Energy-from-Waste (EFW)

Energy-from-Waste is a high-tech process that uses household waste which cannot sensibly be recycled to produce renewable energy. And, as we all know, household waste is readily available giving us an abundant reliable fuel source. By why is it so important for the future?

Covanta: leading the way to sustainable electricity

There is no panacea for our growing energy challenges but EfW can play a major role in increasing renewable electricity production. According to the 2009 DUKES Report, in 2009 EfW generated 6 percent of renewable electricity in the UK.  Of note, in North America 17 percent of non-hydroelectric renewable power comes from EfW. In many Western European and Scandinavian countries these figures are significantly higher.

This represents a major contribution to energy production and a great potential for the UK. Using the abundant supply of waste for fuel makes EfW facilities attractive and dependable sources of power.  Unlike wind or solar power, EfW facilities operate 24/7, making them the most continuously reliable source of renewable electricity generation.

Our energy needs will not be solved until we can fund and construct new generation plants that will help make the UK more energy independent. We need to invest the money now to ensure these plants will utilise the latest in clean technology and grow our alternative energy sector. Because in the end... it’s not waste if it’s energy.

A greener future

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) approximately 63 percent of global warming is attributable to carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, with the majority of CO₂ emissions coming from the burning of fossil fuels for energy generation and transportation.

Methane ranks second to CO₂ in its global warming contribution at 18 percent . Methane is 20 times more potent than CO₂. Landfills are one of the largest sources of methane emissions, which are generated when waste is buried and then decomposes. For this reason the EU has issued a directive to limit the land filling of biodegradable municipal solid waste by 2020 to 35 percent of the quantity generated in 1995.

EfW is a net reducer of greenhouse gas emissions because it eliminates methane from landfills and offsets the need to burn fossil fuel in power plants. In fact, in the UK over 50 percent of electricity produced from a Covanta facility can be classed as renewable energy.

EfW technology also of course has the added advantage over wind and solar power in that it is a ‘continuous’ technology, which is not restricted by weather conditions. The UK intends to produce 30 percent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 and currently produces around 6.6 percent , according to the most recent figures from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). As a tried and tested method, EfW will enable the UK to reach these ambitious targets by 2030, whilst also sensibly disposing of waste without the need of landfill.