nnfcc.co.uk. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  27. ↑ "UK Green Gas Day 2021 to be held in Birmingham | Bioenergy Insight Magazine". www.bioenergy-news.com. 10 August 2021. Retrieved 7 April 2022.
  28. 1 2 Bastable 2014.

Sources

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