Renewable energy: glossary of terms

Renewable energy is still a relatively new area for many farmers and landowners, so to kick off the New Year, Paul Spackman sheds some light on a few of the most common terms.

Advanced biofuel

Also known as "second generation" biofuels. Second generation processes use a wider range of feedstocks than conventional "first generation" processes, but technology is still under development. Many use BTL technology, including cellulosic biofuels

Anaerobic digestion (AD)

A biological process where bacteria breakdown organic matter under oxygen-free conditions to produce a biogas containing methane

Biobutanol

An "advanced biofuel" produced from biomass. Butanol is more similar to conventional gasoline than bioethanol, but more complex to produce

Biofuel

Generic term given to a range of fuels derived from some form of biomass. They can be a liquid (bioethanol or biodiesel), solid (wood chips, energy crops) or gas (methane biogas)

Biodiesel

Produced from plant oils via transesterification?? oils are mixed with methanol and sodium or potassium hydroxide to form fatty acid methyl esters (FAME, or biodiesel) and glycerol. Suitable crops include oilseed rape, palm, sunflower and soya bean

Bioethanol

Produced by the fermentation of plant-derived sugars and starch to ethanol. The fermentation process is similar to brewing: yeast digests the sugar and produces ethanol as a by-product. Ethanol is purified by distillation. Suitable crops include wheat, maize, sugar beet, sugar cane

Biogas

A combustible gas produced by the biological breakdown of organic matter in anaerobic conditions (for example,?methane). Used to generate heat and electricity, or can be cleaned and concentrated into gas for the grid

Biomass

Any biological material derived from living, or recently living organisms. Includes everything from wood waste to other plant and animal matter

B100

Another name for pure (100%) biodiesel

Biomass-to-liquid (BTL)

Also known as second generation biodiesel production. It is the process which converts biomass into liquid biofuels and there are several different methods?? many include Fischer-Tropsch, hydrogenation or pyrolysis

Combined Heat and Power (CHP)

The sequential production of electricity and heat from the same fuel source

Co-firing

The process of burning energy crops such as miscanthus or wood chip alongside fossil fuels in power stations

Dried Distillers Grain with Solubles (DDGS)

A?high protein by-product of ethanol production used for livestock feed

Digestate

A nutrient-rich substance produced by anaerobic digestion that can be used as a fertiliser. It consists of left over indigestible material and dead micro-organisms. Often separated into solid and liquid portions prior to spreading on land

Digestor

The tank in which anaerobic digestion takes place. Many AD plants will have both a primary and a secondary digestor to maximise gas production

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIS)

A study of the environmental effects of a proposed project

Energy crops

Crops grown specifically for their fuel value. Includes short rotation coppice (willow/poplar), miscanthus, sugar cane

Feedstock

Generic term for any biomass resource used for conversion to energy or biofuel

Feed-in Tariff (FiT)

An incentive scheme designed to promote the generation of renewable electricity production via long-term index-linked payments. Launched in April 2010. Payment rates vary depending on type and size of technology employed and are subject to periodic review

Fermentation

A biochemical reaction that breaks down complex organic molecules (for example,?carbohydrates) into simpler materials (such as ethanol, carbon dioxide, and water). Bacteria or yeasts can ferment sugars to bioethanol

Flex-fuel vehicle

A vehicle with a single fuel tank designed to run on varying blends of unleaded gasoline with either ethanol or methanol

Geothermal energy

Energy derived from the natural heat of the Earth contained in hot rocks, hot water, hot brines or steam

Greenhouse Gas (GHG)

The main greenhouse gas of concern due to global warming is carbon dioxide. Others include methane, ozone, chlorofluorocarbons, and nitrous oxide

Glycerine

A liquid by-product of biodiesel production, used for making dynamite, cosmetics, inks, soaps, and lubricants

GTL Gas-to-liquid

Refinery process where gas is converted into liquid fuels

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that releases sugars. In bioethanol production, hydrolysis reactions are used to break down cellulose and hemicellulose in the biomass

Kilowatt

A measure of electrical power equal to 1,000W. Kilowatts are a measure of power, in the same way as a tractor's power is rated in horsepower?? 1hp is about 3/4 of a kW. Energy installations are often rated by their maximum power output in kW. Heat installations are measured as kW thermal (kWth)

Kilowatt hour (kWh)

A measure of total energy produced, one kWh being also known as a unit of electricity. Therefore a boiler of 500kW rating, running at full power for one hour, will produce 500kWh of heat. A 40kW generator running for 24 hours will produce 960kWh.

Microgeneration Certification Scheme (MCS)

An industry-funded assurance scheme to ensure the quality of renewable technology installations, companies and products. MCS-certified products and installation company needed to qualify for FiTs in sub-50kW category

Megawatt (MW)

A unit of power equal to one million watts

Methane

The odourless, flammable gas produced during anaerobic digestion. Can be captured and used to generate energy

Miscanthus

Also known as elephant grass. A perennial grass with high biomass yield. It can be baled and burned when used as an energy crop

Octane number

The octane rating of a fuel is indicated on the pump. The higher the number, the slower the fuel burns. Bioethanol typically adds two to three octane numbers when blended with ordinary petroleum

Power Purchase Agreement

A financial agreement between someone who generates electricity (eg farmer with solar panels) and an electricity buyer (eg utility company). Pricing conditions and length of term can vary

Pyrolysis

One way of converting biomass into biodiesel, using heat

Renewable Energy Directive/Fuel Quality Directive

A set of stretching renewables targets for 2020 across the EU. Includes targets for uptake of renewable fuels and sustainability criteria. The UK has submitted a National Action Plan to the European Commission, detailing how it will meet its obligations

Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI)

Incentive for the generation of renewable heat?? similar to Feed-in Tariffs. RHI came opened to applications on 28 November 2011. Managed by DECC, but administered by Ofgem

Renewables Obligation

The main support scheme for renewable electricity projects in the UK. It places an obligation on UK electricity suppliers to source an increasing proportion of their electricity from renewable sources. Suppliers meet their obligations by presenting sufficient Renewables Obligation Certificates. Where suppliers do not have sufficient ROCs, they must pay an equivalent amount into a fund, the proceeds of which are paid back on a pro-rated basis to those suppliers that have presented ROCs.

Renewables Obligation Certificate (ROC)

A green certificate issued to an accredited generator for eligible renewable electricity and supplied to customers within the UK. One ROC is issued for each megawatt hour (MWh) of eligible renewable output generated, although some technologies get more, some less

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO)

The government's target for fuel suppliers to ensure that a given percentage of road vehicle fuel is derived from sustainable sources. It is administered by the Renewable Fuels Agency

Switchgrass

Native to the US and known for its hardiness and rapid growth. It is often cited as a potentially abundant second generation feedstock for ethanol

Transesterification

The chemical conversion process used to convert vegetable oils into biodiesel

Wet mill

A wet mill is an ethanol production facility where the corn is soaked in water before processing. Wet mills can produce by-products such as industrial starch, food starch, high fructose corn syrup, gluten feed and corn oils, alongside bioethanol

Source: http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2012/01/05/130758/renewable-energy-glossary-of-terms.html

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