5th - 6th March 2024
Waste to Energy in the Middle East: A Step Towards Sustainable Tomorrow!
Waste-to-energy initiatives are vital for sustainable waste management in the world. Let us find out how some of the Middle Eastern countries are implementing it and what initiatives are undertaken.
With the ever-increasing population of the Middle East, the total amount of waste that is generated is approx (gross urban waste) is more than 150 million tons annually.
Countries that are leading collectively to this are Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Kuwait and several other countries — this is the result of the total increase in consumption rate.
The region is also dealing with sewage sludge that is produced in high quantities.
If you are wondering what this is - it is a residual, semi-solid material that is the result of a by-product that is generated during sewage treatment of industrial or municipal wastewater.
One of the prime reasons contributing to the high amount of waste is that all the countries we have mentioned above are high-income countries with not only consumption in huge amounts but also non-consumption (garbage) which is the end product of leftovers.
Now what is the term Waste to Energy (WtE)
So, in a waste-to-energy plant, there is a power plant which burns solid waste such as trash or garbage to produce steam inside a boiler and to power the electric generator, steam is used.
The plant as in reports of EIA, is capable of producing 2,000 pounds of waste to ash which is between 300 pounds to 600 pounds furthermore reducing the volume of waste by about 87%.
Let us know how Waste to Energy Helps.
1) Significant reduction in landfill waste
2) Does not emit methane in aid unlike the natural process
3) Wonderful limitless energy substitute:
4) Sustainable process source:
5) Economic to the countries it is being practised in
Now let us find out different Middle Eastern Countries and how they are implementing this technology
Qatar: Qatar was the first GCC country to implement a waste-to-energy project back in 2011. The country has pledged to cut harmful emissions by 2030. Its Domestic Solid Waste Management Centre in Mesaieed is responsible for generating 50 MW of electricity 24*7 which is transferred to approximately 50,000 homes.
In 2022, Qatar has announced that in forthcoming years, more WtE centres will be established.
● The Ministry of Municipality of the State of Qatar is seeing WtE as a game-changer.
● On various occasions, the Ministry has been quoted saying that the “household, commercial, and industrial recycling rate is 54% and by 2030, it will be made to 95%.”
● 153 plots of land have been located for private-sector waste recycling.
● WtE is also one of the primary objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.
● The use of smart waste management system is also very widely used in the country
● Qatar World Cup 2022’s waste that was generated in the country was all converted to energy and this was one of the biggest achievements so far.
Saudi Arabia: The country is confident to treat 106 million tons of waste by the end of 2035.
The country is known to produce 53 million tons of waste every year.
● By 2030, the country wants to wave off construction and demolition waste from landfills of which respective percentage would be recycling 12, reusing 35 and treating 13.
● By 2032, the Saudi government intends to generate 50% of the country’s energy requirements through renewable sources such as solar, nuclear, wind, geothermal and waste-to-energy systems.
● Two scenarios were created: (1) incineration and (2) refuse-based fuel (RDF) in combination with biomethanation between 2012 and 2035.
United Arab Emirates: A lot of developments are happening in the UAE as it moves towards creating a clean, sustainable and futuristic region for its residents.
One of the areas that has begun working on is UAE’s Waste to Waste-to-energy sector.
● Masdar partnered with Bee’ah - an environmental company in 2017.
● The country has visioned to divert 300000 tonnes of solid municipal waste from landfills each year.
● Sharjah is on the path to becoming net zero waste through its Sharjah Waste to Energy Plant.
● Dh600 billion ($163bn) is being invested in clean and renewable energy sources in the country according to reports from The National News.
● Recently Dubai launched its biggest waste-to-energy plant in July 2023 which costs around 1 Billion USD.
Kuwait: Kuwait has also implemented waste management and waste to energy and the name of the plant is Al Kabd Waste To Energy Plant which is a 100 MW biopower power project located in Al Jahra, Kuwait.
The project is yet to be fully completed and it is estimated that it will be completed by the end of 2024.
So we saw that notable countries are putting a lot of effort into converting waste to energy to make sustainable goals a priority.