Page 55 - European Energy Innovation - Spring 2016 publication
P. 55
Spring 2016 European Energy Innovation 55
WASTE-TO-ENERGY
Waste-to-Energy in the European Union
By Lighea Speziale and Lorenzo Ceccherini
Every year around 250 million This short article focuses on energy energy in the energy market and
tonnes of municipal waste efficiency of the WtE process, showing the 40% further greenhouse gas
are produced across the 28 some virtuous example of existing reduction. In addition, the European
European countries. New plants across Europe. Council committed the EU in 2009 to
Circular Economy Targets, set by the decarbonize its energy system by at
European Commission at the end of WASTE-TO-ENERGY IN THE least 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.
2015, require that at least 65% of this EUROPEAN UNION As thermal energy represents around
amount should be prepared for re-use During 2013, about 82 million tonnes 45% of total energy consumption,
or recycled by 2030. In cooperation of household and similar waste that renewable heating and cooling are
with Recycling, European Waste-to- remains after prevention, reuse and vital to achieve this goal.
Energy (WtE, incineration with energy recycling was treated in 457 WtE plants
recovery) plants help Member States in Europe (EU28+CH and NO). From The European Commission’s Energy
divert waste that cannot be recycled this waste around 33 TWh of electricity Union package announced in February
from landfilling, thus achieving the and 82 TWh of heat were generated, 2015 suggested that exploiting the
maximum reduction of environmental sufficient to completely satisfy potential of waste to energy would
impact. Residual Waste which would the electricity needs of 15 million help to further establish synergies
otherwise be buried in landfills inhabitants and the heat needs of 14 between energy efficiency policies,
is better used when it can supply million, and at the same time capable resource efficiency policies and the
electricity and heat as a secure and of replacing fossil fuels, such as coal, circular economy.
affordable source. gas and oil, used by conventional
power plants. The electricity and heat produced in
Together with District Heat (DH) for WtE plants also follow the “Energy
households, the WtE sector worked WtE is involved in EU environment efficiency first” principle promoted by
extensively to improve the connection as well as energy policy and helps the European Commission, powering
with industries, in order to provide reaching the EU targets for renewable the synergy between energy-
efficient, cost-effective energy that energy. In average, 50% of energy consuming industrial activities and
allows diversifying their energy produced in WtE plants qualifies as energy providers (that e.g. produce
supply, reducing carbon footprint and renewable, thus helping to reach the energy as a by-product of other
reaching sustainability objectives. 2030 target of 27% share of renewable industrial activities). European Waste-
to-Energy plants provide such synergy
Render of the new Copenhagen plant by treating residual waste
and at the same time producing
energy in the CHP (Combined Heat
and Power) mode or as electricity/heat
only.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY IN WASTE-TO-
ENERGY TECHNOLOGIES
In Europe, around 60% of WtE plants
are CHP, recovering both electricity
and heat from the energy content
of residual waste and providing
affordable and secure energy to the
neighbour houses, public services
and industries. Around 50 TWh were
provided to DH networks from WtE
plants in 2010 and potentially in
2050 the contribution could raise
up to 200 TWh, with the appropriate
investment to improve infrastructure
and connections between the energy
providers and the networks.
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