Tires & Plastic Waste to Energy Plant | Italy

The global production of solid waste is projected to increase significantly from 2.1 billion tonnes in 2023 to 3.8 billion tonnes by 2050, resulting in rising disposal costs and substantial greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Current disposal methods like landfilling and mass incineration have adverse environmental effects, and the EU has mandated that no more than 10% of MSW can be landfilled by 2035. Italy faces a particularly challenging waste disposal situation, characterized by high costs and the need for waste to be transported long distances, even outside the country, due to a lack of suitable disposal locations. GE proposes a solution utilizing proven waste processing technologies to convert MSW into green power. The project aims to construct and operate multiple waste-to-power (WtP) facilities throughout Italy. This approach not only reduces the quantity of landfill waste but also generates lower net carbon emission by-products. The technology integrates technologies from two companies, KMW Energy, a Canadian company with over 70 years of experience in designing and manufacturing biomass combustion systems and boilers, with Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology from Turboden, an Italian subsidiary of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) group. Each WtP Facility will be 100% owned by GE. The electricity generated will be sold via Gestore dei Servizi Energetici (GSE), targeting industrial users and the potential shoreside power market at ports, which is mandated by EU regulations by 2030. Each proposed facility is designed to process 1000 tonnes of MSW per day, requiring approximately 330,000 tonnes per year. At 95% uptime, a single plant could generate 190 - 430 GWh of electricity annually, representing less than 1% of Italy's total power demand. Feedstock supply will be secured through government-backed, long-term (20-year) take-or-pay waste feedstock agreements.