Pearse Buckley

Sustainable Energy Ireland

Energy from Waste

WHY ENERGY FROM WASTE?

Industry Perspective– A waste management solution– A waste recovery process– A cost saving

SEI Perspective– Renewable energy– Security of supply– Greenhouse gas abatement

TYPES OF ENERGY FROM WASTE

Mass burn Novel technologies

– Gasification, pyrolysis, etc. Anaerobic Digestion

– Organic fraction of waste stream

– Landfills

What is Anaerobic Digestion?

Case Study –Holsworthy Biogas Plant

Input 146,000 tonnes per year– Cattle, pig & poultry manure– Organic food waste

Output– 2.1 MWe/14.4 GWhe

– 15 GWhth to future DH system

– Digestate to fertiliser

Case Study –Holsworthy Biogas Plant

TYPICAL COSTS

Capital cost– €3,500/kW

O & M– €350/kW

BENEFITS

Waste management through Added Value Community involvement dimension Renewable Energy Secure energy supply GHG savings

– Holsworthy10,500 tonnes/yr – power generation4,000 tonnes/yr – district heatingAvoided CH4 emissions

SEI RD&D PROGRAMME

Budget 2000 – 2006– €16.25 million

Primary goals– Stimulate deployment of

renewables that are close to commercial

– Assess / develop technologies which have prospects for the future

SEI RD&D PROGRAMME

Programme categories– Projects close to commercial

– 10% to 25% of eligible costs

– Innovative R&D projects – up to 50% of eligible costs

– Public good / commissioned public good research – 100% of eligible costs

SEI RD&D PROGRAMME

Primary target areas– Biomass Combined Heat and

Power Plants– Biomass Heating Plants– Biogas AD CHP Plants

Small scale 30 kWe to 1 MWe

Further information– www.sei.ie and look under

“Research and Development” and “Renewables RD&D”