Closed-loop system recovers energy from municipal solid waste

Ekokem Ltd. has in cooperation with municipalities and industry created a closed-loop system for recovering renewable energy from source separated municipal solid waste. Energy is utilized to produce power and heat. Heat is distributed by local district heating networks for the households and industry of two cities. The system was awarded in the World Energy Globe Award gala.

The system comprises of a newly organized source separation and collection system of municipal waste, a modern waste-to-energy plant and a new transfer pipeline connecting two district heating networks together.

Source separation and collection of municipal waste is organized by Kiertokapula Ltd., a cooperation partner of Ekokem. Waste is sorted into several categories for recycling and energy recovery. In all, Kiertokapula Ltd. collects municipal solid waste from 17 municipalities i.e. 320 000 people.

The waste-to-energy plant, built and owned and operated by Ekokem Ltd., is located near the city of Riihimäki in southern Finland.
Energy is recovered from waste in a water cooled grate furnace and a steam boiler flue gases are cleaned in a five step process.

Heat is transferred to consumers living in the two cities through local district heating networks which are connected together with a new transfer pipeline. The new pipeline connects Riihimäki with 28 000 inhabitants to the nearby city of Hyvinkää with 45 000 inhabitants.

"As a result, fossil fuels oil and gas are to be completely replaced by renewable energy sources and emissions are to be reduced to a minimum. In addition, energy efficiency in the two cities has improved," says Jorma Manninen, Business Development Manager, Ekokem Ltd.

"The collected waste also includes organic waste, which is not deposited in a landfill but recycled as biomass to energy. Thanks to this,
two municipal waste landfills were closed down as a result of this project," Manninen notes.

Energy Globe winner

The closed-loop system was awarded a National ENERGY GLOBE Overall Winner Finland 2007 1st Place, in May in Brussel's megaevent where Jorma Manninen received the Award.

The International Energy Globe Awards - the World Awards for Sustainability - have been awarded annually since 1999 to recognize projects that make careful and economical use of resources and employ alternative energy sources.

In 2007, from a grand total of 853 projects submitted from 109 countries around the world for the awards. The categories include Air, Water, Fire, Earth and Youth. In addition, national awards are presented.

Ekokem Ltd is a member of Ekokem Group which is the leading Finnish total service provider in the field of waste management. The Group's services cover for example treatment of contaminated soils, constructions of landfills and many kind of waste treatment solutions.