This article focuses on systematically highlighting the ways to optimize waste-to-energy plants in terms of their energy efficiency as an indicator of the positive effect with regard to climate control. Potentials for increasing energy efficiency are identified and grouped into categories. The measures mentioned are illustrated by real-world examples. As an example, district cooling as a means for increasing energy efficiency in the district heating network of Vienna is described. Furthermore a scenario analysis shows the relevance of energy efficiency in waste management scenarios based on thermal treatment of waste with regard to climate control. The description is based on a model that comprises all relevant processes from the collection and transportation up to the thermal treatment of waste. The model has been applied for household-like commercial waste. The alternatives compared are a combined heat and power incinerator, which is being introduced in many places as an industrial utility boiler or in metropolitan areas where there is a demand for district heating and a classical municipal solid waste incinerator producing solely electrical power. For comparative purposes a direct landfilling scenario has been included in the scenario analysis. It is shown that the energy efficiency of thermal treatment facilities is crucial to the quantity of greenhouse gases emitted.
Angerer, T. (2007) Case study: Vienna district heating network. In: Seminar of the Austrian Standards Organisation: The Thermal Utilization of Waste and the Requirements with Regard to the Energy Efficiency (Praxisbeispiel: Wien Energie Fernwärme Wien; ON-Seminar, Die thermische Verwertung von Abfällen und die Vorgaben zum energetischen Wirkungsgrad), 27 March 2007, Vienna. Austrian Standards Association, Vienna, Austria.
2.
Chow, T.T., Chan, L.S. & Song, C.L. (2004) Building-mix optimization in district cooling system implementation. Applied Energy, 77, 1—13.
3.
Cook, H. (1998) Delivering the big chillBuilding Design & Construction, 39, 42—44.
4.
European Commission (ed.) (1999) Directive 1999/31/EC on the Landfill of Waste. European Commission, Brussels, Belgium.
5.
European Commission (ed.) (2006a) Directive 2006/12/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on Waste (Directive 75/442/ EEC as amended). European Commission , Brussels, Belgium.
6.
European Commission (ed.) (2006b) GREEN PAPER — A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy. European Commission, Brussels , Belgium.
7.
European Council (ed.) (2006) Regulation (EC) No 1013/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 14 June 2006 on shipments of waste. European Council , Brussels; Belgium.
8.
European Council (ed.) (2007) Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on Waste — Political Agreement. European CommissionBrussels, Belgium.
9.
GEMIS (Global Emissions — Model of Integrated Systems) (2005): Version 4.3, available at http://www.oeko.de/service/gemis/de/index.htm, (May 2006 resp. September 2007.
10.
Gohlke, O. & Martin, J. (2007) Drivers for innovation in waste-to-energy technology . Waste Management & Research, 25, 214—219.
11.
Hackl, A. & Mauschitz, G. (1997) Climate Relevance of Waste Management (Klimarelevanz der Abfallwirtschaft), Volume 11/ 1998, Series published by the Federal Ministry of Environment, Youth and Family, Vienna/Weitra .
12.
Kailbauer, F., Krämer, S. & Priesmeier, U. (2004) Steps towards increasing the efficiency of new MSWI (Schritte zur Wirkungsgrad-steigerung bei MVA-Neuanlagen) . In: Thomé-Kozmiensky K.J. (ed.): Optimization in Thermal Waste Treatment (Optimierung in der Abfallverbrennung) 1, Neuruppin. TK Verlag Karl Thomé-Kozmiensky , Neuruppin, Germany.
13.
Kirchner, A. & Angerer, T. (2007) 15 years experience from operation of DeNOx as well as PCDD/F Filters in Vienna (15 Jahre Betriebserfahrung mit DeNOx- sowie Dioxin- und Furanfiltern in Wien). In: Thomé-Kozmiensky K.J. (ed.): Waste to Energy (Energie aus Abfall) 3, Neuruppin.
14.
Krotil, R. (2007) Cold from Heat (Klimakälte aus Wärme), Heizung — Lüftung — Klimatechnik, 05/2007, Vienna .
15.
Leitgeb, A. & Schamann, M. (1991) Energetical Utilization of Landfill Gas (Energetische Nutzung von Deponiegas), series volume BE-002. Federal Environment Agency, Vienna. Springer Business Media Austria GmbH.
16.
Lindgren, P. & Andersson, S. (2007) Integrated enhanced energy recovery in multifunctional flue gas scrubber systems. In: Proc: ISWA Annual Congress, Amsterdam, 24—27 September 2007. International solid waste Association, Copenhagen, Denmark.
17.
Luoranen, M. & Horttanainen, M. (2007) Feasibility of energy recovery from municipal solid waste in an integrated municipal energy supply and waste management system. Waste Management & Research , 25, 426—439.
18.
Pfrang-Stotz, G., Reichelt, J. & Seifert, H. (2004) Formation of covering and corrosion in waste incinerators (Belagsbildung und Korrosion in Abfallverbrennungsanlagen), In: Thomé-Kozmiensky K.J., Beckmann, M. (eds): Optimization in Thermal Waste Treatment (Optimierung der Abfallverbrennung) 1, Neuruppin.
19.
Ragoßnig; A.M. & Lorber, K.-E. (2005) Combined incineration of industrial wastes with in-plant residues in fluidized bed utility boilers — decision relevant factors. Waste Management & Research, 23, 448—456.
20.
Ragoßnig; A.M., Wartha, C., Lorber, K.-E., Pomberger, R. & Curtis A. (2006) What to do with the high caloric fraction from mechanical biological residual waste treatment? — Assessment of the climate relevance of various alternatives. In: Proceedings of the ISWA Annual Congress, Copenhagen, October 1st—5th 2006. International Solid Waste Association, Copenhagen, Denmark.
21.
Ragoßnig; A.M., Wartha, C. & Pomberger, R. (2008) Climate relevance of waste treatment — thermal treatment of taste vs. landfilling. Paper accepted for Proc. 7th Int. Conference `Environmental Engineering' in Vilnius, Lithuania, 22—24 May 2008. Vilnius Gedeminas Technical University, Vilnius, Lithuania.
22.
Reimann, D.O. (2006) CEWEP — (Confederation of European Waste-to-Energy plants) Energy Report (Status 2001 — 2004). CEWEP , Bamberg.
23.
Sandulescu, E. (2004) The contribution of waste management to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions with applications in the City of Bucharest. Waste Management & Research, 22: 413—426.
Seeley, R. (1996) District cooling gets hot. Mechanical Engineering, 118, 82—84.
26.
Seiler, U. (2005) Energetic optimization potential for municipal solid waste incinerators (Energetisches Optimierungspotential für Abfallverbrennungsanlagen) In: Thomé-Kozmiensky K.J., Beckmann, M. (eds): Optimization in Thermal Waste Treatment (Optimierung in der Abfallverbrennung) 2, Neuruppin.
27.
Tabasaran, O. & Rettenberger, G. (1978) Basics for planning of gas collection systems (Grundlagen zur Planung von Entgasungsanlagen). Handbuch Müll und Abfall, Kennz. 4547, delivery 1/87, E. SchmidtVerlag.
28.
Unfccc (ed) (1997) United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Decision 1/CP3 Kyoto Protocol. United Nations, New York.
29.
Wandschneider, J., Seiler, U., Hölter, G. & Wilmann, T. (2005) Increase of the electrical energy efficiency to 30% due to a high performance boiler — example of HR- AVI-Amsterdam (Steigerung des elektrischen Wirkungsgrades bis 30% durch eine Hochleistungskesselanlage am Beispiel der HR-AVI-Amsterdam). In: Thomé-Kozmiensky K.J., Beckmann, M. (eds): Optimization in Thermal Waste Treatment (Optimierung der Abfallverbrennung) 1, Neuruppin. TK Verland Karl Thomé-Kozmiensky, Neuruppin, Germany.
30.
Weber, B. (1990) Minimization of Emissions from Landfills (Minimierung von Emissionen der Deponie), volume 74. University of Hannover , Hannover.
