Energy Recovery Facility FAQs

veolia sheffield Energy Recovery Facility


Find out all the answers about Sheffield's Energy recovery Facility with our comprehensive FAQs.


How much energy do you create through energy recovery?

The new energy recovery facility can generate up to 45MW of thermal energy and up to 21MW of electrical energy.

Back to top
 


Doesn’t energy recovery deter recycling?

It is evident from looking at other countries that utilise Energy Recovery as part of an integrated waste management system that it does not deter recycling. Switzerland incinerates 45% of its waste and recycles 42%. In Sheffield we are actually reducing the amount of waste going to landfill.

Back to top
 


Don’t the environmental issues surrounding energy recovery from waste outweigh the benefits of avoiding fossil fuel?

No, we would require a method to dispose of the rubbish that cannot be recycled and energy recovery is preferred over the use of landfill because there is an opportunity to recover a valuable resource - energy. In Sheffield we are generating heat and electricity so the benefits are increased.

The key target for improving air quality in the city centre is NOx. When the effect of the district heating scheme is taken in to account in avoiding the need for heating boilers, there is a net reduction in NOx in the city centre.

Back to top
 


Isn’t energy recovery harmful to the environment?

All Energy Recovery Facilities have to operate to strict environmental regulations. New legislation that came into force in December 2005 means that the new Energy Recovery Facility in Sheffield operates to stricter emissions limits and operational parameters than the previous plant. The emission limits are equal to, or better than, the limits to which power stations operate.

Pollution prevention control systems are installed allowing the operators to monitor how well the facility is performing, and to ensure that emissions are kept below permitted limits.

Operators are monitored by the Environment Agency and reports detailing the performance of each facility are available on a public register. You can also view our emissions performance on this web site. Please see the link below.

Energy Recovery with District Energy as part of an integrated waste management system helps to create the best practical environmental option for Sheffield. Heat provided by the District Energy network, powered by the ERF, prevents around 21,000 tonnes of carbon emissions from being released every year.

The ERF helps to save around 2.5 tonnes of carbon emissions every hour.

Sheffield's emissions performance data

Back to top

Find the answers to your questions about Veolia's District Energy Network with our comprehensive FAQs.