Waste Knot Energy, an innovative manufacturer of alternative fuels, has developed a new range of pellets made from non-recyclable waste, designed specifically for high-energy-use industries looking to reduce their carbon footprint. These include producers of cement and steel, as well as power stations.
The Solid Improved Recovered Fuel pellets (SIRF) are made from dry commercial and industrial waste materials such as wood, card, paper and non-chlorinated plastics.
They reduce waste going to landfill and are far cleaner to burn than fossil fuels, reducing carbon emissions and helping to fight climate change.
The development of these pellets means businesses with high-energy-use requirements now have a cheaper and greener alternative to using traditional fuels such as coal, pet coke or gas. It also provides power stations currently burning wood pellets imported from abroad access to an alternative fuel manufactured in the UK, resulting in an even lower carbon footprint.
Roger Ferguson, Founder of Waste Knot Energy, said: “We believe that SIRF pellets are an exciting innovation as the UK looks to be carbon net zero by 2050. A detailed analysis of the carbon footprint of our pellets, conducted by independent environmental consultants, revealed highly positive results. It showed the pellets save 550kg of CO2 per tonne – so almost half a tonne of CO2 equivalent – compared to sending the contents to landfill.
“When waste goes to landfill it releases a lot of gases as it degrades, including carbon monoxide and methane, meaning every tonne of landfill generates around 650 kg of CO2. Even when you take into account emissions required to manufacture our pellets, which including energy and transportation comes to 108kg of CO2 per tonne, there’s a big carbon saving.”
SIRF pellets also provide carbon emission savings when compared to other fuels.
Roger added: “Compare that to coal which results in 3,222kg of CO2 emissions per tonne and you can see the environmental advantages of this alternative fuel. In fact, it even has a lower carbon footprint when compared to wood pellets which are traditionally shipped from the USA or Canada, adding to their carbon miles.”
Waste Knot Energy will begin producing SIRF pellets in July at a custom-built site in Middlesbrough, with further factories planned across the country.
