The project has created an experimental plant capable of heating (gasifying) various types of refuse derived fuels – plastic, wood, paper and various biomass – at high temperatures, following the changes in the heating process, analyzing the materials and gases produced in these processes, and obtaining synthesis gas – a blend of reusable gases useful both as a fuel and as a feedstock for the chemical industry. The end products of the waste gasification process have been analyzed in laboratories to gain an idea of ​​their potential for further use and to determine their potential environmental impact.

We are pleased that the information about the results of our project has created a wide coverage in the Latvian media space. The press release (in Latvian) has been published on the University of Latvia website, as well as on Diena.lv, LSM.lv, LA.lv, Skaties.lv, Forbes and other media.

One of the important results of the project is the development of recommendations for amendments or additions to the regulatory enactments, which could lead to the recognition of waste recognized as a raw material, as well as to recognize the gasification process as a viable alternative to the classical biomass or waste incineration process.

The strengths of this process are the ability to recycle the non-recyclable or difficult or expensive recyclable fraction of waste, as well as the possibility of obtaining synthesis gas that is clean from tar and can be used for electricity, heat or catalytic synthesis for natural gas substitution or other energy carriers .

Work is under way to prepare such recommendations. The findings of the project team are summarized as well as the lessons learned from the discussion panel of the 77th Scientific Conference of the University of Latvia. Suggestions are expected to be submitted to MEPRD in May.

The post was published with the kind permission of the editorial office of the magazine “Enerģija un Pasaule“.

Representatives of the Ministry of Environment of the Republic of Latvia, the Association of Local and Regional Governments of Latvia, representatives of waste management companies, as well as representatives, researchers and practitioners from other local and foreign universities and institutions (more than 60 participants from 6 countries) were widely represented in a solid waste management related section of the conference.

In the scope of the meeting, a wide-ranging discussion was held on the latest regulation of the European Union in the sector, the challenge posed by the new regulatory requirements both in the field of national legislation and in the practical implementation of requirements in the coming years. The discussion highlighted a number of issues that require closer cooperation and exchange of information between industry partners and, in the future, additions or clarifications to regulatory enactments and possibly environmental policy related to waste management. The discussion revealed that in the future, the disposal of waste at landfills will be significantly restricted, in Latvia it is necessary to significantly increase waste recycling capacity, as well as new, innovative solutions for better and more efficient recycling of various types of waste and recovery of valuable raw materials.

The lessons learned from the discussion are particularly valuable in the context of the UL project “Variable fuel gasification for municipal solid waste recovery”. It is planned that the conclusions of the conference will be taken as the basis for elaboration of recommendations for clarification of regulatory enactments in the field of waste management.

The members of our team are still testing individual components of the unit, acquiring accompanying documentation, and testing the performance of the unit in the new conditions.

It is planned to carry out RDF and biomass tortification and gasification tests, try to get synthesis gas, and then analyze the composition, emissions, products and waste materials of all input materials. Analyzes of these substances are planned to be carried out on site, with the help of our team at LU laboratories and, if necessary, to attract external laboratories for specific tests.

Photo – project team gets acquainted with new equipment.