TAQA Gets Into Waste to Energy - Starting with 100 MW Abu Dhabi Plant

Image Credit: Shenli Leong The Abu Dhabi National Energy Company, Taqa, is continuing to move forward with its plans to develop a 100 MW, mass burn waste to energy facility near the sea port in Mussaffah and sees potential to grow globally in the sector. Dr Saif Al Sayari, executive officer and head of TAQA’s Energy Solutions recently elaborated on the company’s plans for the $850m project. "Our proposed plant would be up and running by 2017, generating enough power for 20,000 households in Abu Dhabi as well as cutting greenhouse gases,” he said. "In fact, it is expected to reduce CO2 emissions by more than one million tonnes per year. That is taking into account the emissions that would be released if the waste was buried in a landfill site, transportation to the dumps and the size of the plant if it was powered by fossil fuels," added Al Sayari. Ed Atkinson, head of waste to energy at TAQA elaborated further: "Overall, the project size is around 200 metres by 500 metres. That, of course, includes the roads to access the plant and the bunkers to store the waste before it’s burnt. But when this facility comes online it will operate 24/7 and 365 days a year." Growth potential Discussing the potential to grow and ultimately export TAQA’s expertise in waste to energy Atkinson said: "If you consider the growth potential just in Abu Dhabi and Dubai alone, we can use our waste to energy expertise to help benefit the rest of the Emirates. “We could also export it to countries such as Bahrain, Oman and Kuwait. In Saudi Arabia, the government there has announced $130 billion for renewables, so there is huge potential within the region. "There will be huge growth potential in countries such as India and China. The Chinese government has earmarked a $50bn budget for waste to nergy projects. China is looking to ramp it up and there is a massive opportunity there for energy companies.” Read More Newscast: Incineration and Gasification Projects Nearing Reality in the UAE Two radically different waste to energy facilities are moving closer to the construction phase in the United Arab Emirates. (Second story) Million Tonne Abu Dhabi Waste to Energy Project Seeks Bidders Abu Dhabi based energy company TAQA (ADX: TAQA) made the invitation for companies to submit qualifications ahead of tendering the engineering. Plasma Gasification Plant Commissioned for Treating Incinerator Ash in China Alter NRG has commissioned the Westinghouse Plasma torchs used at a new incinerator ash vitrification facility constructed by GTS Energy in Shanghai, China.