The Waste to Energy system

The Dublin Waste to Energy plant has been designed to provide highly efficient incineration and can be classified as recovery in line with the new criteria outlined in the revised 1975 EU Waste Framework Directive.  The plant will generate energy from up to 600,000 tonnes of waste per year that would otherwise go to landfill and will generate enough electricity for up to 50,000 homes annually as well as district heating for up to a further 60,000 homes.

The design of the Dublin Waste to Energy plant also includes measures to minimise the impact of the facility.

Artists Impression

  • Detailed landscaping and external cladding of the building
  • The shape of the building has been designed to enclose the entire waste to energy process within a single structure thus minimising noise
  • The waste reception hall has been designed to be maintained at negative pressure relative to the outside air, preventing odour and dust leaving the waste reception area
  • The facility is designed with an enclosed waste reception hall. Quality walls with good damping will minimise noise emissions from waste vehicles inside the reception hall
  • A stack height of 100m (Approx half that of the ESB stacks already on the Poolbeg Penninsula) will ensure that air quality standards are met
  • The facility has been designed and optimised to achieve very high overall energy efficiency and energy recovery. For example the facility will draw water from the Liffey Estuary for cooling thus reducing the energy requirement for cooling and maximising power output and storm-water run-off from the facility will be collected and reused in the process.

In addition to these design elements, Dublin Waste to Energy Ltd has incorporated a number of energy efficiency measures into the design of the plant and will continue to identify opportunities for the reduction in the quantity of water used onsite including recycling and reuse initiatives wherever possible, the recovery/recycling of residues and the optimisation of fuel and raw material usage onsite.

A typical waste to energy plant

Please click on the image below to find out how a typical waste to energy plant works.

Get the Flash Player to see this player.

*This plant walkthrough is for illustration purposes only

More information on Covanta Waste to Energy facilities can be found on the Covanta website www.covantaenergy.co.uk or click to view Covanta Case studies.