Waste to energy incinerator begins capturing CO2 emissions

February 4, 2016 0 By Tami Hood

The energy from waste project in Norway is the first in the world to test a W2E carbon capture experiment.

The Klemetsrud incinerator in Oslo, Norway is attempting to capture CO2 (carbon dioxide) emissions from the industrial and household waste that it burns as an alternative to capturing and burying greenhouse gas emissions at coal-powered plants that run on fossil fuels. The test program, involving the waste to energy plant, is being conducted by Aker Solutions, a Norwegian supplier of products, services and systems to the gas and oil industry.

The hope is to develop technology for trash that will help to slow global warming.

The waste to energy plant, which has been in operation since 1985, is Norway’s largest. It has a capacity to burn 310,000 tons of waste annually and produces 175 GWh (gigawatt hours) of electricity and 750 GWh of district heating, each year.

Approximately 60% of the trash burnt at Klemetsrud comes from a biological source, such as food and waste wood. This means that capturing CO2 emissions would involve extracting carbon from a natural cycle in alleged “negative emissions.”

According to Frederic Hauge, the head of environmental group Bellona, “It won’t be possible to achieve goals set in the Paris agreement without wide use of negative emissions.”

There are many who agree that investments need to be made to fight against climate change, which was demonstrated back in December, when nearly 200 nations came together in Paris and agreed that technologies are needed to address global warming.

The test will determine if Aker Solution’s technology qualifies for commercial application at waste to energy facilities around the world.

Aker Solutions explained that Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) is a vital tool in lowering CO2 emissions and reduce global warming. The experiment, which will last for five months, will be a key element in qualifying the company’s amine-based carbon dioxide capture technology for commercial application at W2E plants on a global scale.

The head of Aker Solutions’ engineering business, Valborg Lundegaard, said that “This is pioneering work with significant potential as the world focuses on finding ways to limit carbon emissions.” Lundegaard added that, because of this, the waste to energy carbon capture pilot project in Norway “is of international importance.”

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