Innovations in thermal waste utilisation
Dimitrios Fotakis
In recent years, environmental protection and the sustainable utilisation of resources have become increasingly important, which also has an impact on waste management.
As a result, thermal waste utilisation has developed considerably in recent decades. Whereas in the past, waste was often simply incinerated, with energy utilisation being of secondary importance, this is not the case today. Nowadays, thermal waste utilisation is operated highly efficiently in order to fulfil the disposal task and to use the energy obtained from waste efficiently with the lowest possible emissions.
An important development in thermal waste utilisation is the introduction of modern incineration technologies with complex control technology and firing rate control. These enable more efficient incineration of waste and a higher energy utilisation. Thanks to the use of innovative materials and continuous development in the field of flue gas cleaning technologies, even high-pollutant waste can be incinerated safely and in compliance with legal limits, which have become increasingly stringent over the years.
Importance of hydropower in Europe to mitigate the energy crisis and to serve as a catalyst and enabler for the Green Deal
Anton Schleiss
The current energy crisis reveals the importance of an independent electricity supply with high availability. Here the existing hydropower reservoirs already played an important role in helping to overcome the critical situation in the last, as well as upcoming, winters without the risk of blackout. New multi-purpose storage schemes and pumped-storage power plants will be vital in future for a safe, independent and renewable electricity supply. Nevertheless, to tackle environmental, societal, technological and market challenges, the hydropower sector needs to find novel approaches to future development in accordance with environmental and social demand.
Hydropower and pumped hydropower in the European Union: Insights from the EC Clean Energy Technology Observatory
Emanuele Quaranta
Hydropower provides an important contribution to renewable energy, with multiple benefits. However, dams can also generate environmental impacts. Hence sustainable hydropower needs to achieve a good balance between electricity generation, impacts on ecosystems and benefits on society, supporting the achievement of the Green Deal targets and the objectives of renewable energy and water policies. Several sustainable hydropower options exist, whose potential is of high relevance especially in the European Union (EU). These points are deeply discussed in the Clean Energy Technology Observatory report of the European Commission, and some major insights are discussed in this article.
Digitalising the European water and hydropower sectors
Emanuele Quaranta
Digital technologies delivered about EUR 300 billion in capital and operating expenditure savings in the global water industry in 2016–2020. The most widely used digital tools include real-time monitoring, modelling approaches to support decision making and optimization measures, for example in energy consumption and data-based decisions. The three main water sectors, which are significantly affected by digital tools, that are discussed in this article are Water Distribution Networks (WDNs), Wastewater Systems (WWSs) and Hydropower. Benefits of digitalisation were quantified in EUR 5.0, 0.14 and 1.7 billion per year, respectively, excluding environmental and social benefits, which may play a non-negligible role.
Advantages and challenges of integrating sewage sludge incineration into a thermal waste treatment plant
S. DeYoung, M. Schönsteiner, R. Decker, R. Borghardt, A. Witkowski, J. Koster, A. Hanenkamp and U. Martin
Thermal treatment of waste and residual materials is with a focus on the current project of MHKW Rothensee GmbH, EEW Energy from Waste GmbH and Städtische Werke Magdeburg GmbH & Co. in Magdeburg-Rothensee – MARTIN GmbH is supplying an integrated fluidised bed sewage sludge incineration plant in addition to the proven grate firing system for the waste-to-energy plant. Once completed, Magdeburg-Rothensee will be the largest waste-to-energy plant site in Germany.
Possibility for continuous determination and monitoring of fossil CO2 emissions in waste incineration plant flue gas streams
Martin Pohl and Tao Wen
The amended Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) extends CO2 pricing to all fossil fuel emissions. From 2024, this will also apply to waste incineration. There are also discussions at EU level about including waste incineration in emissions trading. There are various options for determining CO2 emissions. Various methods are available for determining the biogenic carbon dioxide content in flue gas. This article presents a new approach for determining biogenic CO2 emissions. This allows the biogenic carbon dioxide content to be determined directly and continuously in the emission analyser based on the existing measurement technology in accordance with ISO 18466.
The determination of the biogenic CO2 share of emissions from waste incineration plants to fulfil the requirements of the Fuel Emissions Trading Act
Jürgen Reinmann
In Germany, the Federal Cabinet adopted the amendment to the Climate Protection Act (KSG) on 12 May 2021. At national level, the 2nd amendment to the Fuel Emissions Trading Act (BEHG) on 9 November 2022 decided that waste incineration plants must participate in the BEHG from 1 January 2024. The possible method of recording emissions is regulated in the new Emissions Reporting Ordinance 2030. This article describes the new requirements and the possible determination of the biogenic CO2 share. Furthermore, the procedure according to DIN EN ISO 13833 and the functional principle of the AMESA B system are described. With this system it is possible to carry out CO2 sampling of the flue gas over several weeks. The system was used in various plants. The results obtained from this are presented.
Systemic gray areas of the energy transition
Markus J. Löffler
Since 2022, the Renewable Energy Expansion Act and the scenario framework for future grid development planning approved by the Federal Network Agency have provided insights into the German government’s planning intentions for Germany’s energy supply system in 2045. Taking into account the additional infrastructure and components to be installed and the growing shortage of skilled workers, the Energiewende data give the impression that it will not be possible to implement the Energiewende on land by 2040. Overall, the findings indicate that the energy transition plans need to be comprehensively improved, the timetables need to be more realistic, and they need to be coordinated much better.
Small Modular Reactors and their role in getting the EU to Net-Zero
Eurelectric
Eurelectric calls for a holistic EU-wide policy approach so that carbon-free electricity generation such as Small Medium Reactors (SMR) can support decarbonisation and contribute to the integration of an increasing share of renewables in the electricity system. Eurelectric calls for all stakeholders and the European Commission to facilitate the realisation of SMR technology in the EU and to duly acknowledge SMR technology.
World Energy Outlook 2023
International Energy Agency – IEA
The World Energy Outlook 2023 provides in-depth analysis and strategic insights into every aspect of the global energy system. Against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and fragile energy markets, this year’s report explores how structural shifts in economies and in energy use are shifting the way that the world meets rising demand for energy.
Forum Technology | Corner tube boilers: Fit for new energy technology applications
Udo Hellwig
While in Europe the course for boiler technology is set for miniaturisation and decentralised energy generation, including from locally available resources, the international trend for industrial boilers is towards ever more powerful systems. In Europe smaller dimensions are increasingly in demand for applications such as the decentralised generation of hot water/steam with renewable fuels or the generation of electricity from local waste directly on site.
Forumt Technology | Industrial cleaning
Hans-Jürgen Kastner
Industrial cleaning is an important service alongside maintenance. Qualified industrial cleaning guarantees the necessary general cleanliness of industrial production and ancillary systems and the technical cleanliness required for optimum production in the production systems. Cleaning reduces the susceptibility to faults and results in undisturbed interaction of the system components. System availability is also increased. The resulting economic benefits are considerable.
Editorial
Dimitrios Fotakis
PH.B., Head of Unit Operation Power Plants
Energieversorgung Offenbach AG
Innovations in thermal waste utilisation
Dear Ladies, dear Gentlemen,
In recent years, environmental protection and the sustainable utilisation of resources have become increasingly important, which also has an impact on waste management.
As a result, thermal waste utilisation has developed considerably in recent decades. Whereas in the past, waste was often simply incinerated, with energy utilisation being of secondary importance, this is not the case today. Nowadays, thermal waste utilisation is operated highly efficiently in order to fulfil the disposal task and to use the energy obtained from waste efficiently with the lowest possible emissions.
An important development in thermal waste utilisation is the introduction of modern incineration technologies with complex control technology and firing rate control. These enable more efficient incineration of waste and a higher energy utilisation. Thanks to the use of innovative materials and continuous development in the field of flue gas cleaning technologies, even high-pollutant waste can be incinerated safely and in compliance with legal limits, which have become increasingly stringent over the years.
Another important development in thermal waste utilisation was the linkage of many plants to industrial customers and district heating networks for the utilisation of the thermal energy. By using steam turbines, the heat generated during incineration can be converted into electrical energy. Operation is made more efficient by the use of extraction condensing turbines (principle of combined heat and power generation), which allows flexible switching between the generation of electricity or the supply of heat. As a rule, the electricity covers the thermal waste utilisation plant’s own requirements, with the surplus being fed into the power grid. The heat generated can be utilised as process heat within production processes or for heating buildings, e.g. via district heating networks.
The topic of carbon capture and storage/utilisation (CCS/CCU) technologies is also currently being addressed. These technologies remove carbon dioxide from flue gases and store it in suitable storage facilities, for example, and in the best case utilise it instead of releasing it into the environment. This is another decisive step in the fight against climate change, but not without a price. It remains to be seen how energy-intensive this process can be realised.
In addition, increasing focus is being placed on recovering valuable materials from waste. Through targeted sorting and processing, metals and plastics, for example, can be separated from the waste and recycled before incineration. This helps to conserve resources and reduces the amount of waste that actually has to be incinerated. However, despite recycling, the incineration of waste streams is still necessary. Recycling is an important method of recovering valuable materials from waste and conserving resources. However, there are certain waste streams that are difficult or impossible to recycle, such as hospital waste, certain plastics or mixtures of waste. This waste must be disposed of elsewhere, and thermal waste utilisation offers an efficient and environmentally friendly solution here by, among other things, helping to reduce the use of fossil fuels and preparing the recycling of the recoverable portions of these waste fractions. The processing of incineration ash or slag to recover the metallic and mineral components has long been common practice and is being continuously developed. Thermal utilisation has by no means reached the end of its possibilities and will continue to make an important contribution to the treatment of waste and residual materials in the future. One example of this is the treatment of sewage sludge, where considerable progress has been made in recent years, paving the way for phosphorus recycling.
Overall, thermal waste utilisation has developed into an efficient and environmentally friendly method of waste treatment. The recovery of energy and valuable materials from waste not only reduces the effects on the environment, but can also result in economic benefits. The further development of technologies and the optimisation of processes will help to ensure that thermal waste utilisation continues to play an important role in sustainable waste disposal in the future. Worldwide, the potential that can be realised for climate, environmental and health protection is enormous.
Despite these promising prospects, the industry will continue to invest time and money in research and development for the benefit of the public. Ensuring environmental compatibility, minimising pollutant emissions, optimising fuel efficiency and making the use of resources possible in the first place through thermal pre-treatment are important goals that will to be continuously improved.