Renewable Waste to Energy
In collaboration with OAK Holding and the Ministry of Military Production, Green Tech Egypt has entered into a partnership agreement to undertake a significant project worth 500 million USD. We aim to process 1.8 million tons of waste annually in three phases. The initial phase will involve managing more than 450,000 tons/year of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) while adhering to Egyptian and European Environmental standards, generating 30MW of electricity.
This Waste-to-Energy project aligns with the government’s renewable energy development program and Egypt Vision 2023. It will contribute to the country’s sustainable energy goals and facilitate the transfer of knowledge by utilizing the facilities of the NOMP factory and engaging Egyptian companies. Moreover, the plant will provide training opportunities for graduate students, thus fostering the growth and integration of this emerging industry within Egypt.
What is a Waste-to-Energy plant?
Waste-to-Energy plants play a crucial role in effective waste management. Waste-to-Energy plants process Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) that cannot be prevented or recycled, converting it into valuable energy in the form of steam, electricity, or hot water. The electricity generated is then transmitted to the grid for distribution to end-users. This environmentally-friendly approach significantly reduces waste volume by up to 90%.
According to the IPCC, waste incineration and other thermal processes effectively minimize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with only minor CO2 emissions from fossil carbon sources. In contrast, landfills produce higher quantities of greenhouse gases, nitrogen oxides, dioxin, hydrocarbons, and non-methane organic compounds, while also generating hazardous leachate that pollutes underground water systems. Landfills only allow for the decomposition of organic waste, accumulating nonorganic waste over time.
Our Waste-to-Energy plant adheres to the latest European Air emission regulations, implementing advanced scrubbers, filters, and an innovative flue gas treatment system. These measures keep pollutant levels low, promoting cleaner air quality and a healthier environment.
Flue gases
Flue gases are a complex mixture of various products produced during combustion, such as water vapour, carbon dioxide, particulates, heavy metals, and acidic gases. These gases can be generated through direct (incineration) or indirect (gasification and pyrolysis) oxidation processes. However, many of these flue gases are classified as greenhouse gases, meaning that they contribute to global warming by trapping heat in the atmosphere.
It’s important to note that each greenhouse gas has a different warming potential. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) developed a metric called the Global Warming Potential (GWP) to measure the global warming impact of different gases. The GWP measures how much energy the emissions of one tonne of a gas will absorb over a given period, relative to the emissions of one tonne of carbon dioxide (CO2). The larger the GWP, the more a given gas warms the Earth compared to CO2 over that time period.
Typically, the time period used for GWPs is 100 years. GWPs provide a common unit of measure, which allows analysts to tally emissions estimates of different gases (to compile a national GHG inventory), and allows policymakers to compare emissions reduction opportunities across sectors and gases. A brief overview of the GWP of different greenhouse gases is shown on the right:
Source IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change)
*= parts per million by volume
**= 100-year global warming potential
***= Concentration in 2011
Source CSS
Some GHG have a lower GWP and atmospheric life span but are present in higher concentrations, so they still significantly contribute to global warming.
Clean and Responsible Waste-to-Energy
We developed an innovative flue gas treatment system to have minimal air emissions. It is a patent technology that is still getting improved with the help of esteemed professors, scientists and experts. We find it most important to pursue our business responsibly, so we are dedicated and work hard to have the cleanest Waste-to-Energy plant in the world. We do this because we value our planet, our next generation and each other. Keep following us for more information later!
We have successfully developed an advanced flue gas treatment system that significantly minimizes air emissions from any industrial process. This technology, protected by a patent, is continuously undergoing improvements with the valuable contributions of esteemed professors, scientists, and experts in the field.
As a responsible business, we prioritize the pursuit of environmentally-conscious practices. We are dedicated and work tirelessly to ensure that our Waste-to-Energy plant stands as a global leader in cleanliness. Our commitment to the planet, future generations, and each other drives us forward. Stay tuned for further updates and information from us in the future!
RDF to Power by HTP
In Egypt, waste sorting plants play a crucial role in separating Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) into three categories: Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) comprising 15%, compost making up 50%, and reject materials accounting for 35% (including glass, rocks, dust, rubber, electronics, organic matter, etc.). Currently, the market for RDF is limited, and its primary utilization is in the cement industry for generating heat in industrial production processes. However, the burning of RDF in the cement industry often lacks comprehensive filters for cleaning flue gases, leading to significant emissions being released into the air. This poses a significant problem for both human health and the environment.
The demand and price of RDF depend on the cost of alternative energy sources such as coal and natural gas. As of 2021, the price range for RDF is between 150 and 300 LE pt. Unfortunately, a considerable portion of sorted RDF is dumped in landfills, which is not only wasteful but also harmful to the environment.
RDF can be used as a feed to generate electricity through a High-Temperature Pyrolysis (HTP) application on-site. One of the benefits of using RDF on-site is that there are no costs associated with transporting it, which can be very high due to the low density of RDF. Additionally, there is already an existing grid connection. All that is needed is a transformer to feed in the electricity. Another advantage is that the residue ash is only <5% of the initial RDF volume. This means that it requires less landfill space and costs, and transportation costs to landfill will reduce. Lastly, the residue ash could also be used as a by-product for the cement industry. Overall, using RDF to generate electricity through HTP on-site is a great way to reduce waste, save money on transportation costs, and benefit the environment.
We have listed all the pros and cons of the HTP application: