The more observant will have noticed our recent event aimed at raising awareness of the environmental sector and to start a countywide debate on the issues. This week I was able to join an East of England Regional Assembly party visiting the Danish Region of Mid Jutland which is taking an extremely proactive approach toward seeking energy efficiency solutions.
Of the sites we visited one converting animal fat into bio-diesel and another turning all sorts of manure into bio-gas were the most interesting. They were both interesting for a number of reasons, not least because they were turning materials that would have otherwise would have been incinerated into valuable heat and power sources. Another interesting outcome was the fact they were adding value to what, at best, would previously have been regarded as nuisance materials.
In a short visit it would be foolish to think that one could discover the definitive answer to the debate on energy efficiency, indeed if anything, yet more questions were raised. How do you ensure that the supply of the relevant materials will be sustainable? Can you ensure that the cost of the raw material is kept at a reasonable level? Can you make the process commercial? And so on and so forth.
To support their research they had also set up an Agro-Science Research Park where they conducted a range of relevant research, hosted start-up research companies and also encouraged young people to develop their science and engineering skills.
Was I impressed? You bet. Envious? Oh yes.
Hertfordshire prides itself on its knowledge based industries and makes a variety of claims about innovation in the county but I have to say we could learn a great deal from the positive, energetic approach of our Danish colleagues. We also need to recognise that finding solutions to the environmental challenges we face will not only be good for the planet but will also provide enormous economic benefits going forward.
As I write I can hear the planners saying “we don’t want these nasty recycling plants” but, in reality, they were no more intrusive than other farm buildings we see in our countryside. What I found really impressive was that someone could take 50,000 tons of waste animal materials and turn it into 55 million litres of high grade bio diesel. Even more impressively any residual ash was used to make cement and bricks. Efficient or what?
Of course there are many questions to be answered. We need to find satisfactory long term answers. If we don’t someone else will.
Solving the conundrum will provide opportunities on a variety of levels. The Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce & Industry intends to play a leading role in opening up the debate on this subject and I would be delighted to receive contributions towards it.
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