WASTE-TO-ENERGY SOLUTIONS


Feasibility study highlights potential of carbon capture technology


Veolia has launched a site feasibility study ahead of a pilot project to use innovative carbon capture processes in energy recovery facilities (ERF) in the UK. Developed with the aim of producing green fuels by capturing, extracting and purifying CO2, it can create synthetic green end products, such as eKerosene, eMethanol and specialty chemical products to transform the sustainability of the wider transport industry


at Veolia said: “This latest innovation marks a major step forward in our ability to utilise non- recyclable waste and captured CO2 to create the next generation of fuels. This development, combined with greater recycling and the removal of plastics from waste streams, will further reduce carbon emissions from ERF. It will also make a major contribution to meeting Net Zero targets that protect the environment for the future and supports our commitment to achieve ecological transformation.” Veolia operates 10 ERF in the UK. These facilities take around 2.3 million tonnes of non-recyclable waste and transform this into electricity for over 400,000 homes, and this combined generating capacity of 180MWe takes pressure off the stretched UK electrical grid and effectively avoids using fossil fuels for generation. Some of these facilities also produce heating for communities through district heating networks, by using combined heat and power technology.


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A vehicle-to-grid (V2G) innovation has beeb unveiled that will enable waste collection trucks to power UK homes by feeding back stored energy from their batteries to the grid


ngineered by Veolia’s in-house design teams, the system uses Advanced Amine technologies to capture carbon emissions from the combustion of non- recyclable biogenic waste, which


is present in about 60% of the carbon dioxide emissions generated as a result of the incineration process. The biogenic Carbon Dioxide can be combined with green hydrogen to create fuels such as eMethanol and Sustainable Aviation Fuel, reducing the carbon intensity of shipping and air travel.


The pioneering carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) implementation project has the potential to enable Veolia’s Energy Recovery Facilities in the UK to make carbon savings of over 100,000 tonnes per year. As part of the highly innovative project, the CCUS


technology can be seamlessly integrated into existing energy recovery sites, resulting in near-zero, or even negative, CO2emission power generation, thus significantly improving the environmental and energy balances of municipal waste incineration. The Advanced Amine Carbon Capture


process has four major stages. Firstly, the Flue gas is cooled, and trace pollutants removed before the amine solvent captures the CO2 and clean flue gases are returned to the flue. The solvent is then heated with steam produced by the ERF which produces a CO2 rich stream whilst also regenerating the solvent for circling it back to the absorption process. The CO2 is dehydrated and compressed to produce a nearly 100% pure CO2 stream which can be used to create new products or stored. Commenting on this new technology, Donald Macphail, chief operating officer - treatment,


Waste collection trucks become a flexible energy source to boost energy security


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K’s largest waste collection fleet operator, Veolia plans to electrify all of its 1,800 refuse collection vehicles (RCVs) in the country by 2040. This transformation will enable the


company to provide to the grid around 200 MW of flexible power capacity daily, an equivalent of the evening peak energy demand of over 150,000 homes, supporting the country’s energy security. With electricity demand in the UK expected to double by 2050 and Government’s targets to decarbonise the National Grid by 2035,


batteries have a role to play as they can not only recharge from the electrical grid, but they can also feedback stored energy from their batteries to the grid using to V2G. This can provide energy during peak demand periods, contribute to grid stability by regulating frequency and voltage, and even store excess renewable energy for later use. Veolia has taken the potential of this technology to a new level by applying it to collection vehicles, which are ideally suited to V2G as their batteries are six times larger than those in an average car, and the fleet is usually parked at peak energy consumption times for the National Grid.


The first phase of the trial performed by Veolia has been successfully completed, enabling 110 KW of energy to be charged and discharged from two specially designed bi-directional vehicles, enough to supply power to 110 households for over two hours during peak evening hours. Veolia now plans to expand the trial and test it out on the streets, using Westminster council collection vehicles to pilot the innovation. In addition, Veolia will maximise the use of local decarbonising energy from its waste-to- energy plants to power its vehicles, creating a perfect circular loop. This will include the


28 BUILDING SERVICES & ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEER JUNE 2024


Landmann Way vehicle depot in North London, powered by low-carbon electricity from the SELCHP plant.


Estelle Brachlianoff, chief executive of


Veolia, said: “We need to innovate in local decarbonising energy and transform our traditional approaches to take advantage of untapped sources. This requires a change of mindset and a collective willingness to rethink the way we produce, distribute and consume energy. The success of the V2G demonstration illustrates this perfectly. By enabling electric vehicles to become active players in the power grid, we are harnessing their potential to balance energy supply and demand, reduce carbon emissions and promote renewable energy”. Gavin Graveson, senior executive vice


president Veolia Northern Europe Zone said: “Flexibility is the key to super-charging the UK’s energy security and the transition to a smarter and more sustainable market. We have to adapt to increasing energy demand and adopt smarter energy systems to bring resilient, dependable and low carbon energy to our homes and businesses. Flexibility innovations like this one have the potential to revolutionise the way we manage our energy usage and represent a huge opportunity to cut costs and carbon”.


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