Waste to Energy - The New Renewable Source of Energy!

The 21st century is a fascinating era of inventions. Latest electronic devices have features which let us find answers to our queries through the internet. Isn’t it wonderful that these devices even allow food from our favorite places to be delivered at our doorstep?

Our excessive reliance on electronic services has led to the wastage of resources. But what if there existed a solution which salvaged the trash from our dustbins and converted it into energy. It does and it’s called ‘waste to energy.’

Waste to Energy - An Innovative Trend

Waste to energy (WtE) is an alternative kind of energy production in the form of heat or electricity through waste. WtE plants use the waste parts of cars and factories to generate power. These parts are wrapped with glass fibers. The glass fibers, in turn, are coated with a solution of ‘lead telluride’ nanocrystals which capture heat, mostly escaping via exhaust pipes.

A WtE plant with the capacity to burn 1, 500 tons of municipal solid waste (MSW) can generate nearly 40, 000 KW (kilowatt) of energy. It can supply power to nearly 40, 000 houses. Plants with premium facilities can aid industrial corporations and major cities in the economic disposal of their waste.

Feedstock for WtE Plants

Industrial waste, MSW, animal waste, sugar industry waste, forestry residue, and agricultural residue are various sources of energy production. Agricultural residues beneficial for energy generation are rice husks, groundnut shells, sugar cane fibers, and coconut husks & shells. These can be converted into low cost materials or used in liquid fuels to generate power.

Animal waste & MSW can be converted into biogas. Biogas produces electricity in small gas turbines. Forestry residues, like sawdust and woodchip rejects are used for generating steam in WtE plants.

Kinds of WtE Technologies

Thermal and biological are the two major technologies used by WtE plants.

Thermal: Pyrolysis, gasification, and incineration constitute thermal technology. Although incineration was the major technology used to dispose waste, it emits excessive CO2 into the air. Pyrolysis is the thermochemical putrefaction of organic materials at high temperatures when there is no oxygen. It is carried out heavily in the chemical industry to produce charcoal, methanol, and activated carbon. Gasification converts fossil fuels into synthetic gas (syngas). Fossil fuels are used for large-scale electricity production.

Biological: Biological processes decompose solid waste anaerobically to generate energy. Their applications include biofuels, fertilizers, and land. They have been employed in American and European countries with supportive environmental policies.

Market Scenario

The global waste to energy market is expected at nearly USD 44 billion by 2024, according to Grand View Research, Inc.; a premier market research & consulting firm. Government tax benefits and fossil-fuel depletion influence market growth. Expansion across the recycling industry in developed nations and breakthroughs in WtE techniques would prove beneficial for industry players.

Thermal technology generated nearly USD 1.7 billion in 2015. Biological should grow at around 9.4% CAGR from 2016 to 2024. Asia Pacific has huge potential due to its growing industrial waste & rapid industrialization. Oman plans to establish a WtE plant which processes nearly 1 million tons of waste. Major global participants comprise Foster Wheeler A.G., Xcel Energy Inc., Covanta Energy Corp., and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company PJSC.

Waste to energy can be a future fuel source. It may lead to a cleaner & greener planet.

  In-depth research report by Grand View Research, Inc. :

Waste To Energy (WTE) Market Analysis And Segment Forecasts, 2014 - 2024