Energy recovery using Pyrolysis requires the construction a custom-built power plant.
The plant would use Solid Recovered Fuel produced by Mechanical Biological Treatment.
Pyrolysis means that during the reaction process, no air is present in the reaction chamber with the SRF.
Hydrogen and Carbon Monoxide are produced as reactions create temperatures of over 700 degrees celsius.
The organic elements of the SRF are decomposed by the heat, creating a synthetic gas which can be used to generate electricity for the local grid.
Pyrolysis also creates ash and flue gases as by-products. These are treated to ensure that they comply with strict European environmental standards.
The flue gases are passed through a sophisticated filter system where they are cleaned, and constantly controlled and monitored
The small amounts of fly ash are captured for landfill and the bottom ash is recycled for use in the construction industry.
Pyrolysis could generate enough electricity in the North West Region to provide energy to power the equivalent of 6,000 homes a year – that’s 30 Giga Watt hours of electricity.
This would require 60,000 tons of Solid Recovered Fuel which could be sourced from the region’s residual black bin waste over the course of a year. The electricity will also count towards Northern Ireland’s renewable energy targets.
