Burning organic waste is loss of great resource
On this occasion Dublin City Council (DCC) chief engineer Michael Phillips, who can claim expertise with regard to incineration, indicated the Poolbeg project would provide electricity for 50,000 houses and heating for 60,000 units. However, he did notindicate what the costs would be for these provisions.
We at the University of Limerick have concluded that incineration of organic materials is a wanton and costly waste of a great resource.
The university and I are coordinators for a recently-awarded major EU grant that brings into research collaboration the major European and Latin American centres for studies relevant to this area.
We are hopeful soon to have in place an initiative involving ourselves, NUI Galway and UCD that will significantly advance technologies for the utilisation of organic wastes and of biomass.
The technology Mr Phillips refers to is due to be in place for 20 years. We are convinced this technology is hugely expensive, outdated and wasteful. I have repeatedly invited DCC engineers to open debate with regard to the practicalities of incineration versus the emerging technologies for the utilisation of organic wastes and biomass resources. They have always refused, stating effectively that their decisions have been made.
The technologies we are involved with utilise carbohydrate resources in organic substrates to provide liquid fuels and fuel additives, and platform chemicals that will replace the petrochemicals now used in major manufacturing industries. The residual materials, when subjected to pyrolysis, give syngas, bio-oil, and biochar. Syngas can be used as a source of chemicals, or directly as a source of energy.
Bio-oil can be upgraded to diesel additive standards and biochar has enormous benefits when added to soil in terms of plant growth enhancement and of course as a sequesterer of carbon.
All of this is, of course, the type of approach needed for the smart economy. If there is a better answer in incineration then I will be delighted to concede defeat and set about learning the new science that the technology will provide.
Thus, I invite, perhaps challenge openly, the DCC engineers to a public and open debate on this matter.
Dr Michael HB Hayes MRIA
Research Professor
Carbolea Group
CES Department
University of Limerick
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