Abstract |
Energy can be recovered from waste through either direct mass burn in a waste-to-energy (W2E) process or through the combustion in an engine or gas turbine of syngas or biogas generated through thermochemical or biochemical treatment (Energy from Waste, EfW). In general, EfW plants offer higher conversion efficiencies and correspondingly improved environmental performance (reduced emissions to atmosphere). However, the composition of the available waste types is derived from a mix of biogenic and fossil sources, making the CO2 emitted a potential problem in the future if it is not treated as fully renewable, and hence avoids carbon taxes. At the current time, the energy from all ?advanced conversion? processes are favoured within UK support measures for the introduction of renewable energy schemes, but this also may not continue in the future.This report provides a preliminary review of the issues surrounding the introduction of carbon capture technologies to EfW plants. If viable, this approach would offer means of eliminating the fossil-derived CO2 emissions, providing ?negative? CO2 emissions through the parallel removal of biomass derived CO2, although the benefits from this are not currently recognized by EU legislation. |