BiosolidsA Fuel or a Waste? An Integrated Appraisal of Five Co-combustion Scenarios with Policy Analysis

Cartmell, Elise; Gostelow, P.; Riddell-Black, D.; Simms, N.J.; Oakey, J.E.; Morris, Joe; Jeffrey, Paul; Howsam, P.; Pollard, Simon J. T.

doi:10.1021/es052181g

Cited by 83 publications

(36 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…As illustrated for biosolids (19), an absence of clarity can result in lost opportunities to secure the benefits of energy recovery from waste. With energy costs rising steeply in Europe amid concerns around the security and diversity of supply, the need to diversify the fuel mix and release biomass fuels, such as SRF, to the market is pressing.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Policy and legislative developments often emerge in a piecemeal fashion and, with the benefit of hindsight, can appear poorly integrated. Wastederived fuels are a case in point and their use is influenced by what we term "enabling" and "constraining" legislation (19). The current position is complex and, to many, is confused ( Figure 1).…”

Section: Critical Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Wastes as Co-Fuels: The Policy Framework for Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) in Europe, with UK Implications

Garg

Smith

Hill

et al. 2007

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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European Union (EU) member states are adopting the mechanical-biological treatment (MBT) of municipal solid waste (MSW) to comply with EU Landfill Directive (LD) targets on landfill diversion. We review the policy framework for MSW-derived solid recovered fuel (SRF), composed of paper, plastic, and textiles, in the energy-intensive industries. A comparatively high calorific value (15-18 MJ/ kg) fuel, SRF has the potential to partially replace fossil fuel in energy-intensive industries, alongside MSW in dedicated combustion facilities. Attempts by the European standards organization (CEN) to classify fuel properties consider net calorific value (CV) and chlorine and mercury content. However, the particle size, moisture content, and fuel composition also require attention and future studies must address these parameters. We critically review the implications of using SRF as a co-fuel in thermal processes. A thermodynamic analysis provides insight into the technical and environmental feasibility of cocombusting SRF in coal-fired power plants and cement kilns. Results indicate the use of SRF as co-fuel can reduce global warming and acidification potential significantly. This policy analysis is of value to waste managers, policy specialists, regulators, and the waste management research community.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Critical Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wastes as Co-Fuels: The Policy Framework for Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) in Europe, with UK Implications

Garg

Smith

Hill

et al. 2007

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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“…Cartmell et al [39] developed scenarios of different approaches for bio solid co-combustion in the UK. The level of risk for four broad indicators was determined by interviews with relevant stakeholders.…”

Section: Analytical Toolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methods for assessing future scenarios from a sustainability perspective

et al. 2017

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Future scenarios are often used to address long-term challenges characterised by uncertainty and complexity, as they can help explore different alternative future pathways. Scenarios can therefore be a useful tool to support policy and guide action towards sustainability. But what sustainability aspects are put forward in scenarios and how are they assessed? This paper aims to explore how to assess future scenarios, categorised according to Börjeson et al. (Futures 38:723-739, 2006) i.e. predictive, explorative and normative scenarios. By conducting a literature review and a document analysis, we map tools and methods that are currently used to assess environmental and social sustainability aspects in scenarios. We also draw on experiences from methods for impact assessments of Swedish municipal comprehensive plans, which can be considered as future scenarios. We identify whether some sustainability aspects are less recurrent than others in the reviewed assessments or even left out. We find that there is no single tool that can be used to assess scenarios. Some quantitative tools based on databases may be more suitable for assessing scenarios within a shorter time horizon, whereas qualitative assessment methods might better fit the purpose of long-term transformative scenarios. We also find that assessment frameworks may be useful to guide the assessment, as to what its intended purpose is and which sustainability aspects to include. Finally we discuss whether further assessment tools are needed in order to include a wider array of potential environmental or social consequences of the content of scenarios.

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“…In many cases the sludge or ash is used in the production of cementicious building materials. The ash from sludge combustion can be added as an aggregate in cement, brick, and cement-based mortar formulations [6,7,35]. Dried sludge is doubly beneficial to cement kilning operations.…”

Section: Alternative Uses For Wastewater Sludgementioning

confidence: 99%

Techno-economic analysis of wastewater sludge gasification: A decentralized urban perspective

Lumley

Ramey

Prieto

et al. 2014

Bioresource Technology

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Wastewater sludge management is a significant challenge for small-scale, urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Common management strategies stabilize sludge for land disposal by microbial action or heat. Such approaches require large footprint processing facilities or high energy costs. A new approach considers sludge to be a fuel which can be used on-site to produce electricity. Electrical power generation fueled by sludge may serve to reduce the volume of hazardous waste requiring land disposal and create economic value for WWTP operators. To date, no detailed system designs or techno-economic analyses have been found for small scale sludge fueled power plants. Fortunately, a literature base exists describing the fundamentals of applying thermochemical conversion (TCC) technologies to sewage sludge. Thermochemical conversion of sludge is established for large WWTPs, however large system design techniques may not be applicable to small systems.To determine the feasibility of small scale power generation fueled by sludge, this work evaluates several thermochemical conversion technologies from the perspective of small urban WWTPs. Literature review suggests wet oxidation, direct combustion, pyrolysis, and gasification as candidate front-end TCC technologies for on-site generation. Air and steam blown gasification are found to be the only TCC technologies appropriate for sludge. Electrical power generation processes based on both air and steam blown gasification are designed around effective waste heat recovery for sludge drying. The systems are optimized and simulated for net electrical output in ASPEN Plus R . Air blown gasification is found to be superior. Sensitivity analyses are conducted to determine the effect of fuel chemical composition on net electrical output. A technical analysis follows which determines that such a system can be built using currently available technologies. Finally, an economic analysis concludes that a gasification based power system can be economically viable for WWTPs with raw sewage flows of 0.115 m 3 /s, or about 2.2 million gallons per day.

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BiosolidsA Fuel or a Waste? An Integrated Appraisal of Five Co-combustion Scenarios with Policy Analysis

Cited by 83 publications

References 8 publications

Wastes as Co-Fuels: The Policy Framework for Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) in Europe, with UK Implications

Wastes as Co-Fuels: The Policy Framework for Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) in Europe, with UK Implications

Methods for assessing future scenarios from a sustainability perspective

Techno-economic analysis of wastewater sludge gasification: A decentralized urban perspective

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