Herzeliya Interdisciplinary CenterPetroleum and Energy: Geopolitics, Economics, Strategy & SecurityDr. Amit Mor June 2010

Waste to Energy Technology

Presented by: Nimrod Wiznitzer

Research Thesis:

• What are the possible applications for waste

to energy as an alternative energy source?

• Could it replace fossil based fuels as a primary

source of energy?

Identifying the Problem..

• The consumption habits of modern consumer lifestyles are causing a huge

worldwide waste problem. Having overfilled local landfill capacities, many

first world nations are now exporting their waste to third world countries.

• This is having a devastating impact on ecosystems and cultures

throughout the world.

• Dependence on foreign oil has become a security threat and a financial

liability to many countries, among them are Israel, U.S.A., and many

European countries.

Waste to Energy – What is it?• Any waste treatment that creates energy in the form of

electricity or heat from a waste source that would have

otherwise been disposed of in landfill.

• More advanced Waste-to-Energy processes result in

useable fuel commodity such as: Hydrogen or Ethanol.

Waste to Energy – The Process:2. Most of this waste is

collected and deposited in a municipal landfill.

3. Over time, waste generates landfill gas which

contains chemicals that contribute to water and air

pollution.

4. WTE technology creates solutions for waste disposal, prevents landfill gases and

waste overloads.

1 .The average person produces almost one ton of waste per year.

Waste to Energy – The Process:There are 3 different methods to create energy from waste :

Physical waste-to-energy technologies mechanically process waste to produce forms of fuel. It is targeted at waste that is non-combustible such as glass and metals.

Thermal waste-to-energy technologies use heat or combustion to treat wastes, producing a mixture of combustible gases.

Biological waste-to-energy technologies use microbes or other organisms to produce fuels from waste.

Waste to Energy – Applications:The main applications for Waste-To-Energy technologies are:• Electricity.• Steam.• Natural Gas.• Fuel Cells.

In other words, Waste-To-Energy technologies can create a variety of different energy sources.

Waste to Energy – Applications:

Vehicle Fuel

Heating Gas

Electricity

Waste to Energy – Applications:Reduction in landfill gases and affiliated

pollutants

Reduction of 90% in landfill

and waste sites

Reduction in CO2 Emissions

Waste to Energy – Applications:

Renewable

Cheap

Abundant

Energy Sources

Waste to Energy – Advantages:• The majority of waste that would normally go into landfill

sites can be reused.

• The fuel is obtainable cheaply.

• There will always be a reliable source of fuel as people will

always produce waste.

• The use of WTE technologies prevents the release of forty-

million metric tons of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

Waste to Energy – Disadvantages:• There are still debates over whether WTE plants are

clean and free from harmful chemicals.

• Thermal based WTE technologies still emit a certain

amount of CO2 into the atmosphere during the

incineration process. Thus, it is not a completely “green”

technology.

• WTE facilities are expansive to construct.

Waste to Energy VS Fossil Fuel

• Compared with coal and oil fired power stations all WTE plants

(including the electricity only plants) emit less CO2.

• Currently, Europe’s WTE plants can supply 20 million people with

electricity and 32 million with heat.

• As more people turn towards eco-friendly waste management

methods, WTE technology will take a large part of the market

share. Therefore, many are likely to invest in this uprising

technology and increase the uses of WTE over fossil fuel.

Summary & Conclusions:

• WTE technologies can be used to create a variety of energy sources (Electricity, Gas,

Fuel). These energy sources can be applied for supplying electricity, fueling vehicles,

heating houses and much more.

• WTE technologies create an environment-friendly solution for handling the pollution

created by landfill waste sites, and the problem of over-flowing landfill waste sites.

• WTE technologies have the potential to decrease the use of fossil fuel as a primary

energy source, mainly because it is as efficient, less polluting and has an increasingly

growing market which allures more people to invest in WTE technologies.

References:• The Cleantech Report, Waste to Energy. Lux

Research (2007).• Eunomia 2006: A changing climate for energy

from waste. http://www.waste-management-world.com/index/display/article-display/348534/articles/waste-management-world/volume-9/issue-6/waste-to-energy-special/wte-technology-playing-a-vital-part-in-sustainable-solutions.html

• Oilgae – Waste to Energy: Production, Application. http://www.oilgae.com/energy/sou/ae/re/was/was.html

• Aesi - Alternative Energy Solutions.http://www.aesintl.net/