The Secretary of State is taking a number of steps to stimulate markets for SRF. Budget 2007 announced that the Government would review the classes of equipment that qualified for enhanced capital allowances (ECAs) for 'good quality' combined heat and power (CHP) schemes to ensure that all the equipment necessary for CHP schemes to utilise SRF was included. The review of the equipment list is now complete and an order will be laid before Parliament shortly revising the energy technology criteria list within the CHP scheme arrangements. Further information will be available shortly from the ECA programme or HM Revenue and Customs websites.
DEFRA is also working with the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform on proposals contained in its recent consultation, reform of the renewables obligation. If implemented, these could stimulate the co-firing of SRF with coal or biomass.
In 2006, DEFRA organised a workshop to draw to the attention of industrial intensive energy users the potential for SRF as an alternative energy feedstock to gas. A number of procurements for waste treatment and disposal infrastructure are now considering producing SRF, some of which could be used as an industrial fuel.