Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants
Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) for Waste-to-Energy plants within Europe
Jan L.C. Manders
The European Union is promoting life cycle thinking as a quantitative way of environmental
analysis. (http://lca.jrc.ec.europa.eu/lcainfohub/introduction.vm)
The Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants (CEWEP), has carried out a LCA
study representative for the Waste to Energy operations within Europe according to the
internationally standardized methodology ISO 14040
This exercise comprised the following:
- Waste composition data across Europe were analyzed to establish the average
composition of the feedstock going into WtE plants
- Using actual data the average WtE plant design and operation was modeled
- Actual data on mass & energy balance, emission to atmosphere, composition of
bottom ash and flue gas cleaning residues were analyzed
- Credits for the WtE operation as the result of its energy and metals output e.g. for the
avoidance of fossil fuel burnt in power plants were established
The system boundaries have been defined in such a way that waste streams and ancillary
materials have been considered on the input side, whereas on the output side the streams
were followed to their elementary flows (emissions) and the disposal of APC (Air Pollution
Control) residues, the use of bottom ash and the credits for exported energy and metals
were taken into account. The LCA carried out represents an absolute LCA, i.e. not
performed relative to other waste treatment options.
The results of this exercise are presented in the form of a comprehensive quantitative Life
Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) for a group of 10 impact categories as suggested by CML:
Name of impact category
Unit
ADP
Abiotic Depletion Potential
PE
Primary Energy
Kg
antimony
equivalent
MJ
GWP
Global Warming Potential
kg CO2 eq.
EP
Eutrophication Potential
kg PO4 eq.
AP
Acidification Potential
Kg SO2 eq.
POCP
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential
kg ethylene eq.
HTP
Human Toxicity Potential
FAETP
Freshwater Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential
MAETP
Marine Aquatic Ecotoxicity Potential
TETP
Terrestrial Ecotoxicity Potential
kg
1,4-dichlorobenzene eq.
CEWEP - Confederation of European Waste-to- Energy Plants
Boulevard Clovis 12A
B-1000 Brussels
Tel. : +32 (0)2 770 63 11
Fax : +32 (0)2 770 68 14
[email protected]
www.cewep.eu
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Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy Plants
LCIA results shown in a normalized presentation
Summary of Impact analysis
on 10 parameters
100%
Burden
80%
60%
Biogenic CO2 →
Waste treatment
- biogenic CO2
40%
Waste treatment
20%
heat export
0%
-20%
electricity export
-40%
metal recovery
-60%
Credits
-80%
-100%
ADP
PE
GWP
EP
AP
POCP
HTP FAETP MAETP TETP
It can be concluded that the average Waste to Energy operation within Europe performs
favourably in terms of its overall impact on the environment. The model which has been
developed can be used to demonstrate the sensitivity to changes in the various input and
operational parameters, and as such this may be a useful and balanced instrument to be
used in communication with the various stakeholders in society.
JLC Manders short CV
Mr Manders is a Deputy President of CEWEP, which is the Confederation of European
Waste-to-Energy Plants, representing the interests of the WtE industry across Europe. In
this role he is acting in particularly on behalf of the Waste to Energy Industry in the
Netherlands, united in the Dutch Waste Management Association.
Since his retirement from AVR- van Gansewinkel in July 2008 Mr Manders is also acting as
an independent strategy consultant in the area of Energy from Waste.
Until July 2008 Mr. Manders, was the Director External Affairs of AVR – Van Gansewinkel,
which is the leading environmental management and waste processing company within the
Benelux, formed in 2007 by the merger of AVR and Van Gansewinkel.
Mr. Manders joined AVR in 2000 as the director responsible for AVR’s Waste Processing
business and worked in this role until 2007. This business represents a turnover of about
300 million euros and comprises a range of waste processing technologies among which 2
million tpa of incineration of household and commercial waste.
CEWEP - Confederation of European Waste-to- Energy Plants
Boulevard Clovis 12A
B-1000 Brussels
Tel. : +32 (0)2 770 63 11
Fax : +32 (0)2 770 68 14
[email protected]
www.cewep.eu
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