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Waste to Energy Technology

Whats is Waste to Energy

Recovers resources in waste to support the circular economy and grow biomass to generate electricity rather than using heavy fuel oils.

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Waste-to-Energy (also known as Energy-from-Waste) is the process of generating energy in the form of electricity and/or steam from the combustion of non-recyclable residual waste.

 

The GEP will support the circular economy by recovering resources from household and commercial waste that remains after recycling. Modern facilities like the planned GEP generate baseload electricity and create hot water for district heating networks, as well as producing ash that can be turned into building materials and enabling extraction of ferrous and non-ferrous metals for reuse

Potential Waste to Energy Plants

For a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to Energy plant such as the plant planned for Barbados, there are several technology options available. These technologies are focused on converting the waste into energy, primarily electricity, or heat. Here are some of the main options:

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The likely technology that the GEP will deploy is #1 below

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1. Incineration with Energy Recovery (Thermal Conversion)

  • Overview: This is the most commonly used method for MSW to energy conversion. It involves burning the waste at high temperatures to generate steam, which drives a turbine to produce electricity.

  • Key Technology:

    • Grate Furnace: The most common type of incinerator, where waste is burned on a grate.

    • Fluidized Bed: An advanced method where waste is burned in a bed of sand or ash that is fluidized by hot air. This can potentially be used for the biomass.

    • Moving Grate Furnace: Also used for large-scale MSW plants, where waste moves through a combustion chamber.

  • Efficiency: The plant's efficiency can reach 20-25%, but this can vary depending on the design and technology.

  • By-products: Ash, flue gases, and sometimes metals can be recovered for recycling.

  • Considerations: Air pollution control systems (e.g., scrubbers, bag filters) are crucial for reducing emissions (dioxins, particulate matter, etc.). The GEP will conform to all EU and USA standard where it is not uncommon to have such plants located in heavily populated areas.

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2. Gasification

  • Overview: Gasification involves heating waste at high temperatures in a low-oxygen environment, converting it into syngas (a mixture of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, and methane), which can be used to generate electricity or heat.

  • Key Technology:

    • Fixed Bed Gasifiers: Best for smaller plants, where MSW is fed through a bed of material.

    • Fluidized Bed Gasifiers: For larger-scale plants, waste is converted into syngas in a bed of sand or ash.

    • Plasma Arc Gasification: Uses a plasma arc to break down waste into its constituent elements, producing high-quality syngas.

  • Efficiency: Gasification typically has higher efficiency than incineration, ranging from 25-40%, as it produces both electricity and thermal energy.

  • By-products: Solid slag, syngas, and sometimes liquid by-products (if used for other processes).

  • Considerations: Requires advanced control systems and infrastructure for syngas cleaning and handling.

 

3. Pyrolysis

  • Overview: Pyrolysis is the thermal decomposition of organic waste at high temperatures in the absence of oxygen, producing a mixture of gases, oils, and char.

  • Key Technology:

    • Continuous Pyrolysis Systems: For large-scale processing, continuous feed systems can handle a steady input of MSW.

    • Batch Pyrolysis Systems: Suitable for smaller operations but not typically for large 20 MW plants.

  • Efficiency: Pyrolysis is more efficient than incineration, and its efficiency can be around 25-35%, depending on the system.

  • By-products: Char (solid), bio-oil (liquid), and syngas (gas).

  • Considerations: The quality of the liquid bio-oil can vary, and the syngas must be cleaned and purified before use.

Potential Equipment Vendors

For the proposed waste-to-energy (WTE) plant as part of the GEP, potential equipment suppliers includes companies specializing in various aspects of the waste-to-energy process, such as waste handling, combustion systems, steam turbines, heat recovery, and electrical systems. Here are some of the key types of equipment suppliers the GEP is considering:

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These various vendors are being consultant and a RTP will be issued. The vendor and technology to be used will be standard technolgy with multiple deployments elsewhere.

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The initial high level design for the GEP was delivered by the Designer Group HQed in Dublin Ireland using their energy subsidiary in Kansas USA. Designer Group will not be selected to provide the final design.

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1. Waste to Energy Technology Providers (Incineration & Gasification)

  • Covanta: A leader in WTE technology with advanced waste incineration systems.

  • Babcock & Wilcox: Offers combustion systems for waste-to-energy applications, including their Grate Technology.

  • Hitachi Zosen Inova: Known for their advanced waste incineration technology and solutions for energy recovery.

  • Keppel Seghers: A provider of waste-to-energy technology with systems for incineration, gasification, and energy recovery.

  • Wheelabrator: Specializes in thermal waste-to-energy technologies with several reference plants around the world.

 

2. Turbine and Power Generation Equipment Suppliers

  • General Electric (GE): Offers gas turbines, steam turbines, and generators for power generation.

  • Siemens Energy: Provides a range of steam turbines and generators for waste-to-energy applications.

  • Mitsubishi Power: Specializes in steam turbines and power generation equipment suitable for waste-to-energy projects.

  • ANDRITZ: Offers steam turbines and other equipment related to waste-to-energy projects, including power generation.

  • MAN Energy Solutions: Known for supplying turbines, including steam turbines, for various energy applications.

 

3. Boiler and Heat Recovery Suppliers

  • Babcock & Wilcox (B&W): Provides waste heat recovery boilers and combustion systems for energy production.

  • Valmet: Supplies advanced energy recovery boilers and heat recovery systems for waste-to-energy plants.

  • Thermax: Offers waste heat recovery and energy generation solutions in the waste-to-energy space.

  • Foster Wheeler (a part of Wood Group): Known for providing waste heat recovery systems and boilers for WTE plants.

 

4. Air Pollution Control (APC) Equipment Suppliers

  • Hamon: Specializes in air pollution control systems, including flue gas cleaning and scrubbers.

  • Alstom (now part of GE): Offers a variety of air quality control equipment for waste-to-energy plants.

  • Ducon Technologies: Provides advanced flue gas treatment and pollution control solutions.

  • Elex: Supplies flue gas cleaning systems for waste-to-energy facilities.

 

5. Electrical & Automation Systems

  • Schneider Electric: Provides automation and electrical distribution equipment, including power management and control systems.

  • Siemens: Offers integrated solutions for power control, automation, and grid synchronization in WTE plants.

  • Rockwell Automation: Specializes in industrial automation systems and equipment, including controls for waste-to-energy plants.

  • ABB: Provides electrical systems, grid integration, and automation solutions for waste-to-energy plants.

 

6. Other Supporting Equipment

  • SUEZ: Provides a variety of waste management and waste-to-energy solutions, including waste handling and sorting equipment.

  • MWE (Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Environmental & Chemical Engineering): Offers systems for pre-treatment, waste sorting, and energy recovery.​

These suppliers provide different pieces of equipment or entire integrated systems and will be selected dependent on their suitability for the GEP. Depending on the technology chosen (e.g., incineration, gasification, anaerobic digestion), specific equipment needs may vary. Many of these companies can also offer support services, such as design, engineering, installation, and after-sales maintenance for the GEP waste-to-energy project

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