Refuse-to-energy plant with improved utilisation of municipal waste

The Saitama East Waste Management Association is a municipal-waste disposal institution jointly established by 4 cities and 2 towns with a total population of 800,000 in Saitama, Japan. In September 1995, the Association completed a new refuse incineration plant aimed at bringing benefits to the local community. The plant generates 24 MWe of power with a specific power output of 720 kWh per tonne of refuse. By employing newly-developed, high-temperature/high pressure boilers, a thermal efficiency of 20.6% - the highest level in Japan - is achieved. An absorption heat pump also produces hot water for district heating. (Author)