Next step for waste-to-energy: Better availability, efficiency
High availability of a waste-to-energy plant is important for two reasons: (1) The facility must dispose of an endless stream of garbage if it is to receive continued support from the local community, and (2) It must generate enough revenue to repay its construction cost and cover its operating expense. Just a few years ago, there was always an alternative - if the plant wasn't operating, refuse could be bypassed to landfill and there was always a fossil-fired boiler on hand to make up for the lack of steam production. Today, as local communities are at last beginning to realize the benefits of waste-to-energy plants, alternatives are fast disappearing. Contracts with local communities often include fines for nonavailability of the plant. And clearly, revenue from an erratic energy supply is significantly less than could be charged from a firm source.
- OSTI ID:
- 5362409
- Journal Information:
- Power; (United States), Vol. 130:7
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
REFUSE-FUELED POWER PLANTS
AVAILABILITY
ECONOMIC ANALYSIS
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
BOILERS
CAPITALIZED COST
CHARGES
CONTRACTS
MUNICIPAL WASTES
OPERATING COST
PAYBACK PERIOD
PERFORMANCE
PROFITS
REFUSE DERIVED FUELS
RESOURCE RECOVERY FACILITIES
SANITARY LANDFILLS
COST
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY FACILITIES
FUELS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
MANAGEMENT
POWER PLANTS
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WASTE DISPOSAL
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING PLANTS
WASTES
200103* - Fossil-Fueled Power Plants- Waste-Fueled Systems
299003 - Energy Planning & Policy- Unconventional Sources & Power Generation- Other- (-1989)