Download Waste-to-Energy (WTE)

“Burgeoning Prospects for Waste-toEnergy in the United States”
Ted Michaels
President
Energy Recovery Council
March 10, 2010
What is Waste-to-Energy?
Waste-to-Energy is a specially designed energy
generation facility that uses household waste as
fuel and helps solve some of society’s big
challenges
Municipal Solid Waste
1 ton
Power: up to 750 kWh
Metal: 50 lbs
Ash: 10% of original volume
Converting Waste Into Clean Renewable Power
Helps Solve Three of the Nation’s Biggest Challenges
Green Jobs
- A new facility creates $1 Billion of economic activity
Clean, Renewable Energy
- 500,000 tons of MSW per year = 400,000,000 kWh
Climate Change
- One ton of trash avoids one ton of CO2 eq.
Waste-to-Energy
Playing a Significant Roll
Renewable Energy
•
U.S. EPA states that Waste-to-Energy “produces electricity with less
environmental impact than almost any other source”
•
25 States and the federal government defined Waste-to-Energy as renewable
•
The United States must utilize all renewable sources to reach its goals
– Waste-to-Energy produces up to 750kWh per ton while landfill gas
produces 65 kWh per ton
– Waste-to-Energy complements other renewable sources
• 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
– Fewer fossil fuels burned: 1 ton of waste ~¼ ton of coal or ~1 barrel of oil
•
A new 1,500 ton/day facility = 50 MW electricity
Environmentally Sustainable Waste Disposal
• EPA’s MSW Hierarchy places Waste-to-Energy above
landfill for disposal for post-recycled waste
• Waste-to-Energy reduces Greenhouse gases
– Every ton of waste processed avoids one ton of CO2
equivalent
• Waste-to-Energy reduces the volume of waste by
90%
– Extends the life of the landfills
– Reduces future long haul transportation
Waste-to-Energy Facility
Reducing the Volume of Waste & Saving Space in the Landfill while
Generating Clean, Renewable Energy
13,000
KWh
generated
IN
100 cubic yards
of waste
90% volume
reduction
OUT
10 cubic yards
of (inert) ash
Environmental Performance
Waste-to-Energy
False: “The EPA requires incinerators “to use the best
control technologies,” but unfortunately, the best control
technology is a poor technology and ineffective of
removing the toxins from an incinerators emissions.”
http://sierraclubmass.org/issues/conservation/zw/incineration.html
Fact: “The performance
of the MACT retrofit has
been outstanding.”
USEPA 8/10/2007
Pollutant
1990-2005%
reduction
Dioxin
99
Mercury
96
Cadmium
96
Lead
97
Particulate
Matter
96
HCl
94
SO2
88
NOx
24
Environmental Performance
Waste-to-Energy
Climate Change
False: “As a source of energy, burning trash produces more global warming CO2 than
natural gas, oil, or even coal.” http://www.sierraclubmass.org/issues/legislative/incineration.htm
2500
Waste Not, Want Not
Ted Michaels, Energy
Recovery Council
April, 2009
2000
1500
1000
500
0
Coal
Oil
Natural Gas
Waste-to-Energy
Fact: The IPCC, in its 2007 4th Assessment Report (Synthesis Report, Table 4.2), calls
waste incineration with energy recovery a key waste mitigation technology.
Environmental Performance of Waste-to-Energy
Climate Change
1.5
Ton CO2e / ton MSW
1.0
0.5
CO2 from the combustion
of biomass not counted as
an emission
CO2 from the combustion
of plastics counted as an
emission
0.0
-0.5
-1.0
-1.5
CO2 from combustion Fossil CO2 avoided by
of MSW
WTE power
Methane avoided by
WTE
WTE Life Cycle Unit Operations
Net GHG factor
Waste-to-Energy
is Compatible with Recycling
Waste-to-Energy and recycling are complementary parts of
an integrated waste management program.
• 2009 report conducted by Eileen Berenyi of
Governmental Advisory Associates
– Actual recycling rate of WTE communities (33.2%) is greater
than the national average (28.5% calculated by
BioCycle/Columbia University)
– Recycling rates of Massachusetts communities served by
Waste-to-Energy plants are higher than state average (MA
DEP data).
International Perspective
•
Europe
EU Landfill Directive
65% reduction in landfilling of biodegradable Municipal Solid Waste
Currently over 400 Waste-to-Energy Facilities
2008 study estimated an additional 100 new facilities by 2012
•
China
Target 30% Waste-to-Energy by 2030
Preferential feed-in electricity tariff
•
Kyoto Protocol
Recognizes Waste-to-Energy as an eligible offset in CDM protocol
•
Davos Report—The World Economic Forum
Identifies eight emerging clean energy sectors including wind, solar and
Waste-to-Energy.
International Perspective
Legislative Recognition
Congress has provided incentives waste-to-energy in key ways:
•
Section 45 Renewable Energy Production Tax Credits
•
Federal Government Renewable Purchasing Program
•
Congressional proposals to establish Renewable Energy Standard (RES)
•
Congressional proposals to establish a cap-and-trade program and hold
WTE harmless
Waste-to-Energy Attractiveness
Factors that are making local governments look at WTE:
1. Energy Prices
2. Metal Recovery
3. Renewable incentives
4. Net-GHG reducer
5. Long-term price stability
6. Control over waste stream
Waste-to-Energy Growth
Opportunities
Greenfield Projects
WTE Expansions
Frederick County, MD
Harford County, MD
West Palm Beach, FL
Los Angeles, CA
York-Durham, ON
Chester County, SC
Elbert County, GA
Cleveland, OH
Milwaukee, WI
Taunton, MA
Fall River, MA
Lee County, FL
Hillsborough County, FL
Olmsted, MN
Pope-Douglas, MN
Honolulu, HI
Hempstead, NY
Summary
Why are the Prospects for WTE Burgeoning in the United States?
1. Policymakers are looking for renewable energy sources that reduce
greenhouse gas emissions and reduce dependence on fossil fuels.
2. Dependable and long-term solutions for municipal solid waste
disposal remains a paramount concern for local governments.
3. Higher energy revenues, metals recovery, renewable incentives, and
decades of operational efficiency have made waste-to-energy more
cost-competitive.
4. High price of transportation fuel coupled with increased distance to
new landfills makes landfilling more expensive.
For More Information:
Ted Michaels
President
Energy Recovery Council
1730 Rhode Island Avenue, NW Suite 700
Washington, DC 20036
202-467-6240
[email protected]
www.energyrecoverycouncil.org