Using Waste To Produce Electricity
Converting waste into energy kills two birds with one stone – it reduces the amount of waste that has to go into landfill; and it produces energy. By converting waste into energy, less landfill space is required and it also lessens the demand for oil and other fossil fuels.
There are two major types of waste-to-energy programs. The first burns the waste. The heat and steam which is generated from the burning process is then used to generate electricity. The second process is to collect the methane gas which forms as the rubbish decomposes.
Whichever option is being employed, the first step in the process is to remove all the recyclable products such as paper and plastic. The waste materials are then added to an incinerator and the materials are burnt. The heat and steam released in the burning process is then used to create electricity.
In large rubbish piles, methane is produced as the rubbish decomposes. Methane gas is dangerous when it builds up so many rubbish heaps burn the methane gas off to remove the gas safely and to prevent it from reaching dangerous levels. However instead of being burnt off, this methane gas can be collected and purified before being used or sold on.
The beauty of using rubbish to produce energy is that the rubbish, instead of just sitting there until it decomposes, can be used to generate an income from the site. One of the problems with some forms of renewal energy is the lack of control over how much energy is producted; However with waste-to-energy, it is far easier to control when and how much electricity is produced.
Category: Green News & Comment, Utilities
Tags: Electricity, Utilities
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