Europe

Summary
International Synergies carried out a market intelligence project in Wales utilising its Intelligence Based Industrial Symbiosis (IBIS) approach. The overall project aim was to identify the quantities of organic resources available that were suitable for anaerobic digestion processes or biomass waste to energy plants and support the commercial case for the development of a number of infrastructure projects throughout the principality.

The project was delivered through a methodology that combined geographical data analysis, intelligence based data collection and the use of advanced industrial symbiosis techniques to implement strategic objectives, in this case the organic sector, based on analysis of potential.

Impact
The project addressed the problems associated with the lack of coherent and available waste/resource consumption and production data, which had previously hindered the region's ability to provide effective regional resource planning.

By helping organisations to identify priority areas for the development of organic waste to energy facilities, International Synergies was able to help WAG in their effort to reduce the pressure on local authorities attempting to meet their municipal waste to landfill reduction targets. The project findings also highlighted the potential to deliver solutions and support structures that could strengthen commercial opportunities, support the development of regional spatial strategy and improve the sustainable competitiveness of the region.

The project successfully identified significant quantities of materials suitable for anaerobic digestion (565,000 tonnes) and biomass (298,000 tonnes) plants, and suggested areas where these facilities could be most viably developed.