New Technologies Demonstrator Programme

The New Technologies Demonstrator Programme is a scheme part of Defra's Waste Implementation Programme, New Technologies Workstream, to demonstrate advanced waste processing technologies in England. A pot of £30million was allocated to fund 10 demonstrator projects with the project being headed by Dave Brooks at Defra. The scheme is not on schedule for the ambitious targets that were initially set out by Defra, however 9 projects out of the initial 10 are now projected to be operational by April 2009, over 2 years behind schedule.

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The scheme

The scheme initially was allocated £32 million, of which £2 million was to help fund research and development into waste technology.^[1] The scheme for the distribution of the main £30 million pot commenced in 2004 and was originally split into two rounds: ^[2]

• ROUND 1: 5 demonstrator projects in operation by 31.12.05
• ROUND 2: 5 demonstrator projects in operation by 31.12.06

There project had a huge response for the first round, with 71 pre-qualification questionnaire submissions being filed from interested parties.^{[citation needed]} The quality of some of the initial bids were criticised by Martin Brockelhurst, Head of Waste Strategy, at the Environment Agency who remarked some of the applications were poor and came from a "young industry".^[3]

Controversy

There have been concerns that the project is taking too long and some participants threatened to walk out.^[4] On the 11^th April 2006, Defra declared that its initial timescales were ambitious and projects were not on target.^[5] Of the 10 original projects planned a total of 9 have now been signed and includes gasification, in-vessel composting, anaerobic digestion and mechanical heat treatment. From the original target dates for operational demonstrator plants outlined in the initial assessment criteria only 2 projects are now operational (true as of 27.11.06).^[6] On the 24 November 2006, Dave Brooks announced that the new target for all plants being operational is April 2009.

The projects

Operational

1. Greenfinch anaerobic digesters, Ludlow, Shropshire
2. Bioganix in-vessel composting plant, Leominister

Contracts signed

1. ADAS/Envar in-vessel composing plant, St Ives, Cambridgeshire
2. Yorwaste gasification plant, Seamer Carr, Scarborough
3. Premier Waste aerobic digestion plant, Durham
4. Novera gasification plant, Dagenham
5. Energos gasification plant, Isle of Wight
6. Compact Power gasification plant, Avonmouth
7. Fairport Engineering, mechanical heat treatment, Merseyside

References

1. ^ DEFRA reveals plans for £32m new technology programme. www.letsrecycle.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
2. ^ New Technologies Demonstrator Programme: Assessment Criteria. www.defra.gov.uk. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.Defra opens second round of £30m new technologies fund. www.letsrecycle.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
3. ^ Agency comments on bidders in Defra's new technologies fund. www.letsrecycle.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
4. ^ Bristol may walk away from New Technologies Programme. www.letsrecycle.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
5. ^ Four new technology waste plants achieve Defra approval. www.letsrecycle.com. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.
6. ^ All Demonstrator Projects Now Signed. www.mrw.co.uk. Retrieved on 2006-11-27.