IRELAND SHOULD develop up to eight regional waste-to-energy plants, dealing with the problem of residual waste and providing energy for district heating, according to the State’s main engineering bodies.
In a joint study on developing infrastructure for 2020, Engineers Ireland and the Irish Academy of Engineering endorsed Government policy on wind power, electric cars and “smart” electricity metering.
But it says district heating – specifically powered by energy from waste – should be a requirement in all new and high density residential and commercial developments.
The study says residual waste, after reuse, minimisation and recycling options have been exhausted, should be used as an energy resource, and in the case of Dublin it goes into some detail on how district heating could be recovered from the Poolbeg incinerator.
According to the report: “District heating offers advantages in terms of higher efficiency, significantly reduced CO2 emissions and reduced consumption of energy resources . . .”
The report, which recommends the development of eight “city regions” on the island, also makes the recommendation that “appropriately sized waste-to-energy plants should be established and strategically located to cater for residual waste from city regions”.
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