Drivers for successful wastewater to energy projects

CPG has been involved in wastewater treatment, product recovery and energy production from waste materials for more than 30 years, with more than 30 successful large scale wastewater to energy projects installed and operational around the world.

With the rise in environmental concerns, economic constraints, the increasing cost of resources, and the potential for supply limitations for energy, water and nutrients, it is now increasingly important to consider what value can be extracted from wastes, and how these products can provide positive economic and social outcomes for local authorities and businesses. It is a fact that waste to energy systems are being increasingly adopted in a number of areas globally, but CPG has found that the adoption of the systems hinges on different considerations in different regions, and for different industries and clients.

Based on CPG’s experiences nationally and internationally, we discuss the different drivers we have identified in different locations, and for different markets. For example, many waste to energy facilities rely on the revenue from additional products such as fertiliser and carbon credits for their ongoing economic viability, where as others depend on regulatory subsidies.

We relate the experiences of CPG in numerous locations internationally. Using case studies we outline some of the key economic considerations that make energy from waste projects viable (or not viable). Using local and international experiences we examine the underlying factors that affect the economic viability. These factors include cultural considerations, environmental considerations, political considerations, economic incentives, risk management, and procurement options, and we consider the reasons why the uptake of these technologies is slow in NZ compared to other nations.