A consortium of UK companies has received £16.4 million ($24.7 million) in government funding to build a plant to turn household waste into transport fuel and gas for electricity.

The plant, to be built in 2016 in Swindon, will use Advanced Plasma Power's (APP's) Gasplasma technology to convert residual waste—among the UK’s largest sustainable sources of biomass—into compressed biomethane. Approximately 7,500 metric tons of refuse-derived fuel will be diverted from landfills to produce 1.5 million kg of substitute natural gas annually.

Gasplasma process converts solid waste into syngas. Image credit: Advanced Plasma PowerIn addition to APP, the consortium includes National Grid, Wales & West Utilities, Progressive Energy and CNG Services.

Gasplasma combines gasification and plasma treatment to convert waste into syngas, a hydrogen-rich synthesis fuel that can be used to generate electricity directly in gas engines, turbines or fuel cells. It also may be converted into substitute natural gas, hydrogen or liquid fuels. An inert by-product of the process has applications as a construction material.

According to APP, the syngas can be used directly in gas engines because the plasma conversion stage of the process "cracks" long-chain hydrocarbons in the raw syngas that otherwise would cause engines to fail. In the process it improves energy conversion efficiency and boosts electrical output. APP says the electrical conversion efficiency of gas engines and turbines ranges from 40-50%, compared to less than 25% for steam turbines used in conventional thermal processes.

According to UK Transport Minister Andrew Jones, advanced biofuels have the potential to save 60% of the greenhouse gas emissions associated with equivalent fossil fuels. The consortium has negotiated to obtain post-recycling residual waste; the gas produced will be used by trucking company Howard Tenens and consortium partner CNG Services.