Fossil fuels are not in endless supply. Fact. Environmentally friendly waste disposal is currently a global problem. Fact. If waste can be utilised as an alternative to fossil fuels then it can provide an important contribution towards the long-term control of global waste. The production of cost effective green energy will also help reduce the impact of global warming.
Pyrolysis (and also gasification) provides a much better solution to extracting energy from waste than incineration for a number of reasons
Financial
- Production of high calorific value fuel, which can be used in gas engines to produce electricity
- The fuel can also be used in Cogeneration / Combined Heat and Power (CHP) technology to produce not only electricity but useful heat
- Production of Hydrogen, which many see as an increasingly valuable resource
- Qualifies for Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROC's - UK Only)
Operational
- The residual output of solid char from the process can also be used as a fuel or as a feedstock for other petrochemical processes
- Requires no flue gas clean up as gas produced is treated prior to utilisation
- Plant size is significantly smaller than post combustion treatment
- Visually less imposing therefore increased planning permission approval
Environmental
- Enables the production of Renewable 'green' energy
- An alternative solution to land fill
- Displaces the use of fossil fuels
- Enables the local handling of waste
- Reduced Green House Gas and CO2 emissions
- Addresses concern about global warming as produces a positive environmental effect
- Contributes towards government targets such as dealing with waste and environmental concern
- Contributes to achieving Kyoto protocol commitments