Enfinium to Deploy Carbon Measurement Technology Across All Operational Sites by Year End

Enfinium, a prominent UK operator in the energy-from-waste sector, plans to implement new carbon measurement technology at all its operational sites by the end of 2024.  

This advancement will allow for the assessment of carbon removals once carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is deployed across its fleet in the future. 

Radiocarbon dating, also known as carbon-14 dating, is successfully utilized in various fields, including archaeology and human health.  

When applied to energy-from-waste facilities, it can quantify the amounts of biogenic or fossil-derived CO2 emissions resulting from waste feedstock. 

Jane Atkinson CBE, Chief Operating Officer, enfinium said, “enfinium is transitioning into a carbon removals business and with carbon capture and storage technology deployed across our facilities, we could generate over 1.2 million tonnes of durable carbon removals every year.” 

She added, “Robust monitoring, reporting and verification of emissions is critical to scaling the carbon removals market and building confidence from buyers, investors and policymakers. By using carbon-14 technology, we will be able to measure the amount of biogenic carbon we are capturing and storing from society’s unrecyclable waste.” 

Approximately 50% of society's unrecyclable waste consists of biogenic materials, such as food, plants, and soiled paper or cardboard. These materials naturally absorb CO2 from the atmosphere during their growth and release it when converted into energy.  

When paired with CCS technology, the biogenic CO2 can be permanently stored underground instead of being released, leading to a net reduction of CO2 in the atmosphere. 

By measuring the CO2 emissions from biogenic sources, Enfinium will be able to accurately calculate the durable carbon removals its facilities will achieve in the future.

In May, Enfinium's Net Zero Transition Plan outlined an ambitious goal to lead a £1.7 billion investment in CCS installation across its operational facilities, aiming to create up to 1.2 million tonnes of carbon removals annually. 

Carbon-14 measurement equipment provided by ENVEA has been successfully tested at Enfinium's Kemsley facility since January 2024, the only energy-from-waste facility in the UK with a Contract for Difference. 

Enfinium plans to implement this technology at all four of its operational sites by the end of this year. Once commissioned in 2025, it will also be installed at the sites currently under construction, Kelvin and Skelton Grange.