What is Waste to Energy
Waste-to-energy is a process that involves converting waste materials, such as municipal solid waste, into energy. There are several technologies that can be used for waste-to-energy, including incineration, gasification, and pyrolysis.
Incineration involves burning waste materials at high temperatures to produce heat, which can then be used to generate electricity. Gasification involves heating waste materials in the presence of oxygen or steam to produce a gas that can be burned to generate electricity. Pyrolysis involves heating waste materials in the absence of oxygen to produce a gas that can be burned to generate electricity.
Waste-to-energy can provide a source of renewable energy while also reducing the amount of waste that ends up in landfills. However, there are also concerns about air pollution and the emissions that can result from the burning of waste materials. Proper monitoring and management are needed to ensure that waste-to-energy facilities operate in an environmentally sustainable manner.
Renewable Energy Power Plant - Waste to Energy Power Plant List
Countries with waste-to-energy power plants, the number of power plants, and their capacity based on data from the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA).
| Country | Number of Waste-to-Energy Plants | Waste-to-Energy Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| China | 339 | 18,620 MW |
| Japan | 29 | 2,086 MW |
| United States | 87 | 2,884 MW |
| Germany | 91 | 2,208 MW |
| Italy | 42 | 1,118 MW |
| France | 126 | 864 MW |
| United Kingdom | 42 | 731 MW |
| South Korea | 25 | 514 MW |
| Canada | 9 | 155 MW |
| Spain | 20 | 145 MW |
| Country | Number of Waste-to-Energy Plants | Waste-to-Energy Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Sweden | 34 | 2,320 MW |
| Denmark | 30 | 952 MW |
| Austria | 7 | 497 MW |
| Netherlands | 11 | 448 MW |
| Switzerland | 5 | 224 MW |
| Norway | 5 | 201 MW |
| Belgium | 9 | 171 MW |
| Finland | 2 | 80 MW |
| Singapore | 4 | 75 MW |
| Australia | 4 | 63 MW |
| Country | Number of Waste-to-Energy Plants | Waste-to-Energy Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | 4 | 49 MW |
| Italy | 6 | 46 MW |
| Japan | 5 | 38 MW |
| Canada | 3 | 27 MW |
| France | 4 | 26 MW |
| United States | 2 | 23 MW |
| South Korea | 2 | 13 MW |
| New Zealand | 1 | 1.1 MW |
| Spain | 1 | 1 MW |
| Ireland | 1 | 0.8 MW |