The energy from waste (EfW) sector “needs simplification and clarification” to move forward.

That’s according to George Giles, Head of Environmental Power, Oil and Gas at Siemens, who told ELN: “There is too much uncertainty. I think what the industry really needs is clarification, it needs a decisive message so the industry knows where to go.”

He believes innovation is helping technologies in the sector become more environmentally friendly, adding: “Not only changing energy into heat but also into biofuel.”

Mr Giles was speaking at the Siemens Energy from Waste Conference in London today.

Another industry expert told ELN efficiency is key in helping boost the EfW sector.

Keith Riley, CEO of waste management firm BH EnergyGap, said “although this is a difficult industry, there is an optimistic future”.

He told ELN: “The energy conversion is the key. It is to do with technologies so we’ve got to continue technological developments but it is also about thinking and understanding what is the process of conversion.

“So you don’t need to come along with something new, if you’re applying the best science that already exists and has been practised many times over, you can still get a much better level of energy conversion than a lot of the plants currently have.”