<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/this-is-waste-washing-waste-to-energy-projects-called-out-for-being-dirtier-than-coal/>
"Waste-to-energy projects risk sending out more emissions than even some of
Australia’s dirtiest coal generators, just as the country is set on scaling up
the industry, according to a new report.
At least 15 waste-to-energy projects are in development across Australia, and
could incinerate up to 4 million tonnes of what’s known as municipal solid
waste, or much of the stuff that ends up in landfill, says a new Smart Energy
Council (SEC) report.
These facilities will come with serious emissions, however, and report author
Nick Harford says governments and companies need to stop referring to
waste-to-energy as low emission, renewable, clean, and safe for human health
and the environment.
“Government authorities and project proponents are incorrectly stating that
waste to energy is a circular economy solution, and capable of reducing
emissions from direct use of fossil fuels,” he said in a statement.
“Such claims warrant closer scrutiny. Waste-to-energy is not low emissions,
renewable or clean energy.”
Gas power stations produce emit between 500g and 650g of carbon dioxide
equivalent per kilowatt-hour (CO₂-e/kWh), says the report
Waste-to-energy in
Australia: Energy Solution or Problem?.
Waste-to-energy emissions are even higher, ranging between 700g to 1,700g
CO₂-e/kWh, the SEC report says, citing a US study in
Plos Climate and work in
Europe.
That upper limit is higher than the Clean Energy Regulator’s latest readings
for the dirtiest coal power stations in Australia, Yallourn which delivered
1350g CO₂-e/kWh and Loy Yang B with 1015g CO₂-e/kWh.
In the UK the BBC is reporting average emissions around 720g CO₂-e/kWh, while
emissions estimate for Western Australia’s own waste-to-energy facility at
Kwinana emissions estimates are 790g CO₂-e/kWh.
This is in an era when solar and wind generation have got scope 2 emissions
from grid electricity down to an average of 620g CO₂-e per kWh, according to
the
2025 National Greenhouse Accounts Factors."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
