WHAT
IS PYROLYSIS AND GASIFICATION?
Pyrolysis
and gasification, like incineration, recover energy from waste by
thermal treatment. Waste is converted to a fuel by heating the waste
under controlled conditions. Whereas incineration fully converts the
input waste into energy and ash, these processes limit the conversion so
that combustion does not take place directly.
Pyrolysis
is defined as the thermal degradation of waste in the absence of air to
produce char, pyrolysis oil or syngas, e.g. the conversion of wood to
charcoal.
Much
attention has been focused on the potential for these technologies to
handle the bulk disposal of household waste. Today, there are few large
scale demonstrator projects in Europe, although there are several
commercial sites in Japan. So the technical and economic feasibility
cannot be described as fully demonstrated. Increasing emphasis upon
resource recovery and renewable energy may make these processes more
attractive in the medium term. However, the key to their widespread
adoption relies on successful extended operation at 'flagship' reference
facilities over the next few years.
