New report highlights role of municipal solid waste in decarbonising off-gas grid homes

A new report from energy consultancy Gemserv, commissioned by Liquid Gas UK, has found that gasifying waste-based feedstocks, such as municipal solid waste (MSW), to produce biogases is an effective method to decarbonise properties that are not connected to the gas network.
The Gemserv report compared several waste-treatment and recycling options for MSW and found that the ‘best use case’ was to produce renewable liquid gases (RLGs), via gasification for use in renewable-ready boilers.
It found that this approach provides the highest carbon savings and the lowest levelized cost of heat for complex to decarbonise rural homes.
Renewable liquid gases can be produced from MSW, and already provide an 80% emission intensity reduction versus heating oil – a figure which is projected to increase to 92% by 2040 based on modelling work and future transition to new production processes and feedstocks.
The UK government estimates that at least 20% of off-grid homes are not suitable for a heat pump.
This is due to the combination of poor fabric efficiency and the low flow temperature of heat pumps, which makes it difficult to maintain a comfortable indoor air temperature due to the properties’ high levels of heat loss.
Liquid Gas UK has consistently advocated for a mixed-technology approach and called for RLGs such as bioLPG and rDME to be used in rural, off-grid home heating - a position that is supported by rural consumers.
George Webb, CEO of Liquid Gas UK commented: “As the UK moves to more circular economy we need to look for new, carbon friendly ways to deal with the waste that we cannot recycle. The Gemserv report is clear that gasifying MSW for use in renewable boilers provides the highest carbon savings compared to incinerating it or sending it to landfill.
“The industry will have invested over £600 million by 2025 to develop renewable liquid gases, and the new Government must provide policy support to ensure feedstocks are used in the most environmentally friendly way possible.”
James Higgins, Partner at Gemserv commented: “In 2023 the UK Biomass Strategy set out a future role for renewable liquid gases in heat decarbonisation, recognising that heat pumps will not work everywhere. It also noted the need to build the evidence base around alternative approaches and we are therefore delighted to share the findings of our recent research looking into exactly this topic.
"Producing RLGs using domestic, waste feedstocks such as MSW not only supports the decarbonisation of heat and meeting net zero targets but also contributes to a circular economy, helping decarbonise the waste lifecycle, whilst supporting the decarbonisation of complex-to-decarbonise homes.”