The power of waste
Europlasma
The profound implications of the current global recession have accelerated how worldwide we are addressing the rapidly growing threat posed by the climate crisis. It’s
now or never to take decisions that hurt – while we are hurting already.
New ideas are being implemented to reach the goal of 20% reduction of greenhouse gases by 2020, and more and more stakeholders are committing to new ideas and technologies with the potential to make a difference. The UNFCCC is today at the forefront of this thought leadership and action in protecting the integrity and liveability of the world.
As witnessed from 20 years of detailed study and reports, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says the evidence is now unequivocal. We must recognise we have created a threat to the future of the human species and to the global ecosystem.
Good news
The good news is that the bold steps needed to solve the climate crisis are exactly the same steps for the economic crisis and the energy security crisis. Economists and other experts, joined by United States (US) President, Barack Obama, agree our economy will fall behind if we continue spending hundreds of billions of dollars on fossil energy sources every year. Moreover, national security experts agree that we face a dangerous strategic vulnerability if the world suddenly loses access to foreign fossil energy sources.
Starting today, we can make an immediate and large strategic investment to replace 19th-century energy technologies dependent on carbon-based fuels with 21st-century technologies fuelled by waste – an unlimited resource.
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| Fig 1 |
Over two billion tonnes of municipal solid waste (MSW) are produced annually worldwide. There is now an acceptance at government level that traditional waste disposal methods of landfill and incineration are no longer appropriate. Natural processes within landfill create methane, a powerful greenhouse gas which is a significant contributor to global warming and climate change. Traditional waste incineration methods are also a big contributor, with some estimates indicating that waste incineration emits up to 30% of the dioxins currently in the atmosphere. In response, the waste hierarchy (see Figure 1 and Figure 2) has become a cornerstone of sustainable waste management policy, showing the options for waste management and consequences for environmental impact.
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Fig 2 Source: Potential cost for renewable electricity in Europe
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Eurostat, (European Energy and Transport trends to 2030 |
The timeline
Electricity from Waste (EfW) can re-power world electricity consumption with a commitment to producing a material share (22% to 35%) of our local electricity needs from carbon-free sources within 10 years. Far from a myth, this is a real option that offers tremendous opportunities, as documented by the European Union and the US Department of Energy.
EfW offers both the largest estimated technical potential and one of the lowest total costs per MW (referred to as “LCOE” or “levelised cost of electricity”, measured on a net to the grid MW basis). The exact level of local energy independence will depend on the nature of the processed waste.
Europlasma has been active in clean technologies and clean energy for the past 15 years. We have made significant research and development investments over the last four years in developing a fully-functional, commercial scale suite of EfW products, from 6MW to 12MW net to the grid waste-to-energy power plants. Construction of our first EfW power plant in Morcenx, France, which will generate 12MW net to the grid, started in Q4 2009.
Europlasma will contribute to the global effort aiming at preserving our common future, turning seemingly impossible goals into inspiring targets for lower carbon emission and increased local electricity production from renewable sources.
 Europlasma
W: www.europlasma.com
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