Why Carbon Capture on Incinerators Is Not a Solution
Today the Waste-to-Energy industry or simply said waste incineration industry is discussing the role of CCS on waste incinerators. Here are some thoughts on why CCS on incinerators is not a viable solution.
Even with carbon capture technology in place, incinerators still emit significant amounts of greenhouse gases. Incinerators are responsible for emitting a variety of pollutants, including carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulate matter. While CCS may capture some of the carbon dioxide emissions (as some hope), other harmful pollutants are still released into the atmosphere.
2. The effectiveness of CCS on incinerators is limited
A recent report by BiofuelWatch found that there is limited data on the effectiveness of CCS. While CCS on incinerators could potentially reduce carbon dioxide emissions, it may also have negative environmental impacts, such as increased energy consumption and air pollution. Additionally, the capture rate of carbon dioxide from incinerators may be limited compared to other industrial sources, making it a less effective solution for reducing emissions.
3. The costs of CCS technology are high
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The implementation of CCS technology on incinerators can be expensive. According to a report by the International Energy Agency, CCS on incinerators could cost between $50 and $150 per ton of CO2 captured, making it one of the most expensive CCS applications. These costs can be prohibitive for many waste management companies and local governments as this recent article by Reuters shows.
4. Incinerators discourage recycling and waste reduction
The use of incinerators can discourage recycling and waste reduction efforts. Incineration creates a demand for waste that could otherwise be reduced through recycling and composting efforts. Recycling and composting have been shown to have a much lower carbon footprint than incineration. A recent report found that the majority of incinerators' feedstock is recyclable. Eunomia found that sorting mixed waste (if fully scaled up) to recover materials could reduce waste sector emissions by 20%.
5. CCS on incinerators may undermine other climate solutions
Finally, the focus on CCS on incinerators may divert resources away from other climate solutions. There are many other effective ways to reduce emissions, including increasing renewable energy production, investing in public transportation, and promoting energy-efficient buildings. By investing in these solutions, we can reduce emissions without the high costs and limited effectiveness of CCS on incinerators.
Zero Pollution Policy Manager at Zero Waste Europe
1 年It was also pointed out that the generation of aggressive chemicals that are used to capture CO2 could be problematic. For some of the CCS technologies, these chemicals are not recyclable and therefore create a new waste problem.