Sewage Sludge to Bio-Methane
- Details
- Written by: J C Burke
- Category: Biomethane CHP
- Hits: 16
Our Primary Focus is on the extraction of Bio-Methane, typically using Thermo-Hydrolysis for maximum yields. However, Sewage sludge in today's modern cities, contains a great many other pollutants - the bio-gases themselves are a combination of methane (CH4), Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Hydrogen Sulphide (H2S), Ammonia and other gases. But the Sewage Sludge aslo contains the "forever chemicals" now prevalent within the modern 'societies' flouro-carbons - which are very difficult to treat - but not impossible. The scourge of PFAS pollutants;
It was the raising of this issue with an invitation to speak at PFAS Treatment Summit 2026 in Orange County, California that prompted us to rethink this issue and to research alternatives to the 'usual' incineration methods. Indeed new research suggests - See below;
Thermal hydrolysis has limited effectiveness against PFAS in sewage sludge, and may actually worsen certain aspects of the problem. This was our standard approach;
What Happens During Thermal Hydrolysis
Thermal hydrolysis typically operates at 150-180°C and 6-8 bar pressure for 20-30 minutes. These conditions are far below what's needed to break PFAS's extremely strong carbon-fluorine bonds, which require temperatures exceeding 1000°C for complete destruction.
Effects on PFAS
Minimal destruction: The process doesn't destroy PFAS molecules. The C-F bond energy (~485 kJ/mol) is among the strongest in organic chemistry, making these compounds remarkably stable at thermal hydrolysis temperatures.
Potential transformation: Some longer-chain PFAS precursors may partially degrade into shorter-chain PFAS compounds, but this doesn't eliminate the contamination—it just changes its form.
Energy Policy Paper - CHP Emphasis
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- Written by: John C Burke plus AI Claude research
- Category: ENERGY POLICY
- Hits: 104
UK Energy Security Through Distributed Combined Heat and Power
A Policy Paper for Resilient, Efficient Energy Infrastructure
Executive Summary
The April 2025 Iberian Peninsula blackout demonstrated that increasing grid complexity—driven by high renewable penetration and distributed generation—creates systemic vulnerabilities that threaten energy security. This paper proposes a fundamental paradigm shift in UK energy policy: repositioning Combined Heat and Power (CHP) and tri-generation systems as primary energy infrastructure for critical and commercial facilities, with the electricity grid serving as a balancing and coordination network rather than the sole supply backbone.
This approach simultaneously addresses energy security, system resilience, efficiency, and decarbonization objectives while reducing—rather than increasing—grid coordination complexity.
1. The Problem: Grid Complexity as Systemic Risk
1.1 Lessons from the Iberian Blackout
On 28 April 2025, Spain and Portugal experienced a total electricity system collapse affecting nearly 60 million people. Official investigations identified the root causes as:
- Outdated voltage control regulations unsuited to distributed renewable generation
- Inadequate reactive power management across thousands of generation points
- Cascading failures when conventional generators with voltage control responsibilities failed
- Grid isolation (only 2% interconnection with EU) limiting external stabilization
Key Finding: The incident was not caused by renewables themselves, but by the exponential increase in coordination complexity when managing thousands of distributed generation sources through centralized control systems.
Environmental Policy
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- Written by: J C Burke
- Category: ENERGY POLICY
- Hits: 3090
AI As a Reflective Tool
Based upon our own areas of expertise and the frustrations of the Agenda driven Politicalised policies of NET Zero (see our article from 2 years ago), The Assumpitons that Net Zero is ham-strung by (December 2024 Article), Decarbonisation and Carbon Capture (which stemmed from a question from our recent Investment contact). We decided to test Artificial Intelligent {AI} to assist us with its deep research capabilities to consider how to CHANGE THE NARRATVE (Of the Politics of Climate Change Agenda).
Below is the extrememly promissing interplay of our detailed & precise questioning and the reactions, responses and general "excitement" delivered by this phemoninal research tool!
Our Opening Questions - Nice and Simple.
""'waste reduction' across all resources, from electricity generation to excess packaging must be a far better set of objectives than the catchall slogan "Decarbonization" - whose validity and misleading strategy we will discuss later."" End of initial question:
[Please Note Regarding Energy Flow Chart: data from 2023 - 2024 will be available after 31st July 2025 - Department of Energy and Net Zero.] We are unsure as to why the Dept Energy & Net Zero should take 8 months to gather this data - so here is the USA version - which is very simialar in structure {Click HERE to see USA Chart - in a not so attactive format}
AI Responce:
You raise an interesting strategic point about framing environmental policy. "Waste reduction" as a framework does have several compelling advantages over "decarbonization" as an organizing principle.
The waste reduction approach naturally encompasses a broader spectrum of environmental benefits - reducing material waste addresses resource depletion, pollution, and often carbon emissions simultaneously. When you minimize packaging, for instance, you're cutting material extraction, manufacturing energy, transportation fuel, and disposal costs all at once. Similarly, improving electrical efficiency reduces both carbon emissions and the need for additional power infrastructure.
From a political and economic standpoint, waste reduction often aligns more naturally with cost savings and efficiency gains that businesses and consumers can readily understand. Companies are generally motivated to reduce waste because it directly impacts their bottom line, whereas carbon reduction can sometimes feel like an additional cost or constraint.
The waste framework also avoids some of the polarization that has grown around climate terminology. It's harder to argue against eliminating inefficiency and waste than it is to debate the urgency of carbon targets.
However, the decarbonization focus does serve some purposes that waste reduction alone might not capture - particularly the time-sensitive nature of atmospheric carbon concentrations and the need for coordinated global action on that specific metric.
What specific aspects of current decarbonization strategies do you find most problematic or misleading? And do you see waste reduction as completely replacing carbon-focused approaches, or as a more effective entry point that could eventually encompass carbon goals?
H2 - Strategic Talking Points
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- Written by: J C Burke
- Category: Hydrogen Analysis
- Hits: 688
FT Hydrogen Summit: Strategic Talking Points: Core Message Framework
"I'm not anti-hydrogen - I'm pro-sequencing. Biomethane CHP is the intelligent bridge to hydrogen fuel cells. Why waste 15-20 years when we can deploy 90% efficiency systems today and transition to H2 fuel cells when they're genuinely ready?"
Primary Elevator Pitch (60 seconds)
*"I'm here because I believe in hydrogen's future - but through fuel cells, not current electrolysis systems. The intelligent pathway is biomethane CHP as the immediate bridge solution. We're literally flaring waste biomethane while debating green hydrogen infrastructure.
My specialty is Combined Heat and Power systems using biomethane - 90% efficiency available today. I'm developing a £50m care home portfolio that proves this concept. In 15-20 years, when hydrogen fuel cells achieve 50-60% efficiency, we can transition. But meanwhile, we're capturing waste energy that's currently lost. The UK has successful CHP installations in Islington, Southampton, and Woking proving this bridge strategy works now."*
Key Statistical Ammunition
- Current hydrogen electrolysis: 25-35% efficiency vs Biomethane CHP: 80-90% efficiency
- Future hydrogen fuel cells: 50-60% efficiency (15-20 years) vs CHP available now: 80-90%
- UK transmission losses: 8-10% annually vs Local CHP: Zero transmission losses
- Hydrogen infrastructure cost: £100+ billion vs CHP leveraging existing gas grid + biomethane: Fraction of the cost
- Timeline: Green hydrogen commercial viability 2030+ vs Biomethane CHP deployment: Immediate
- Waste biomethane: Currently flared or released vs CHP utilization: Captures waste energy streams
SEE Director as VIP Guest - Hydrogen Summit
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- Written by: J C Burke
- Category: Hydrogen Analysis
- Hits: 837
Why the HYDROGEN Summit is Important:
Having attended the World Bio-Gas Summit at the NEC, last year it is important to keep all viable innovative options open. Whilst a big fan of Bio-Methane, we are interested to hear about Hydrogen as a fuel (but presumably not for FUSION just yet!!) Will be attending the World Bio-Gas Summit this year too [9th-10th July 2025 - Birmingham NEC]
FT Sponsored Summit:
24th June 2025; Marriott Grosvenor Square, Mayfair, London W1K 6JP
Hear from 50+ CEOs, energy innovators, policymakers and financiers
- Explore practical hydrogen solutions that are moving from ambition to execution—addressing cost, efficiency, and real-world scalability.
- Delve into the global hydrogen landscape and dive into regional insights from Asia, Africa, and the Middle East.
- Unlock strategies and financial mechanisms needed to de-risk hydrogen projects, secure long-term offtake agreements, and accelerate Final Investment Decision.
Meet 250+ hydrogen pioneers under one roof
- Access exclusive delegate matchmaking with C-suite leaders via the FT Live app—ensuring high-impact connections.
- With 75% of attendees holding senior job titles, this is where the industry’s most influential leaders connect.
- In an intimate setting, build business-critical relationships and kick start new business deals.
A one-day strategic agenda on transitioning from hype to realism
- Focused debates and case studies will explore hydrogen s real-world applications including success’ and setbacks.
- Spend less time out of the office and walk away with the knowledge and clarity needed to future proof your strategy.
- Moderated by senior FT journalists to cut through the jargon and bring you realistic opinions.
What’s new for the Hydrogen Summit in 2025 Watch on demand
- Hydrogen vs. Electrification Debate: A first-time discussion on where hydrogen fits in the future energy mix.
- Success & Failure Case Studies: Learn from real-world project successes and mistakes.
- Expanded Global Focus: Insights from Africa, the Middle East & Southeast Asia, alongside Europe & North America.
- Dedicated Financing Discussions: New panels on addressing bankability, securing offtake agreements, and exploring alternative & blended funding models.
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