Richard’s Blog

Even a smooth Brexit will be a challenge for many in the UK for whom dealing with friends, business partners or colleagues located across Europe is part of everyday life. So how do we prevent the increasingly haphazard exit from the EU undermining the food industry’s efforts not only to remain competitive, but also to […]

As 2019 gets underway, what are the prospects for the continuing development of a circular economy and the improved use of natural resources? At Clearfleau, working with our partners at EnviroChemie GmbH, we are anticipating an exciting year ahead, with some challenging new projects in the UK and in export markets. Policy Evolution Policymakers want […]

This Christmas, it seems appropriate to be sharing a festive dram with the team, toasting the success of one of our projects which is making Scotland’s malt whisky industry greener and more sustainable. In 2015 we completed an on-site biogas plant for Diageo at its Glendullan distillery on Speyside, demonstrating how the whisky sector can […]

This week saw the release of an important new report on biomass in the low-carbon economy from the CCC. Importantly, it notes the valuable role that sustainable biomass can play in contributing to energy generation – especially if we exploit organic waste streams efficiently. The ADBA commented that: “The CCC is absolutely right that the […]

With the Labour Party putting the environment higher up their agenda at their recent conference and the publication of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) special report on global warming, how can we stimulate a policy shift from the current government to promote low carbon manufacturing and industrial bioenergy? Tuesday’s Radio 4’s File on […]

Last week I had a useful meeting with Greg Clark, Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. We discussed how innovative clean energy solutions facilitate industrial decarbonisation. He and his BEIS officials recognise how on-site bioenergy solutions can help reduce fossil fuel use on industrial sites. But, he confirmed the UK bioenergy sector […]

As we swelter in the sunshine, even more heat is being generated by Brexit infighting in Westminster and intransigence in Brussels. The resultant industrial policy vacuum means we have little idea of how the preoccupied Government plans to motivate UK businesses to embrace the low carbon economy and match EU sustainability standards. With our new […]

One of the challenges facing the bio-energy sector is its dependency on Government decision-making. Clearfleau is now part of a group of companies dedicated to the conservation and better use of one of our most undervalued natural resources: water. Our target market has been extended from bio-energy to delivery of industrial water solutions with a […]

At the end of a challenging year for the British biogas industry there is still cause for optimism about deployment of industrial bio-energy. Britain’s food and drink companies are responding to EU and national policy that puts greater emphasis on decentralised clean energy and the transition to low-carbon manufacturing, where generating bio-energy on factory sites […]

Driving change in a time of political and commercial uncertainty has its challenges. The UK Government needs to support the transition to low carbon manufacturing, which should include investment in British bio-engineering to help UK manufacturers develop a more carbon efficient economy. Despite some green measures, including further support for electric vehicles and additional funding […]