Abu Dhabi’s first Waste to Energy plant will be situated near the Al-Dhafra landfill and will have a handling capacity of 900,000 tons of non-recyclable waste per annum for the next 30 years and annually producing enough electricity to power 50,000 homes in the emirate. This will significantly enhance Abu Dhabi’s shift from reliance on landfill. A process deemed by many as the least sustainable system of waste management. This important project will prop up the United Arab Emirates’ (UAE) goal to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 1.1 million tons annually.
The project will be comprising of financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of the new Waste to Energy plant. The facility is to employ one of the largest and state-of-the-art moving grate technologies to convert municipal solid waste into electricity which utilizes a highly efficient water-steam cycle.
Tadweer Group, the sole custodian of waste management in Abu Dhabi, and Emirates Water and Electricity Company (EWEC), along with a Japan-based consortium will develop the greenfield project in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi.
“The facility will be one of the most advanced in terms of lowest emissions, efficiency and use of latest technology,” Ollie Lawson, media and communications adviser at Tadweer Group, said during the 10th edition of the EcoWaste Exhibition and Conference held as part of the World Future Energy Summit. “The plant will turn municipal solid waste into energy enough to power 50,000 homes.”
The Japanese consortium encompasses Marubeni Corporation, Hitachi Zosen Inova AG, and Japan Overseas Infrastructure Investment Corporation for Transport and Urban Development. Tadweer’s strategy to decrease dependence on landfills, lower carbon emissions, and support the UAE’s energy agenda will form the basis of this project.
“The construction of the plant will start this year. It is expected to be operational by 2027.”
Tadweer intends to start 50 Recyclable Materials Collection Centers (RMCC) in Abu Dhabi making it a total of 75 centers.
“Now, we have 25 RMCCs rolled out across Abu Dhabi, and there will be a further 50 of those this year. The existing RMCCs have generated a lot of recycled materials. In communities, we have seen people who are interested in recycling come to our collection centre. So, we’re looking to expand that opportunity with new centres. It will offer people an easy way to recycle.”
The RMCCs garner 16 different categories of waste, including cans, bottles, textiles, expired medicines, small and large e-waste, cardboard, paper, used batteries, rubber, and wood, among others.
