Ecotricity, the UK’s first green electricity supplier, has been researching the feasibility of supplying green biogas to the UK domestic market. From their results, plus their market research, they have announced that they hope to become Britain’s first green gas supplier too.
Green gas or ‘biogas’ is captured from rotting food waste which would otherwise escape into the atmosphere. It is estimated that about 18 million tonnes of food waste is generated each year in the UK; a figure which Ecotricity would expect to supply up to 700,000 homes.
Building the estimated 1200 gas mills necessary to capture the gas would come at the considerable financial cost of around £35 billion. However, even at such a massive price to supply 50% of the UK domestic gas market, Ecotricity wants to compete on price with conventional gas suppliers like British Gas.
Dale Vince, founder of Ecotricicty said on his blog,
“Ecotricity is in the process of evolving into a green energy company (from a green electricity company) – with gas and electricity both going from brown to green.”
“We’re going to price match dear old British Gas and match their dual fuel discount. Continuing our philosophy of ‘green for the price of brown’.”
With North Sea gas running out, The UK will become wholly dependant on foreign gas from countries like Russia. Ecotricity doesn’t want to see that happen by supplying as much green gas to as many people as possible. One scheme that may take off in the coming years is the idea of generating gas from special algae. By harnessing the gas from sources such as these as well as from food waste, Britain could move towards a more sustainable future in terms of the gas security.
Other items you might find of interest:
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Tags: biogas, ecotricity, food waste, gas, gas mills, green gas