GREENHOUSE GASES EMISSION REDUCTION POTENTIAL IN GREECE BY IMPLEMENTING WTE FACILITIES IN STRATEGICALLY SELECTED URBAN AREAS

Waste-To-Energy (WIE) facilities can combust either as-received municipal solid wastes (MSW) or pre-processed "refuse-derived" fuels. The latter have higher calorific values and can be used both in dedicated WTE plants and as fuel substitute in cement kilns and coal-fired power plants. This work focuses on the potential of reducing the greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions in Greece through the application of the mass burn and the Refuse Derived Fuel or Solid Recovered Fuel (RDF/SRF) options for managing post-recycling MSW, located in strategically selected urban areas. The potential GHG emissions reduction in waste management activities was evaluated, as well as the potential GHG emissions reduction in the power sector due to the use of as-received MSW or pre-processed "refuse-derived" fuels, instead of lignite or natural gas (imported fuel for the power sector). The results showed that the potential reductions are quite high to be ignored, which will be a significant benefit if Greece adopts WTE as one of the MSW management methods in use.