TY - JOUR

T1 - Project ARBRE

T2 - Lessons for bio-energy developers and policy-makers

AU - Piterou, Athena

AU - Shackley, Simon

AU - Upham, Paul

PY - 2008/6

Y1 - 2008/6

N2 - Project Arable Biomass Renewable Energy (ARBRE) was a 'flagship' project in the UK to demonstrate electricity generation from dedicated energy crops, employing the high efficiency of gasification combined cycle technology while also contributing to the waste management problem of sewage disposal. The plant never reached commercial operation and this paper provides the first detailed public account of the reasons, drawing on interviews with the main actors. Project ARBRE failed due to three unfortunate developments: the withdrawal for reasons of commercial strategy of the main company that initiated and financed the project; bankruptcy of the turnkey contractor appointed to oversee the project; and technical problems with the gasification technology, which could not be resolved within the financial and time constraints. All these factors acted in reinforcing manner and they were individually preventable: documenting the process of failure is a learning experience that can prevent their recurrence.

AB - Project Arable Biomass Renewable Energy (ARBRE) was a 'flagship' project in the UK to demonstrate electricity generation from dedicated energy crops, employing the high efficiency of gasification combined cycle technology while also contributing to the waste management problem of sewage disposal. The plant never reached commercial operation and this paper provides the first detailed public account of the reasons, drawing on interviews with the main actors. Project ARBRE failed due to three unfortunate developments: the withdrawal for reasons of commercial strategy of the main company that initiated and financed the project; bankruptcy of the turnkey contractor appointed to oversee the project; and technical problems with the gasification technology, which could not be resolved within the financial and time constraints. All these factors acted in reinforcing manner and they were individually preventable: documenting the process of failure is a learning experience that can prevent their recurrence.

KW - ARBRE

KW - Bio-energy

KW - Project management

KW - Sustainability sciences, Communication

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=43349098164&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1016/j.enpol.2008.02.022

DO - 10.1016/j.enpol.2008.02.022

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:43349098164

VL - 36

SP - 2044

EP - 2050

JO - Energy Policy

JF - Energy Policy

SN - 0301-4215

IS - 6

ER -