Zabalgarbi: implementing circular economy in municipal solid waste

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Zabalgarbi: implementing circular economy in municipal solid waste

High efficiency Waste to Energy solution

In a process of transition towards a neutral economy, based on a sustainable and responsible consumption and production system, waste management is a key factor in tackling the impact of waste on climate change.

A new way of waste management

We participated as developers and investors, through SENER Renewable Investments, and as technologists in Zabalgarbi. A high-efficiency energy recovery power plant located in Bizkaia (Spain) equipped with SENER-2 technology, which fulfils the dual objective of improving the efficiency of harnessing energy from waste and optimizing anti-corrosive behaviour.

The plant treats the residues of more than 100 municipalities, benefiting more than 1,000,000 people. Annually, it recovers the energy value of 225,000-230,000 tons of waste to generate between 650GWh and 700GWh per year. This is equivalent to 35% of the energy consumed by households in the region.

4 million tons

of waste processed

1 million inhabitants

benefited

43% net energy yield

SENER-2,

a high efficiency technology

The thermodynamic cycle SENER-2 is an innovative solution that adapts the technology of combined-cycle gas plants to modern waste-to-energy facilities. It is a single integrated process capable of working at high pressures of around 100 bar and low temperatures, near 350°C. This means a higher pressure and less heat than usually obtained in modern waste-to-energy plants (38/65 bar and 380-450ªC).

Advantages

Increase in net energy yield, equivalent to 42%,

over conventional urban waste energy recovery plants, whose yield is approximately 23%.

Primary energy savings from renewables of 47%.

Renewable fraction of UW entering the plant (biomass) amounts to 63%.

CO2 emission avoided of 440,000 tons/year.

Reductions of corrosion problems in the furnace (T < 400ºC).

Reduction of costs

both in the operation and maintenance of the plant and in the treatment and management of solid urban waste.

Main features

Urban solid waste treatment plant, with a SENER patented process: SENER-2.
Net output 94 MW.
USW storage and handling facilities.
USW incineration boiler: 30 t/h MSW, 100 t/h saturated steam.
Flue gas treatment.
Gas turbine, 43 MW: Fuel natural gas, with intake air cooling.
Steam turbine: 54 MW, reheat, 100 bar, 540°C/25 bar.
Heat recovery unit.
Overall net plant efficiency: 42%.

Shareholders

Private holdings (65 %)

SENER: 30 %
FCC: 30 %
Kutxabank: 5 %

Public holdings (35 %)

Diputación Foral de Bizkaia (20 %)
Ente Vasco de la Energía (10 %)
Mancomunidad de la Margen Izquierda y Zona Minera (5 %)

XEnergy

XThermal Generation

Zabalgarbi: implementing circular economy in municipal solid waste

High efficiency Waste to Energy solution