Energy-from-Waste in Europe

The European waste management industry is one of largest in the world. When you consider facts like “on average, each person in the UK, throws away seven times their body weight in rubbish every year”, the size of the problem isn’t really surprising.  As landfill capacity rapidly declines, the waste hierarchy puts great emphasis on landfill diversion, encouraging instead, more environmentally-friendly ways of disposing of waste.

Energy-from-Waste (EfW) is a good example of how the use of landfill can be minimised whilst also increasing the production of renewable energy and helping to solve the problem of the UK’s reliance on fossil fuels. Realistically, EfW technology is the only method which can meet the EU and UK 2020 commitments for waste diversion targets, whilst at the same time providing significant quantities of electric power. In mainland Europe, recycling and EfW are both used to their optimum potential, and, as a result, landfilling is successfully being minimised.

Waste infrastructure in the UK

In recent years, the UK has taken significant strides away from its historic reliance on landfill, especially for the disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW). This has been achieved on the back of massive infrastructure investment.

Councils have invested heavily through new waste collection contracts in the roll-out of separate collection services for recyclable waste. In most areas, many households now enjoy separate collections of green waste and of dry recyclables. This contributed to a national recycling rate of just over 40% in 2010 (per Defra report figures published May 2011).

Covanta in the UK

Since entering the European market in 2005, Covanta has been working on delivering a number of Energy-from-Waste (EfW) projects in the UK and Ireland. Covanta is now in a strong position, with seven projects currently progressing through development and planning stages or entering construction. Each of these projects has been located with consideration to transport links and areas which have levels of commercial and household waste generation.

Covanta’s current proposals represent a £2 billion investment into the UK’ and Irelands waste and energy infrastructure market. Furthermore, it will provide the UK and Ireland with approximately 2.5 million MW hours of sustainable electricity annually while diverting approximately 3 million tonnes of waste away from landfill every year. Importantly, each project will also offer the potential for Combined Heat and Power (CHP) which will allow electricity suppliers to source more of their power from renewable sources.

Further information on these development projects can be found by clicking the links below. Or, to view a map of the seven sites planned, please click here.

Renewable energy targets and greenhouse gas emission limits

As the demand for energy grows, the UK must work harder to find energy from more renewable sources. The EU states that 15% of energy must be sourced from renewable methods by 2020, whereas the UK has set an ambitious target of 30% for the same date. Whilst hydro and wind are possible options, they are not viable for covering the country’s base load. Energy-from-Waste, however, can contribute to base load capacity, reduce reliance on landfill and reduce carbon emissions. The UK currently produces 30 million tonnes of municipal waste and 60 million tonnes of commercial and industrial waste. It is a resource that, if used properly, could help to resolve the UK’s fuel drought in the future.

Under the UK’s Fourth Carbon Budget, under the Climate Change Act 2008, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions has been set to 50% over the UK’s 1990 levels. An ambitious target, however not unachievable if considered alongside the Department of Energy and Climate Change’s 2011 Carbon Plan (DECC). The DECC makes plain how both EfW and Combined Heat and Power can aid the UK in reducing emission levels, this is because EfW is both environmentally and financially viable in meeting the terms of the Climate Change Act.

Denmark: a case study

In most European countries, EfW facilities are widespread, serving the communities in which they are located.

Denmark is however the most notable for realising the potential of waste as a resource. According to Eurostat figures, Denmark recycles 42% of its waste and burns 54% in heat and power stations utilizing Energy-from-Waste processes.. In Copenhagen alone, more than a third of district heating comes from EfW. Most EfW facilities in Denmark are built in heavily built up areas to ensure the shortest journey distances for waste deliveries and to maximise energy output.
The Danes also have a long term strategy to increase their incineration capacity and to further increase the number of homes linked to district heating systems. Denmark now has 29 such plants, serving 98 municipalities in a country of 5.5 million people, and 10 more are planned or under construction.