With increasing global demand for renewable energy and concerns about rising levels of waste, gasification is a waste-to-value technology that can solve both of these issues at the same time.
Renewables are projected to supply more than 50% of global energy demand by 2035, thanks to consumer and government concerns over climate change. At the same time, population growth means that waste levels are projected to increase 70% by 2050.
Global Renewable Energy Market is projected to reach
2 Trillion by 2025
Current Energy Resource Split
80% Fossil Fuels
20% Renewables
Renewables are projected to make up over 50% of power generation by 2035
Benefits of Advanced Gasification
Advanced Gasification can help. It’s the process of thermochemically converting feedstock such as municipal, agricultural and industrial waste, biomass, and plastics into syngas. Syngas is then used as fuel to generate electricity and heat, or as a commodity, to produce transportation fuels or Synthetic Natural Gas (SNG).
Gasification has many benefits:
- It cuts down on landfill.
- It cuts the carbon dioxide, methane, hydrofluorocarbons, tropospheric ozone and nitrous oxide emissions associated with incineration.
- It is more efficient than other waste-to-value methods.
The US Department of Energy defines gasification as:
“A process technology that is designed and operated for the purpose of producing synthesis gas (a commodity which can be used to produce fuels, chemicals or power) through the chemical conversion of carbonaceous materials”.
As such, the only by-product of syngas products are non-hazardous ashes. This results in a significantly lower carbon footprint compared with other waste-to-energy methods. And it eliminates the health hazards associated with burning waste.
Because of this, gasification can also help waste owners, developers and contractors to meet – and exceed – increasingly stringent environmental regulation.
Gasification vs Other Waste Management Methods
Today most of the waste that is not recycled is sent to landfill or incinerated. But these methods are not sustainable.
Current waste management produces 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions
According to the World Bank, solid waste treatment and disposal generated an estimated 1.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in 2016 – 5% of the global total. Without improvements in the sector, solid waste related emissions will likely increase to 2.6 billion tonnes of CO2-equivalent by 2050.
Besides carbon dioxide, existing waste management also produces what are known as “short-lived climate pollutants”. These include black carbon, methane, tropospheric ozone, and hydrofluorocarbons. They account for an estimated 40-45% of global warming to date. Unlike CO2, these pollutants stay in the atmosphere for less time, but it is thought they can warm the Earth faster.
Driven by public concern, recent laws seek to limit these emissions drastically. The European Waste Framework Directive aims to cut current landfill volumes to just 10% of all European waste by 2035, for example. At the same time, the EU’s Green Deal will aim for net greenhouse gas emissions of zero by 2050.
New laws are forcing change
Driven by public concern, recent laws seek to limit these emissions drastically. The European Waste Framework Directive aims to cut current landfill volumes to just 10% of all European waste by 2035, for example. At the same time, the EU’s Green Deal will aim for net greenhouse gas emissions of zero by 2050.
Companies and public authorities cannot carry on managing waste the way they have. Many already recognize this and are actively looking for commercially viable alternatives to incineration and landfill.
This is where Advanced Gasification comes in:
Advanced Gasification emits 22% lower CO2 and provides 69% more energy efficiency, compared with traditional incineration methods.
Advanced Gasification produces synthesis gas (syngas), which has a wide range of applications. Syngas can be used to generate electricity, heat, synthetic natural gas (SNG), biofuels, and hydrogen suitable for use in the fuel cells of electric cars.
Advanced Gasification is proven to convert dozens of different kinds of feedstock waste, and so can be applied to a wide range of waste management challenges.