Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) production today and a Projection into the Future

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Solid Recovered Fuel (SRF) production today and
a Projection into the Future

• Presentation to the FEAD International Conference
• Bruges, 18 October 2002

Paul Huggard (SITA) Bernard Lanfranchi (Vivendi
Environnement)
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Terminology

• Several terms / concepts are currently used in
  EU
• SRF (Solid Recovered Fuel)
• RDF (Refuse Derived Fuel)
• Common feature fuels produced from waste
• Definition of SRF proposed by CEN standardisation
  committee (TC343)
• Solid Recovered Fuel  Fuel prepared from non
  hazardous waste to be utilised in waste
  incineration or co-incineration plants 
• Fuel  Energy carrier intended for energy
  conversion 

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Solid recovered fuels fit into a range of other
waste-derived fuels, based on European law
High
A common denominator of these fuels is that they
contribute to sustainable development...
Substitute fuel from hazwaste WI directive
Level of environmental risk of the untreated waste
SRF WI(2) directive
Landfill biogas RES-E directive
either through generation of electricity/heat or
substitution for fossil fuel
Biomass RES-E(1) directive
High
Low
Complexity of required pre-treatment
(1) Renewable Energy Sources - Electricity (2)
Waste Incineration
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SRF production currently represents a tiny part
of the European waste market...
Rising to 14 Mt, 3.4 of volumes treated in
Europe as a whole in 2005
Source CEN Report, 2001
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but production volumes are expected to grow
rapidly in the next few years
Projected growth in SRF production volumes,
selected EU countries, 2000 - 2005
2005 12.4 MT produced
Compound annual growth rate 54
2000 1.4 MT produced
Sources CEN / FEAD estimates
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SRF can bring added value to the search for a
secure energy source in Europe
Estimated recovered energy from EfW plants in
2005 in EU 15 countries 3,7 MTOE / Year

• Potential recovered energy
• from SRF production plants
• in 2005 in EU 15 countries
• 5,8 MTOE / Year

• Same order of magnitude (lower tonnage
  compensated by higher calorific value)
• Total EU15 production of primary energy 790
  MTOE/Year in 2001
• Actual development of SRF production will be
  conditioned by
• Legislative / regulatory factors
• Technical / economic factors

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Legislative / Regulatory factors two possible
trends

• At national level towards possible assimilation
  of SRF to fuel when its characteristics are close
  to those of commercial fuels
• Certain national situations already tend towards
  this interpretation (Scandinavia, Austria, Italy)

• At European level towards stricter
  interpretation of waste derived fuel status,
  along with the CEN mandate
• Waste status applicable to all RDF, SRF
• Consequence RDF/SRF subject to WID

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Example of Waste Derived Fuels users / outlets
Waste from which Fuel is derived (example)
Prospective SRF users / Standardisation achieved
Main SRF users WID implemented
Wood residue (untreated)
District heating
District heating
District heating Cement kilns EfW plants Power
plants Steelworks
Wood waste containing no or very low levels of
HOC or heavy metals (high Standard)
Cement kilns EfW plants
Non hazardous waste from Industry or
Municipalities (high Standard)
Cement Kilns EfW plants Power plants Steelworks
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Technical / economic factors which influence SRF
manufacture

• Local and acceptable waste arising
• Commercial Industrial Waste capable of
  providing SRF of high quality and calorific
  value
• National level of development in sorting /
  selective collection
• Price levels of competing treatment
• Landfill gate fees (including landfill tax)
• Incineration / co-incineration gate fees
  (competition or outlets)
• Strict consistent quality criteria to meet
  client needs
• Level of pollutants
• Physical / chemical properties, granulometry ...
• Long term outlets
• EfW plants, cement kilns
• Power plants, CHP, steelworks
• Fossil fuel costs
• Heavier taxation?

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Conclusion (1)

• Potential quantity of energy from SRF production
  and usage is in the same order of magnitude as
  energy from mass-burn incineration
• Pace of development of SRF market will be
  influenced by standardisation and legislative /
  regulatory status
• SRF standardisation process within CEN will take
  several years to come to fruition
• Product status for SRF seems unlikely in the
  short run

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Conclusion (2)

• Waste Management Industry has an active role to
  play in providing its share of the EU energy
  needs, through complementary treatment options
• EfW contribution to energy security
  this contribution must be protected
• SRF preparation and utilisation
  downstream outlets will have to be secured for
  SRF long term development