Briefing: Potential for ground energy systems in the waste industry

There are significant economic and environmental drivers for the reduction of industrial energy usage, and there is a corresponding interest in renewable and alternative sources of energy. Ground energy systems are an established low and zero carbon dioxide technology widely used in the UK outside the waste management industry to reduce energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions associated with the heating and cooling of buildings and industrial processes. To date very few ground energy applications have been implemented on waste management sites. This may be a missed opportunity because many sites contain heat sources (including landfilled waste, leachate and compost) at elevated temperatures relative to natural ground. If these heat sources can be exploited and matched to on-site or off-site heat demands there are considerable opportunities to reduce energy costs, improve environmental performance and provide additional revenue streams to site operators.