Page 53 - European Energy Innovation - Spring 2017 publication

Spring 2017 European Energy Innovation
energy value than some single stream
residues.
As it was mentioned earlier, the
European legislators encourage
recycling and separate collection of
different types of waste . It will mean
that the input to Waste-to-Energy plants
will change as well. The situation will of of Waste-to-Energy plants, also
course differ depending on a country
and current waste management
policies, but we can make some EU-
level predictions. Increased separate
collection (also of bio-waste) and
recycling will mean on one hand that
there will be less mixed waste, and
on the other - that there will be more
residual waste of more homogeneous
nature. As a result, input to Waste-
to-Energy plants could have higher
calorific value in future.
In brief, it would mean that we need
less waste to generate the same
amount of energy.
IMPROVING PERFORMANCE
Currently, state-of-the-art boilers
recover over 85% of the energy
contained in waste and make it usable
as steam. However, the actual energy
efficiency of a Waste-to-Energy plant
also depends on its location and how
the energy it produces is used.
In order to encourage operators to
improve the energy efficiency of their
plants, an R1 formula was established in
the Waste Framework Directive in 2008.
The formula calculates the efficiency at
which the produced energy is utilised,
and only if it is higher than 0,6 (or 0,65
for new plants), the operations can
be classified as recovery, and not as
disposal. The use of heat (opposed to
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WASTE-TO-ENERGY
only electricity) significantly increases
the efficiency, therefore a plant located
in a colder climate with district heating
networks or next to an industrial heat
customer, will be usually more efficient.
In addition to these ‘location’ aspects
that are important for the performance
technological developments
help to improve their efficiency.
According to the above mentioned
study by the EU Joint Research
Centre technologies such as heat
pumps, high steam parameters for
boilers and superheaters and flue-
gas condensation and component
cooling have the biggest technical
improvement potential.
INTEGRATED APPROACH
Waste-to-Energy has unique functions
– it treats rubbish not suitable for
recycling while generating energy and
avoiding landfilling. It is therefore an
important element that guarantees
an integrated approach to waste
management, together with waste
avoidance, re-use and recycling, and
-as presented in this article- will still be
needed in the future. l
ESWET is the association grouping the European Suppliers of Waste-to-Energy
Technology. Our main purpose is to foster the development and dissemination
of Waste-to-Energy (also called Energy-from-Waste). This technology has an
important role to play both on the energy recovery and on the environmental
aspects of managing waste that is not suitable for recycling.