FEATURED TOPIC – WASTE-TO-ENERGY
Each Moscow plant will feature three lines of HZI grates, as well as the company’s patented flue gas treatment system.
WtE and the fight against landfill HITACHI ZOSEN INOVA’S MARINA MILLS OUTLINES HOW WASTE-TO-ENERGY TECHNOLOGY IS HELPING SHAPE MOSCOW’S WASTE MANAGEMENT EVOLUTION.
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oscow, a city of 12.5 million people, produces the largest amount of municipal solid waste in Russia. Historically, most of that waste has ended up in large landfills inherited from the Soviet Union, which are often located in highly populated areas. Based on published statistics, there are circa 400 kilograms of municipal solid waste attributable per person per annum in Russia, or a total of 60 million tonnes each year. That number is forecast to grow to 500 kilograms per person by 2025. “95 per cent of the waste is not treated but landfilled in Russia,” Hitachi Zosen Inova’s (HZI) Marina Mills says. “Landfills take up one million hectares of land around Moscow and circa four million hectares across Russia. Most – estimated at 80 per cent – are full and are closing or will be closing soon.” Environmental awareness has been
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steadily growing in Russia over the last decade. In 2017, the country faced large protests organised in 30 regions against illegal waste dumping. In the summer of 2017, for example, Kuchino landfill, one of the largest serving the Moscow region, was closed due to overcapacity and pollution concerns. In 2018, the Russian Government approved a national project for ecology. The project sets a target that 60 per cent of all solid waste will be processed by 2024, with 36 per cent recovered, reused or recycled. In alignment with the new project for ecology, four waste-to-energy (WtE) facilities are set to be constructed across the Moscow region in coming years, with Russia’s Green Tariff program making these projects more attractive for investors. The four WtE facilities will be constructed by HZI, in collaboration with consortium partner ZiO-Podolsk.
Through the consortium, HZI acts as combustion and flue gas treatment technology suppliers, while ZiOPodolsk will deliver manufacturing services for power island equipment. “With more than 600 WtE references worldwide, HZI is one of the world’s leading designers, suppliers and manufacturer of WtE technology,” Mills says. “We are proud of being able to collaboratively work with our consortium partner, notwithstanding some territorial, cultural and language differences.” Mills explains that ZiO-Podolsk brings local experience, expertise and the ability to manufacture high quality equipment locally. “We look forward to growing and strengthening this partnership in the future,” she says. Each facility will process 700,000 metric tonnes of waste and generate 70 megawatts of electricity for the grid. Mills explains that this will supply
