Energy generation from Waste

Status and potentials in Germany until 2030

by Prof. Dr.-Ing. Sabine Flamme, Prof. Dr.-Ing. Peter Quicker

Abstract

 
The European Waste Framework Directive classifies the energetic utilization of waste materials as the fourth step in the waste management hierarchy, after material recycling. Nevertheless, a large amount of waste is used energetically, contributing significantly to the supply of electricity, heat and process steam in Germany. Within this study, the energetic potential of waste in Germany and the capacities of existing treatment facilities have been determined. Based on this, the situation in the year 2030 has been estimated. For both scenarios, the CO2-reduction potential for the energetic utilization of waste has been calculated. The current data basis has to be considered insufficient in order to derive a complete balance of thermally treated and energetically utilized waste in Germany. Therefore, it is important to note that the presented numbers and values are the result of substantiated estimations. The results of this study show that in Germany, an annual amount of 48 million Mg of waste is used for energy production, predominantly through thermal, but also through biological processes. Major material flows are municipal solid wastes, mostly household waste. Other relevant fractions are refuse derived fuels, waste wood, bio-waste, sewage sludge and hazardous wastes. The heating value of waste entering thermal treatment facilities, corresponds to about 4 % of the German primary energy consumption. Considering also internal consumption of the plants, waste contributes to about 3.7 % of Germany’s final energy demand. Municipal solid waste incineration plants make up most of the capacity and produce more than one third of the total effective energy from waste. Together with refuse derived fuels, this share is more than 50 %. Cement plants also add a noteworthy amount. The use of animal manure offers a significant additional potential. The prognosis for 2030 shows that the amount of waste for energetic utilization will be roughly the same, whereas the total amount of waste will increase. This implicates a reduction of the combusted waste fraction through increased recycling rates. Changes in the treatment facilities are also estimated. Due to the decreasing amount of waste for energetic utilization in 2030, the total amount of energy from waste will slightly decrease. The role of waste in energy production will change in the long run. There will be an increased demand for heat, as a number of power plants currently contributing to combined heat and power generation, will be taken from the grid. This gap could be closed by thermal waste treatment plants. The utilization of waste for the supply of useful energy leads to saving in CO2-emissions of about 15 Mio. Mg, both in 2015 and in 2030. The importance of thermal waste treatment for the protection of environment and human health now and in the future is indisputable. With an increasing share of renewable energies in the future, a negative contribution of thermal waste treatment to the overall CO2 mitigation is also possible and may be expected on the long run – an issue that needs to be addressed. As in other cases of unavoidable waste heat, the energy resulting from the thermal treatment of waste fractions, for which a material recovery is not possible, should generally be considered carbon dioxide-neutral.

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published: German Environment Agency, 6|2018
Keywords: Energy Recovery, Methods, Analyses, Data, Germany