Waste to Energy Background Paper Zero Waste SA Report for Zero Waste SA Ricardo-AEA/R/ED58135 Issue Number 5 – Final Report Date 02/07/2013 Waste to Energy Background Paper Disclaimer: This report has been prepared by Ricardo-AEA Ltd for the exclusive use of Zero Waste SA and the Government of South Australia. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the Government of South Australia. Zero Waste SA and Ricardo-AEA Ltd accept no liability or responsibility whatsoever for any third party for any loss or damage arising from any interpretation or use of the information contained in this report, or reliance on any views expressed therein. South Australian Solid Waste Levy: This report was developed when the South Australian Solid Waste Levy was $42 per tonne for metropolitan and $21 per tonne for regional areas in 2012-13. From 1 July 2013, the Solid Waste Levy has increased to $47 per tonne for metropolitan and $23.50 per tonne for regional areas but these increases have not been included in this report. Customer: Contact: Zero Waste SA Kathryn Warren Ricardo-AEA Ltd Customer reference: Gemini Building, Harwell, Didcot, OX11 0QR Waste to Energy Background Paper t: 01235 75 3668 e: [email protected] Confidentiality, copyright & reproduction: Ricardo-AEA is certificated to ISO9001 and ISO14001 This report is the Copyright of Zero Waste SA and has been prepared by Ricardo-AEA Ltd under contract to Zero Waste SA dated Author: 04/09/2012. The contents of this report may not be reproduced in whole or in part, nor Kathryn Warren, Simon Gandy, Georgina Davis, passed to any organisation or person without Adam Read, Jackie Fitzgerald, Emelia Holdaway the specific prior written permission of Zero Waste SA. Zero Waste SA and Ricardo-AEA Approved By: Ltd accepts no liability whatsoever to any Adam Read third party for any loss or damage arising from any interpretation or use of the Date: information contained in this report, or 02 July 2013 Ref: Ricardo-AEA/R/ED58135/Issue Number 5 – Final Report i Waste to Energy Background Paper reliance on any views expressed therein. Signed: Ricardo-AEA reference: Ref: ED58135- Issue Number 5 – Final Report Ref: Ricardo-AEA/R/ED58135/Issue Number 5 – Final Report ii Waste to Energy Background Paper Executive summary South Australia is undoubtedly a leader in waste management and resource recovery, not only in Australia but also in global terms. This has already been demonstrated by delivering the highest landfill diversion rate in Australia, and the continuing success of their Producer Responsibility and Take Back Programmes, with the state reaping the rewards of the leadership and direction shown through the delivery of South Australia‘s Waste Strategy (2005-2010). South Australia‘s current Waste Strategy, for the period 2011-2015, aims to build on this success, and sets further challenging targets for landfill diversion of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW), Commercial and Industrial (C&I) waste and Construction and Demolition (C&D) waste streams. The strategy recognises a role for energy recovery where it is consistent with the waste management hierarchy. Many other countries across the world also recognise the need to include W2E as part of an integrated waste management system which aims to achieve zero waste to landfill. Many of these countries have developed active programmes, policies and funding structures to set out a clear direction for the development of W2E and to encourage its development and delivery. In particular, W2E is often the only alternative to landfill for wastes which have no further recovery or recycling value, and as such plays a critical role in sustainable waste management solutions across Europe. The development of a W2E policy for South Australia will not only enable the successful development and delivery of a portfolio of energy and power generation projects, but will also complement the State Waste Strategy and National Waste policy, which outlines high level strategies to enhance biodegradable resource recovery and diversion from landfill to reduce GHG emissions. The national carbon tax is one such measure looking to drive materials away from landfill into more productive treatment, recovery and recycling based solutions. South Australia recognise the need for a policy on W2E to help direct local decision-making, stimulate investment and offer leadership for the development of new projects, and are looking at the development of similar policies in NSW, Victoria and overseas to help inform their thinking. In addition to increased landfill diversion, South Australia may also benefit from the community opportunities and social value that W2E can provide, such as lower energy prices and job creation. In order to underpin a suitable W2E policy for the State, ZWSA have commissioned this background paper to examine developments in W2E technologies both in Australia and globally, and to fully understand the strategies, policies and plans that impact on their development, design and delivery. Whilst still limited in South Australia, this paper demonstrates how the use of both thermal and biological treatment to recover energy from waste is not only well established globally, but is commonly applied to a wide range of wastes, including non-recyclable fractions of MSW, C&D and C&I waste streams. This paper showcases an abundance of proven technologies which could be applied in South Australia for the recovery of energy from a wide range of target waste feedstocks, and concludes that they could all play a part in a developing W2E sector in South Australia if the right policies, strategies, programmes and support mechanisms are put in place. Technology choice aside, there are many drivers and barriers which will impact on the development of W2E infrastructure. The cost and gate fees associated with local landfill sites will always dictate the financial viability of W2E projects, but instruments such as landfill bans, levies and taxes have been successful in incentivising the development of alternatives Ref: Ricardo-AEA/R/ED58135/Issue Number 5 – Final Report iii Waste to Energy Background Paper to landfill, in particular W2E sites particularly in Europe. Climate Change and greenhouse gas emissions targets can also be an effective additional driver, but only if backed up by mandatory regulation or financial incentives. Energy security is becoming an increasingly important driver globally, but W2E has to compete with other renewable energy technologies for support and funding, and in Australia the abundance of relatively cheap coal may hinder the development of any W2E solutions without a portfolio of other incentives, policies and programmes. South Australia has already proven how policy intervention and legislation can help drive resource recovery, through the Waste Disposal Levy and the Environment Protection (Waste to Resources) Policy 2010 (W2R EPP). As such, the State is looking at whether W2E solutions could be encouraged in a similar fashion. This paper outlines the need for further interventions, incentives and support that will be essential to prepare the market to respond to any policy requirement for more energy recovery, and to develop the appropriate W2E infrastructure that can help South Australia meet its long term sustainability, waste management and energy goals. South Australia can take advantage of the experiences in other countries, particularly those in Europe, to ensure that any new W2E facilities are designed and developed within a new policy framework which delivers safe, modern and efficient energy recovery from waste solutions for years to come. Ref: Ricardo-AEA/R/ED58135/Issue Number 5 – Final Report iv Waste to Energy Background Paper Table of contents 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Objectives .......................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Approach and Structure ..................................................................................... 2 2 Assessment of Waste to Energy Technologies ....................................................... 3 3 Thermal Treatment Inputs ......................................................................................... 4 4 Conventional Combustion ........................................................................................10 4.1 Technology Types .............................................................................................10 4.2 Conventional Combustion Outputs ....................................................................15 4.3 SWOT Analysis of Thermal Treatments ............................................................20 5 Advanced Thermal Technologies ............................................................................21 5.1 Technology Types .............................................................................................21 5.2 Advanced Thermal Treatment Outputs ..............................................................28 5.3 Safety issues relating to Advanced Thermal Treatment processes ...................29 5.4 SWOT Analysis of Advanced Thermal Treatments ............................................30 6 Biological Technologies Inputs ................................................................................33 7 Biological Treatment .................................................................................................37 7.1 Anaerobic Digestion