Listing of Largest Waste to Energy Plants in the World

There is always plenty of waste to go around and what better way to utilize it than to create energy from it. WTE plants have started popping up all around the world. Many countries have made adjustments to power plants to be able to use refuse for energy. Here are 10 of the largest waste to energy plants in the world. 10. Norway – Brobekk Put into operation in 1967, this WTE plant has a 1 million tpy capacity and produces 250 GWh. It supplies all the hot water for the center portion of Oslo. Due to the length of time it’s been in service, the plant has received many upgrades over the years. 9. Denmark – Vejen Besides using refuse for energy production, this WTE plant also uses straw. It has been in operation since 1990. 8. Austria – Spittelau From the outside, this doesn’t look like your typical waste-to-energy plant. It has a very artistic look to it and covered with bright colors. This plant deals with around 1200 tons per day and uses the refuse to create thermal energy for Vienna. 7. Belgium – Biosteam In 2009, this WTE plant began producing energy and now the waste heat produced will soon start being pumped to a greenhouse. The station took 27 months to build, as well as around 128 million dollars. 6. Italy – Brescia Refuse and biomass are used to create approximately 568 MWh of heat and 570 MWh of electricity. When the plant first started operating in 1998, it only utilized refuse. In 2004, a unit for combustion of biomass was added. 5. Switzerland – Chaux-de-Fonds New Using refuse since 1994 to supply power to customer, this WTE is operated by Vadec SA. Architect Pierre Studer wanted to design a building that would fit into the more urban setting and that’s just what he did with this waste-to-energy plant. 4. Sweden – Kumla-2 In 1983, a portion of this WTE plant was the very first facility to have the ability to incinerate and treat waste deemed to be hazardous. Today it uses refuse to create energy. Another portion of the facility is able to also utilize treated wood, as well as other types of waste. 3. Netherlands – EM Wijster This zero water discharge facility began operating in 1996. It uses refuse for fuel and has 3 lines for incineration. Each line has a two-stage scrubber, ESP, a two-stage oxidation catalyst, a water-cooled reciprocating grate, a baghouse, and a spray dryer. 2. France – Isseane More than half of this WTE plant is underground. It became operational in 2007 and was built to perform without being an eye-sore. Many of its features were also put in place to reduce the amount of impact presented on the environment. Approximately 460,000 tons per year of refuse pass through this plant. 1. Germany – MHKW Karnap Around 700,000 tons of refuse per year pass through this plant. It started operating in 1987 and utilizes the refuse from 5 different cities. A coal-fired plant once stood where this facility now is placed. When a fourth boiler was added to this WTE, it became one of the largest waste-to-energy facilities in Germany. Most of the largest waste to energy plants in the world that I’ve listed above has had recent upgrades to keep them up to date with the needs of the public around them. What is the largest WTE plant you’ve heard about?